Crafting the future of glass packaging

‘These awards are far more than certificates on a wall,’ says Jaco Lombard, Ardagh’s manager of new product development. ‘They validate our commitment to innovation and excellence. Our team’s dedication to creating “packaging for good” drives everything we do.’

Ardagh’s results covered several categories: gold, silver and bronze in Alcoholic Beverages; the Localisation Award for the Scotch Local 750ml; the Glass Recycling Company Award for the technically demanding KWV VS Brandy bottle; and finalist recognition for Wild Africa Cream and the Henri Cognac Spirit Cooler. 

The local bottling of Scotch whisky – a first for South Africa – marks a meaningful development for the country’s spirits sector. ‘It’s a milestone for the entire beverage industry,’ Jaco says. ‘Supply chains become faster, more responsive. Our customers can seize opportunities that were previously slowed by shipping timelines.’

The KWV VS Brandy bottle’s single-contact-area design balances a heavy shoulder and thick base with an embossed wraparound panel that protects the label. Its technical and premium presentation earned it both gold and the Glass Recycling Company Award.

Silver went to the newly lightweighted KIX 330ml Raspberry bottle, a redesign that demonstrates sustainability, while bronze was awarded to Scotch Local once again, highlighting its strategic and sturdy design.

The Henri Cognac Spirit Cooler, a finalist in its category, was one of the most complex designs, notes Jaco. In collaboration with Maison de Saveur, Ardagh helped realise the world’s first approved cognac pre-mix, wrapped in a tall bottle engineered to handle intense vertical pressure. ‘What made the Henri project so dynamic was the collaboration,’ Jaco explains. ‘The customer trusted our expertise completely, which gave us creative freedom to innovate. That trust was crucial.’

The bottle’s silhouette is slim but not round, its ribs classify it as ‘shaped’ and its tilted centre of gravity was a manufacturing challenge. Early trials revealed two major issues: the bottle didn’t fit filling lines and it failed vertical load tests for transport. ‘We were almost at the point of starting from scratch,’ Jaco admits. Instead, the company redesigned the neck, rebalanced the geometry, partnered with a bottler who could adapt their line and fine-tuned the decoration process – especially tough since heat-bonded ink can weaken glass.