The Japan Packaging Contest is held every year under the sponsorship of the Japan Packaging lnstitute with the aim of promoting development and spread of high-quality packages and packaging techniques over the country. With the five major features shown below, it is the nation's greatest and most influential contest in this field.

(1) GP Mark for Superior Package

The contest is intended for determining the highest level of the Japan's current packaging technology. The year's best packages are selected in view of materials, concepts, techniques, design, logistics, Sales promotions, ideas, environment, suitability and various other functions. All prize-winning packages will be permitted to use the GP mark representing their excellent quality.

(2) All Good Packages to be Exhibited

All packages winning awards in the Japan Packaging Contest will be displayed in "Japan Production & Packaging in Daily Life 2009" to be held in fall of 2009.

(3) Excellent Examples of Appropriate Packages

In each product category, particulary excellent or highly improved products will be selected based on judgment on whether they are designed thoroughly for users' sake, consistent with functional requirements, small in surplus space, weight and cost, and compatible with resources and labor-saving requirements. In the category of transportation, importance is also attached, in addition to the above criteria, to systematization which can contribute to the modernization of physical distribution.

(4) Covering from Design to Logistics

Ranging from individual packaging to outer packaging, the contest covers all types of packaging, including consumer packaging and transport packaging. "Covering from design to logistics" is the contest's unique and most important feature.

(5) Entry for Asiastar and Worldstar Contests

The packages winning awards in the Japan Packaging Contest will be admitted to the Asiastar Contest which will be held under the sponsorship of the Asian Packaging Federation ( APF ). Furthermore, selected packages will be permitted to enter the Worldstar Competition sponsored by the World Packaging Organisation ( WPO ) for the competition with packages from various countries all over the world.