PPC Hosts Q&A With Paperboard Packaging Competition Winner Innovation in folding carton packaging rarely comes from a single idea. More often, it emerges from a series of thoughtful design decisions that balance brand identity, sustainability goals, manufacturing realities, and the ev- er-present pressure to reduce cost and complexity. That balance is exactly what our Annual Paperboard Packaging Competition was created to recognize. Each year, the competition highlights the most creative and technically advanced cartons produced across North America, celebrating the craftsmanship, ingenuity, and col- laboration that drive the industry forward. At the 82nd Annual Paperboard Packaging Competi- tion, RRD Packaging Solutions captured the competition’s top honor, Package of the Year, for its work on the Quip Rev Toothbrush package. The design stood out to judges for its distinctive curved structure, plastic-free materials, and thoughtful engineering that reduced both material use and manufacturing complexity while maintaining a strong shelf presence. Behind that result was a design process that chal- lenged conventional trade-offs. Could a package maintain a distinctive retail identity while reducing cost? Could sus- tainability goals be met without sacrificing production effi- ciency? And could the entire structure be simplified while still protecting the product and supporting high-volume fulfillment? To explore how those questions were answered, PPC spoke with Joe Schewe, Director of Structural Design (CPP) at RRD Packaging Solutions, about the thinking be- hind the design and the broader trends shaping innova- tion in paperboard packaging. PPC: What was the core problem the Quip Rev pack- aging needed to solve, and what “non-negotiables” were set from the start (performance, sustainability, brand expe- rience, cost, etc.)? Joe Schewe (JS): Since their inception, Quip has stressed the importance of having a unique, attention-grab-
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THE HAIRE GROUP www.hairegroup.com
Haire Group is the premier provider of new machinery for the corrugated industry. From the Apstar line of flexo folder gluers and rotary die cutters, the Encore line of flexo folder gluers and rotary die cutters, and the Engico flexo folder glu- er, Haire is able to pair clients with the best machinery solu- tions for the best value to meet their needs. Haire Group’s service department helps its customers maximize uptime and profitability through superior 24/7 service and support, a pre-install training center, and over a million dollars’ worth of spare parts at their offices just outside of Chicago. Haire Group has been the industry’s #1 pre-owned machinery bro- ker and plant equipment appraiser since 1976. HarperLove is the leading provider of specialty adhesives, performance additives, and wet-strength resins to corru- gated packaging manufacturers. With the largest and most experienced field service and technical support team posi- tioned throughout the U.S. and Latin America, HarperLove has a long-standing reputation for providing outstanding service and delivering demonstrable performance improve- ments. HarperLove’s renowned services include not only innovative product development and custom product for- mulation, but also machine and process assessments, ad- hesive formula adjustments, machine tuning, detailed ser- vice reporting, and more. HARPERLOVE www.HarperLove.com Kernic Systems has been a leading global provider of re- cycling equipment solutions since 1978. For over 40 years, Kernic Systems has provided balers, air conveying and dust collection systems, shredders, industrial vacuums, and re- cycling equipment to a wide range of markets. Today, Ker- nic Systems serves customers with an expanded offering of standard products and custom-engineered systems through three primary business divisions: Recycling Solu- tions, Dust Collection and Air Pollution Control, and Material Handling. Kiwiplan provides state-of-the-art software solutions to corrugated, folding carton, plastics and flexible packag- ing facilities around the globe. Kiwiplan’s Total Solution delivers comprehensive, seamless real-time flow of in- formation from sales order management to dynamic total plant scheduling and inventory control through shipping. With deep manufacturing and distribution expertise, Ki- wiplan knows the specific problems customers face and provides the specialized software they need to adapt, compete, and win in today's rapidly changing world.. KERNIC SYSTEMS www.kernicsystems.com KIWIPLAN www.kiwiplan.com
bing look on the retail shelf. Their previous packaging iterations in- cluded curved edges, which stood out from standard, squared-off car- tons and were the primary driver for all initial concepts. Beyond the curved edges that signified their brand, other requirements included using plastic-free, recyclable materi-
Joe Schewe
als. Lastly, they wanted to reduce the overall cost of their packaging while allowing for reasonable filling and assem- bly times in manufacturing. PPC: As the packaging design evolved, where did you have to make the hardest trade-offs between protection, sustainability, shelf presence, and production realities?
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28 April 20, 2026
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