The Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) announces the 2013 winners of its AmeriStar Package Awards Competition, considered North America’s most prestigious packaging awards competition.

Judges evaluated and analyzed packages from 15 categories at IoPP headquarters in Naperville, Ill., on April 23. Student AmeriStar entries were judged virtually by another panel of judges from across the country. Judging was based on package innovation, sustainability, protection, economics, performance and marketing.

Winning packages will be honored at the AmeriStar and Visionary Awards Ceremony, which will be held June 19 at EastPack in Philadelphia. Several companies will be recognized for their food packaging:

NewPage Specialty Papers, Miamisburg, Ohio, receives the Sustainability Award in the Food, Shelf Stable category for LittleFoot 100% Compostable Packaging Barrier Product.

Progressive Packaging Inc., Minneapolis, receives an AmeriStar award in the Food, Refrigerated category for Hormel Project REV Wraps.

Receiving AmeriStar awards in the Food, Shelf Stable category are Kellogg Co., Battle Creek, Mich., for the Kashi post consumer HDPE bag; Frito-Lay, Plano, Texas, for the flat bottom pillow bag; and The Hershey Co., Hershey, Pa., for the mixed media retail ready display case.

For more information, visit www.iopp.org/ameristar.