Packaging Innovation Contest De Gouden Noot
Since its inception in 1958, Packaging Innovation Contest De Gouden Noot (“The Golden Walnut”) has developed into the world's most competitive packaging contest. With De Gouden Noot, NVC Netherlands Packaging Centre stimulates 'holistic' innovation in packaged products and packaging. The contest has no subcategories; all entries are judged on their over-all innovativeness.
The contest owes its name to the unique winner’s trophy containing a solid gold walnut, symbol of sustainable, effective and innovative packaging. Winning brings significant worldwide fame, both ‘online’ and ‘physical’ through leading packaging exhibitions and events, including interpack 2026. Participation also gives the company and its employees recognition for all their innovation efforts.
The judging takes place in two rounds. The jury is independent and its members cover all aspects of packaging. Chairman of the jury is Professor Renee Wever. In the first round of the judgment, in April 2026, ten finalists will be selected from a maximum of forty entries. Non-finalists will receive a report containing the jury's findings on their entry.
In the second round of judging, in September 2026, the finalists will each be given the opportunity to present their entries to the entire jury. The jury will then decide which entry wins the Gold and which one wins the Silver and Bronze.
Register for De Gouden Noot 2026
The 33rd edition of De Gouden Noot has started and entries are open.
Winners and finalists De Gouden Noot 2024
The award ceremony of the 32nd edition of packaging innovation competition De Gouden Noot took place on Thursday 10 October 2024, and was streamed live from the A'DAM Tower. During this amazing livestream, presented by Francesca Vanthielen, De Gouden Noot was given away with its runners-up.
The 32nd edition of packaging innovation competition De Gouden Noot has been won by PACKSYS GmbH with their Ophthalmic plus bottle: an innovatively designed eyedropper bottle for older as well as younger people. Silver went to DS Smith's Lift Up: a well thought out multipack for PET bottles. Bronze was won by Berlin Packaging with their BUNCKER Pro Line Heavy for safe storage and transport of lithium batteries. You can see the winners and the other finalists here.
The winners and finalists will be shown at various trade shows and events, including interpack 2026, Empack Den Bosch 2025, and FACHPACK 2025.
For more information, please contact Corné Huijben, manager NVC Knowledge Development and Projects via c.huijben@nvc.nl or contact the NVC association office (telephone +31-182-512411 or e-mail info@nvc.nl).
