Rules for entry

• All entries must be manufactured for sale
• Entries may be submitted by anyone but all entries must have been printed and converted by an ECMA or Pro Carton member
• All entries must be produced predominantly from cartonboard or cartonboard laminated to microflute (with a depth of 1mm or less)
• All entries must have been produced and sold in 2011, 2012 or 2013
• Promotional cartons either for cartonmakers or cartonboard manufacturers cannot be entered
• If entries need to be returned, this will be at the cost of the entrant
• All entries must be accompanied by a completed entry form signed by a company representative and with a written approval from the brand owner
• All entries should wherever possible contain the product for judging purposes. This is not essential for perishable goods
• Each entry will be judged on the merits of the carton only
• For the volume market category, carton entries must have been sold in quantities exceeding 1 million units. “Families” of cartons which exceed this quantity may be entered
• Entrants may submit unlimited entries
• The carton manufacturer’s name should not appear on the carton if possible. If it does, it will be hidden from the judges
• Three examples of each entry should be submitted
• All entries should be submitted under one of the categories. Entries may be reclassified at the judges’ discretion
• The results will be announced at the ECMA Congress: 19th September in Dubrovnik
• Pro Carton and ECMA reserve the right to use all entries for publicity purposes
• The decision of the judges will be final

Judging criteria
All entries will be judged against the following criteria

• Structural design
• Graphic design
• Marketing concept
• Innovation
• Carton manufacturing sophistication
• Packaging performance
• Machineability, processing and handling
• The judges will select from all entries the Carton of the Year, the Most Innovative Design and the Sustainability Award. The Sustainability award will be judged as the entry that best demonstrates the sustainability of cartons and cartonboard

Entrants are asked to highlight specific “sustainability attributes” with their entry

Procedure for entry

• Entry forms must be signed by a representative of the company making the entry
• A letter of approval, signed by the brand owner, must accompany each entry
• A minimum of three samples, preferably with contents, should be submitted for judging
• If the content is not available please replace with a dummy or a photo to give an impression of the packaging/product concept
• Entry forms should be completed as fully as possible in English, French, German, Spanish or Italian.
• Carefully pack and send entries to
  Pro Carton/ECMA
  Laan Copes Van Cattenburch 79
  NL-2585 EW The Hague, Netherlands
• Entry fee/s: € 100.- per entry;
  further entries per entrant/production unit: -25%;
  early bird entries by 2nd May: -10%
  should be paid as indicated on the entry form.
  No entry will be accepted unless the full fee has been paid
• Entry- and brand owner approval forms in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish are available at www.procartonecmaaward.com
• Closing date 6th June 2013