WPO cancels WorldStar Packaging Awards ceremony amid coronavirus crisis

23-Apr-2020 - Last updated on 23-Apr-2020 at 09:15 GMT

Pic: WPO

The World Packaging Organisation has cancelled this year’s WorldStar ceremony, following the decision by Messe Düsseldorf to postpone Interpack until next year.

According to Pierre Pienaar, WPO president, the decision follows the recommendation of the crisis management teams all over the world, taking into consideration the risk of spreading the coronavirus at major events.

The 2020 results are available here.

“Delaying and/or reducing the spread of the virus, as much as possible, is a global goal and WPO will do all to help the cause,” said Pienaar.

interpack will now take place in Düsseldorf, Germany, on February 25-March 3, 2021. The WPO is planning to host a special celebration for the 2020 WorldStar winners at the show on Friday, February 26, 2021.

“All winners, including the Special Awards categories, will receive their trophies and certificates by mail, commencing at the end of April,” Pienaar added.

The WPO is also postponing all its packaging education programmes arranged for the first half of this year. All will be rescheduled and announced at a later stage.

The first Board Meeting of 2020 – originally scheduled during Interpack 2020 – has also been cancelled.