O-I’s Helix cork and glass bottle system has won its seventh international award – this time in the UK. It won the Best Green Launch at the 2015 Drinks Business Green Awards in London. It is the only drinks industry awards in the world that recognise and encourage environmental responsibility and sustainability. Patrick Schmitt, editor in chief of Drinks Business said that Helix had won through a closely fought contest because of its ‘wow’ factor. "Helix's appeal lies in its convenience and ease of opening, while also flagging up all the sustainability credentials of natural cork," he explained. Helix is the result of four year’s R&D between Amorim & Irmaos and O-I. But this is not the first award that Helix has won during its development period. Following its successful launch to the world’s wine industry at Vinexpo on 2013, and the subsequent test and trial period, accolades for what has been billed as the most exciting closure concept of the century have been received from the ‘Packaging Oscars’ of both France and Italy, as well as key awards for design and innovation. Benoit Villaret, wine segment leader at O-I Europe said: "With this seventh award, Helix has demonstrated it is a commercial and environmental success as well as a great concept. Even at the awards ceremony, we started fresh conversations with people who were keen to investigate the potential of Helix for their brands."
