Canvironment Week received a surprise boost at Interpack when it was declared the winner of the EMPAC Challenge by European Metal Packaging, the association which brings together the European producers of rigid metal packaging. The prize of EUR 10,000 was awarded to Mr Atit Bhatia president of Canvironment Week for this innovative initiative from India an entirely new and out of the box strategy for how to communicate the sustainability of metal packaging around the world. On receiving the prize he announced that the moneys would be used to provide benefits to the rag pickers of India during Canvironment Week 2011.

Canvironment Week 2011 was presented earlier in the week at the Metal Packaging Forum hosted by Empac at Interpack and was followed by the ringing of the Sustainability Bell at Metpack & Interpack marking the launch of the proceedings of Canvironment Week 2011 in presence of leading can makers, industry leaders, and government bodies representing different countries. Dignitaries from the government who supported and graced the occasion were Shri Harish Chander Commerce Counsel Embassy of India Frankfurt, Dr Gerhard Eschenbaum deputy ED and director of International Business at Dusseldorf Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Mr Atit Bhatia also gave presentation on the Canvironment project and highlighted the achievements of Canvironment Week 2010.

Mr Atit Bhatia president of Canvironment Week and Sr VP of Hindustan Tin Works Limited said that “We are extremely thankful to the jury members who rated Canvironment Week as an Innovative, Useful, Realistic and Scalable initiative. Both the awards at Metpack and Interpack were recognition of the work executed in India during Canvironment Week 2010 and very motivating for us to move forward to scale up Canvironment Week in the years to come.”