European Carton Excellence Award 2026
Award Winners 2026
The European Carton Excellence Award (ECEA) celebrated its 30th edition at the Villa Miani in Rome, awarding excellence in the folding carton sector.
“The 30th edition of the European Carton Excellence Award marks an important milestone and testifies to the creativity and technical innovation that continue to drive our sector forward.”
— Winfried Muehling, Pro Carton
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, October 7, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Organized by Pro Carton , the European Association of Board and Corrugated Board Manufacturers, and ECMA, the European Board Manufacturers Association, and sponsored by Heidelberger
Druckmaschinen AG, Fibenol, and Bobst, the ECEA is the longest-running awards program dedicated to celebrating board and folding carton packaging.This year's winners were selected from an exceptional pool of more than 120 entries. The awards were presented in four special recognition categories and seven product-specific categories, including the new "Art of Cartonboard" category, as well as Platinum and Gold awards. The judging panel comprised experts and representatives from across the value chain: Satkar Gidda (Marketing and Brand Strategy Consultant), Sanjeev Das (Global Head of R&D at Unilever), Lotte Krekels (Packaging Manager at Carrefour), and Susanne Lippitsch (Design Consultant).
The highest honor
, the ECEA's top prize, "Carton of the Year," was awarded to carton converter Autajon Packaging Belgium and carton manufacturer Metsä Board for the Sephora 2025 Advent Calendar. Designed to extend the magic of Christmas gifts in a playful and interactive way, the calendar uses a screen-like structure with hanging boxes that invite the recipient to discover each product. The vibrant colors and contemporary patterns reflect Sephora's visual identity, while the rigid cardboard structure transforms the calendar into a decorative display.
The Innovation Award was presented to cardboard converter Alzamora Group and cardboard manufacturer Billerud for their OceanSaver KidGuard laundry detergent pods.
Featuring a patented design to reduce the risk of accidental opening by children while remaining accessible to adults, this packaging is made from a single piece of 460 g/m² crownboard Kraft cardboard. Its integrated sliding door and locking mechanism requires no additional components, reducing material usage and improving recyclability. The design is fully automated and has successfully passed AIJU tests for packaging suitable for children aged 12 to 35 months.
The Sustainability Award recognized a packaging solution that combines product protection, brand experience, and delivery efficiency. Offset Print & Packaging (a subsidiary of the Alzamora Group) and Stora Enso, a cardboard manufacturer, won the award for their smart cardboard packaging solution for Skin + Me's "Pillow Skincare" subscription. Combining protection, brand experience, and postal efficiency in a compact format, this pillow-inspired packaging offers a memorable unboxing experience while keeping the product secure during transport. Its integrated product retention system eliminates the need for additional inserts, protective packaging, or labels, thus reducing material usage and complexity. Designed to fit the 25 mm "large letter" format, it combines efficient delivery with a premium presentation thanks to the 400 g/m² Stora Enso Ensocoat 2S board. The ECEA public vote reached a new peak in 2026, with a record 8,716 votes cast – a 15% increase over 2025 – demonstrating the impressive reach of the cardboard industry.
The Rituals Deluxe 2025 Advent Calendar, created by Van Genechten Packaging using Stora Enso board, emerged as the winner of the 2026 Public Choice Award. Captivating voters, this design stood out for its ability to transform a familiar festive format into an immersive experience. As the holiday countdown progresses, the calendar evolves from a compact box into a three-dimensional diorama that expands in scale, combining layered illustrations and lighting effects to create a decorative centerpiece. Created for the 30th edition of ECEA, the new "Art of Cartonboard" award, sponsored by Fibenol, recognized the technical capabilities and creative potential of cardboard. This award was presented to cardboard converter MM Packaging (plant: MM Premium Vienna) and cardboard manufacturer Holmen Board and Paper for their innovative Diamond Edge® creation . Designed as a premium gift package for bottles, this packaging stands out with its eye-catching design that incorporates sharp, faceted edges directly into its structure.
Other category winners:
Beyond the special awards, the winners in the ECEA 2026 commercial category demonstrate the many possible applications of cardboard.
In the food and beverage packaging category, the "Confectionery Award" was given to cardboard converter Van Genechten Packaging and cardboard manufacturer Stora Enso for their revolutionary "Lindt & Sprüngli Felt" Advent calendar, which combines festive luxury and structural ingenuity thanks to its innovative foldable cardboard insert.
Furthermore, the "Beverages" award was presented to the Alzamora Group and board manufacturer Metsä Board for their vibrant double-wrapped "Buen Amigo" tequila packaging for Zamora, which celebrates rich Mexican culture while offering a premium and captivating opening experience thanks to its fan-like design.
The "Pharma & Health Care" award highlighted the versatility of board in specialized applications, with PAWI Packaging Deutschland GmbH and Holmen Board and Paper being recognized for their "EasyGuard" hearing aid starter kit, developed for Phonak. This design demonstrates how even small-format packaging can combine high-end impact and functionality, while also enabling a seamless transition from plastic to fiber-based materials.
In the "Beauty & Cosmetics" category, MM Packaging GmbH (plant: MMP Premium Polska Sp. z o.o.) and board manufacturer Stora Enso were awarded for "Pheym. Eau de Parfum," their original "drawer-style" perfume packaging.
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