The list of finalists in the Starpack 2007 Awards clearly illustrates the renewed impact that environmental considerations, such as the use of lightweight and sustainable materials, are having on pack designs for food and drink.

Innovation are not limited to categories such as 'Best Innovation to Reduce Waste'.

Design Bridge for example, has developed a glass jar for Unilever Best Foods' Knorr Ragu with a strong 3D identity.

"As well as creating a recyclable container, we also managed to 'recycle' the packaging and filling line to ensure maximum speed and minimum capex investment," says creative director David Helps.

Finalists in the waste-reduction category include Dairy Crest. Nampak produced milk bottles for Dairy Crest customer Marks & Spencer using 30% food-grade recycled high density polyethylene content. Using the same proportion of recyclate in all Dairy Crest bottles would save 5,500t of waste, it says.

Brewers Adnams and Coors are also lining up for awards in this category. Both are using lightweight glass packaging for beer produced by O-I. Adnams's, 500ml bottle weighs less than 300g, and is the lightest of its size in the industry, and the Coors bottle took the weight of a 300ml pack down to 190g, a reduction of 30g, while retaining critical dimensions.

The Starpack awards take place on May 15.