Celebrating Innovation in Reusable Packaging
Honoring Breakthrough Solutions That Drive Change
How it Works
The Excellence in Reusable Packaging Award winners are selected by an independent panel of expert judges.
The 2026 Excellence in Reusable Packaging Awards will be presented at PACK EXPO International (October 18–21) during the Excellence Award ceremony held on Tuesday, October 20, at the close of the two-day Reusable Packaging Learning Center program. These prestigious awards recognize companies that have developed and implemented innovative reusable transport packaging solutions delivering measurable environmental, economic, and operational impact within their supply chains.
The program features three award categories. The Reusable System Award is open to primary (end-user) companies and their suppliers, regardless of RPA membership. The Design Innovation Award and Product Technology Award are exclusive to RPA member companies.
Winners receive a commemorative trophy, industry recognition on RPA’s website, public relations and social media, and publication of their case studies for broader industry visibility. Primary user winners also receive a complimentary one-year RPA membership and hotel lodging to attend and present at the awards ceremony.
The application period closes on May 1, 2026. CLICK HERE to access the Excellence Awards application.
01
Reusable System
Excellence in Reusable Packaging System for business-to-business distribution of goods from point of production to point of use or sale.
02
Design Innovation
Excellence in Reusable Packaging Design Innovation for a cutting-edge material use or product feature.
03
Product Technology
Excellence in Reusable Packaging Product Technology for advanced data capture/transmission or automated handling operations.
Meet the 2025 Winners
Excellence in Reusable Packaging Awards
General Motors and KAMPS won the Reusable System award category for executing a comprehensive national pallet management program that provided end-to-end visibility and control over pallet assets, unlocked cost savings through a circular model, and lowered the operation’s environmental footprint. The Reusable System category recognizes primary (end-user) companies and their suppliers that have developed and implemented measurable reusable packaging solutions within a business-to-business supply chain.
Award for
Design Innovation
A product development partnership between Cabka and CHEP led to their win in the Design Innovation award category with the market introduction of the Zirconic Foldable Large Container, which combines advanced engineering with sustainable principles to address modern logistical challenges while reducing environmental impact. The Design Innovation category celebrates the commercial use of a cutting-edge product design that led to a business application benefit.
Award for
Product Technology
inotec group takes the prize in the Product Technology award category by creating a custom-made radio-frequency identification (RFID) label solution that was in-molded into a reusable tray for plants for cost-effective, lasting performance in asset tracking and inventory management. The Product Technology category salutes the deployment of smart and automated systems with reusable transport packaging.