The Munich Hall of NCC Mitte was filled to the last seat as Peter Ottmann, CEO of NürnbergMesse, welcomed the guests to the German Packaging Prize 2025 awards ceremony on 23 September at FACHPACK. He spoke of highly innovative packaging that is used on the International Space Station (ISS). So far these, after use, are taken along by a supply ship and burn up upon entering the Earth's atmosphere. Now NASA is seeking a more sustainable reusable solution and has offered three million US dollars for it. “The prize money at the German Packaging Prize is the honor. It is priceless,” said Ottmann, who closed with the sentence: “Innovations move us forward, we see that every year at the German Packaging Prize.”
The proof was provided in the wake of the year's 37 winning innovations of 2025. More than 200 submissions from 15 countries and three continents had entered the competition across material categories. After thorough review, the independent expert jury had 37 solutions from Germany, Iran, Austria, Switzerland and the USA honored with the coveted award. Now the teams of the awarded companies on a large stage received their trophies from the hands of
dvi chairman Thomas Reiner and much-deserved applause from the assembled industry.
Also this year, the jury took the opportunity to additionally recognize and award especially groundbreaking innovations from the circle of packaging prize winners with a Gold Award. The highly awaited announcement three times led to elated cheers among the winning companies, which were subsequently invited back on stage to receive the Gold Trophy.
Gold for AeroFlexx
The liquid packaging of the US company AeroFlexx Innovative Liquid Packaging Technology impresses the jury with its innovative combination of function and sustainability. The packaging for products such as shower gels or sauces consists of flexible LDPE and thus uses significantly less material than comparable bottles. In doing so, it saves resources and actively contributes to reducing waste. The unique design provides a stable and durable structure through the integrated Airframe air cushion. At the same time, it enables complete emptying of the contents through a self-sealing valve technology and offers improved comfort in use. The recyclable packaging was awarded the packaging prize in the category Functionality & Convenience and has now additionally received the Gold Award from the jury.
Gold for Dachser
The globally operating logistics service
provider Dachser SE, based in Kempten, receives the Gold Award for its Dachser Retail Box. The novel reusable system for European general cargo logistics enables environmentally friendly transport of delicate or high-value goods as a standard shipment over the general cargo network. The lockable reusable container in European pallet and Euro half-pallet dimensions features an innovative digital tracking system, can be efficiently used in mixed operations of the heterogeneous general cargo logistics and returned, and thus optimizes processes in shipping and at the POS. The Retail Box has a payload of 500 kilograms and a loading volume of 1.84 cubic meters, is securable with a seal and can be assembled or disassembled in under 50 seconds. When folded, it occupies only 73 percent of the footprint of a Europallet, making empty-container transport efficient and significantly more sustainable. After the packaging prize in the category Logistics & Material Flow, Dachser also receives the Gold Award for its innovation. Together with the logistics provider, Telekom, Wanzl and Logistikbude were also recognized, all of whom were involved in the development of the solution.
Gold for Molkerei
Gropper — already in July 2025 the PP monomaterial packaging for RTD
coffee of Gropper GmbH & Co. KG was awarded the packaging prize in the Sustainability / Recyclability category by the jury. Now the PP cup for Ready-to-Drink coffee also receives the Gold Award. In the jury's view, thoughtful design, material intelligence and user orientation merge into a true innovation and contribute to sustainable packaging development. The centerpiece of the solution is an integrated In-Mould-Label that replaces the classic aluminium disc, takes over the function of the initial opening, remains on the lid after opening, and, like the entire cup, consists of pure polypropylene. In addition to an improved user experience, this also enables single-material recycling of the entire packaging. The innovation also convinces in production, as the bond between cup and lid is achieved through energy-efficient ultrasonic welding and thus avoids adhesives while increasing product safety.
After the Gold Awards, the teams of all winning packaging went to the photo wall, where the special moment was captured and immortalized. The dvi was supported in organizing the German Packaging Prize by premium partners FACHPACK and Igepa Group as well as Sappi and Mitsubishi Electric.
The submission phase for the next German Packaging Prize starts in February
