MANS sustainable packaging receives the top prize at the WorldStar Packaging Awards
Thu, 12/05/2019 - 12:11
The MANS social cooperative has received the top honours for its sustainable packaging at the WorldStar Packaging Awards, the leading packaging awards in the world .In order to vie for these awards, packaging has to have previously received an award in a national contest held by members of an international organisation. In Spain, this means the Liderpack Awards, which are run by Graphispack and Hispack. MANS packaging received two awards at the last Liderpack awards as the most innovative packaging in the food category and for its packaging process.
The cooperative, which receives support from Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation, aims to be a leading figure in the "zero waste" movement by reducing plastic and waste in the sale of organic fruit and vegetables. More specifically, widespread use of the new MANS packaging would save more than 5 tonnes of plastic per year in supermarkets and large retailers where the cooperative’s products are sold.
During the 2020 edition of the WorldStar Awards, 214 (out of 321) types of packagingfrom a total of 36 countries received awards, including 10 packaging items from Spain. The jury for the awards is made up of representatives from 36 packaging associations, all members of the World Packaging Organization.
The number of winners at the 2020 edition of the awards was as follows, by category: Drinks 48 (out of 59 applicants); Electronics 7 (out of 9); Food 48 (out of 71); Health and Personal Care 18 (out of 33); Home 13 (out of 16); Labelling and decoration 3 (out of 7); 10 luxury products (out of 16), Medical and pharmaceutical 7 (out of 7); Others 14 (out of 22), Packaging materials and components 19 (out of 34); Point of sale 9 (out of 15) and Logistics 18 (out of 32).
MANS packaging is the most environmentally friendly option in two ways. Firstly because it uses biodegradable materials: a compostable and biodegradable tray, and a mesh net that is primarily made of cotton. Second, because it uses very little material, weighing just 16 grams: 15 grams for the tray and 1 gram to the mesh.
MANS is committed to reducing its environmental impact across all areas involving the production and distribution of its organic products. As a result of this commitment, the cooperative has designed new packaging for its organic products in collaboration with local companies, in order to continue to work towards making the packaging for their products even more sustainable.
About MANS
The social cooperative MANS, supported by Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation, works on the fields in collaboration with Catalan farmers to grow and sell organic produce, with the aim of creating workspaces for people with disabilities, especially young people at risk of exclusion and people with intellectual disabilities or mental illnesses, helping them in the process of social integration and to join the workforce. Currently, the MANS cooperative offers work opportunities to 41 people with disabilities: 29 at the MANS headquarters, 5 at its vegetable gardens in Sant Benet, 5 in Puigvert, and 2 at the Topromi foundation.
