The FPA is proud to launch this brand new Award for 2026. 

This award recognises FPA members who make a positive difference to people and society – whether through their local community, the wider economy, or by supporting and improving the wellbeing of their employees.

In 400 words or less, applicants should describe how their organisation has demonstrated a strong commitment to social responsibility and made a measurable, lasting impact.

Entries may include (but are not limited to):

• Responsible or ethical sourcing of products and services.

• Engagement with stakeholders or community groups.

• Care and support for the local community or environment.

• Building positive relationships with community organisations and schools.

• Programmes that enhance employee welfare, volunteering, or personal development.

• Initiatives promoting health, wellbeing, inclusion, or care for those in need.

Judges will be looking for initiatives that are thoughtfully planned, effectively delivered, and clearly beneficial to people or communities. The scale of your activities is not important – what matters is the impact and how well you’ve achieved your objectives.

Please note: environmental actions directly related to your packaging production, material use, product disposal, or logistics should be entered under the FPA Sustainability Award, not this category.

The FPA Designer Award recognises in-house packaging and product designers and their creativity and inventiveness in providing solutions to meet their customers’ needs.

Judged by an independent panel, judges will be looking for imagination and the ability to create designs that bring something different to the market. Design can include the style and look of existing packs such as graphics and/or creating new packaging and product solutions to reflect new foodservice needs – such as new food concepts and changes in environmental legislation.

The independent judges will be seeking some or all of the following:

• How the designers have addressed aspects such as the environment and legislation into their thinking.
• Graphics, style, and branding
• Ability to give packs and products uniqueness.
• Having a feel for how their packs and products will be used by the public; demonstrating an understanding of their changing needs; and enhancing their foodservice experience.
• Demonstrating their awareness of resource efficiency and circularity.
• Creating technical advantages and functional improvements.
• Using design to achieve savings in outer packaging and shipping materials, and to make savings in shipping charges.
• Developing new shapes so filling equipment can operate more effectively.
• Making use of AI.
• Their ability to add value.

Scale is not a key factor. Links to examples should be provided in support of the submission.

While your submission may reference your company's products the products themselves will not be considered. Product entries should be entered into the Product Innovation Award.

The FPA Environmental Sustainability Award recognises the huge amount of resource FPA members invest in reducing the environmental impact of their activities and in contributing positively to the environment.

Included in this category are schemes that reduce your carbon impact, improvements in the use of resources including materials, ingredients, energy and water, adapting logistics to reduce the energy/carbon required for each pack delivered, reducing waste, organising collection schemes for used packaging, ensuring your packaging once is used is reprocessed and making back office organisation more resource efficient.

The scale of initiatives is not a judging consideration. Judges will be looking for well thought out, targeted and planned policies which have a strong benefit, achieved your objectives, and will continue to do so in the longer-term and have been embedded into the culture of your business. Entries may reflect a single action or a whole campaign.

Inevitably submissions will reference packs and products but should focus on aspects such as improvements  in resources to produce and distribute them and not the benefits and features of the packs and products themselves. They should be entered into the FPA Product Innovation Award

The 2026 FPA Manufacturer Award is decided on the votes of the FPA's Distributor members. Only one vote per member company. The first vote received will be counted and subsequent votes will be ignored.

The FPA Marketing Campaign Award recognises excellence in marketing and promotion by FPA member companies. Campaigns can include advertising, social media, video, exhibitions, posters, merchandise, websites, email, promotions and print including brochures.

Judged by an independent panel, judges will be looking for creativity, impact and effectiveness in producing results measured against objectives and budget. Overall spend is not a key factor and small, well targeted campaigns are as equally welcome as those backed by big budgets. 

While your submission may reference your products the products themselves should not be entered into this award but into the Product Innovation Award.

The 2026 FPA National Distributor Award is decided on the votes of the FPA's Manufacturer members. Only one vote per member company. The first vote received will be counted, and subsequent votes will be ignored.

FPA members are invited to enter packaging and foodservice related products for use front of house or back of house, which were introduced to the market within the 18 months prior to 01 March 2026.

ENTRIES SHOULD DEMONSTRATE INNOVATION IN AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
 

• Responding positively to changes in legislation. 
• Improving resource use. 
• Reducing packaging waste. 
• Minimising food waste.
• Encouraging responsible disposal.
• Making refuse collection simpler.
• Demonstrating proven improvements in recycling / composting in real-world conditions.
• Offering improvements in cost.
• Meeting /exceeding safety and hygiene regulations.
• Supporting the introduction of new food and drink offerings.
• Meeting /exceeding the requirement to keep food in excellent condition for meal deliveries.
• Reflecting new distribution channels.
• Meeting the needs of specific targets and/or occasions and events.
• Improving customer experience and enjoyment.
• Demonstrating strong branding and design (including within supporting promotional campaigns).

The 2026 FPA Regional Distributor Award is decided on the votes of the FPA's Manufacturer members. Only one vote per member company. The first vote received will be counted, and subsequent votes will be ignored.

The Rising Star Award not only recognises the industry stars of the future, but also has a prize of an FPA contribution to a Packaging Higher & Degree Apprenticeship at Sheffield Hallam University, which consists of a hybrid of online and in-person lectures. 

The FPA is proud to launch this new award for 2026.