SOUTH Cumbrian based papermaker James Cropper is celebrating after taking home a prestigious industry award from Design Week.

James Cropper COLOURFORM won in the 3D structural packaging category for its Second Skin case for Champagne house Maison Ruinart, which was created in collaboration with Pusterla 1880, using the papermaker’s thermoformed, plastic-free, moulded fibre packaging innovation.

The Second Skin case is made entirely from the trademarked moulded fibre and is nine times lighter than the previous box, reducing the carbon footprint by 60 per cent.

Marrying the use of a recyclable material and the need for functionality whilst delivering a case that has a premium feel was one of the elements which stood out to the judging panel. The judges said that the project shows great innovation and manages to be simple and contemporary while still feeling premium.

The award marks the ninth accolade for the team’s collaboration with Maison Ruinart which also includes this year’s Luxury Packaging Awards, the 2020 LuxePack in Green and People's Choice Awards, Best Folding Box gong at the Formes de Luxe Awards, the Resource Efficiency prize at the Sustainability Awards and Les Trophées Champenois 2020 ‘Packaging of the Year’ award.

Patrick Willink, COLOURFORM™ managing director, said: “This award acknowledges consumer demand for sustainable packaging solutions and highlights the very best eco-designed and responsible approaches.

"We are so proud of this project and absolutely thrilled to be recognised in the industry for the pioneering work we have created in collaboration with Maison Ruinart.”