In the US, a 24-ounce insulated beverage cup, produced by the DIXIE Foodservice Business of Georgia-Pacific Corporation, was named the "Best of the Best" in the Foodservice & Packaging Institute's 2002 single-use foodservice packaging awards competition.
In addition to winning the overall competition, the DIXIE PerfecTouch cup was selected as the winner of the Best Paperboard Single-Use Foodservice Package category. DIXIE Foodservice's cup is the first insulated paper cup of that size for hot beverages.
The cup utilises insulated paper technology that keeps beverages hot or cold, while remaining comfortable to the touch, and thus eliminating the need for double-cupping, cup sleeves or napkins. The design of the cup transfers strength to the sidewalls of the container, a feature which also eliminates the need for cup sleeves while improving storage capacity with a smaller cube.
The award for Best Plastic Single-Use Foodservice Package went to the Chicken Roaster with SmartTote Handles, produced by Pactiv Corporation. This deli package features a clear oriented polystyrene (OPS) dome lid that snaps and seals into a black matte base. The company claims that the unique feature of the package is the patented grab-and-go handles that snap together for carry out, but are designed to fold down and fit into the base of the container so it can also be easily stacked for display.
The award for Best Foam Plastic Single-Use Foodservice Package went to a hinged-lid sandwich and salad container produced by EarthShell Corporation. The EarthShell Packaging product is a rigid container that was deemed an excellent insulator, and also has a twin tab closure.
One of the most interesting characteristics of EarthShell products is a material composition of limestone and starch that is coated with biodegradable/compostable coatings. The emergence of single-use foodservice packaging made from new, biodegradable/compostable "alternative materials" presented the judges with a decision…in which category to place the EarthShell entry. In the end, they placed the container in the "Best Foam Plastic" category, since that category features products with a similar use.
"The encouraging thing about our bi-annual competition for single-use foodservice packaging is that it proves that manufacturers are continuing to find ways to use technology and human creativity to produce packages that delight consumers in truly inventive ways," said John R. Burke, president of the Foodservice & Packaging Institute.
The Foodservice & Packaging Institute, headquartered in Virginia, US, is the material-neutral trade association for manufacturers and suppliers of single-use packaging used in foodservice applications.