PaperBurstTech® Wins Best Innovation at GCVA Hall of Fame Awards
Innovation Recognised by Industry Judges
Certus Card Group is pleased to announce that PaperBurstTech® has won Best Innovation in Gift Card Manufacturing at the GCVA Hall of Fame Awards 2026.
The award marks a second win for PaperBurstTech® this year, following its success at the Printweek Awards, where it was named Innovation of the Year Applications: Packaging.
Innovation Recognised by Industry Judges
Award Winning Innovation
PaperBurstTech® is Certus’ tamper-evident paperboard carrier, developed to provide an additional layer of protection for physical gift cards in retail environments.
The technology uses precisely applied adhesives that bond with the paperboard structure. If the packaging is opened or interfered with, the paper fibres break, leaving clear and visible evidence of tampering.
The concept was developed and tested in collaboration with partners across the gift card industry before being brought to market as a recyclable, paper-based security solution.
What the judges said
In awarding PaperBurstTech® Best Innovation in Gift Card Manufacturing, the GCVA judges recognised both the challenge the technology addresses and the wider thinking behind its development.
ABOUT
"
They also highlighted the way PaperBurstTech® was developed with multiple stakeholders in mind, including retailers, distributors, brands and consumers, alongside its more sustainable and recyclable approach to gift card packaging.
The judges praised the ambition and investment behind the project, as well as the extensive testing and collaboration required to bring the solution to market.
ABOUT
"
A Proud Moment for the Certus Team
The award was presented at the GCVA Hall of Fame Awards, where members of the Certus team joined colleagues from across the gift card industry to celebrate the achievements of the sector.
Commenting on the win, Kirsty Leigh-Dodd, Marketing Manager at Certus Card Group, said:
“To have PaperBurstTech® recognised for the second time this year is a really proud moment for everyone involved. A huge amount of work has gone into taking this from an idea to an award-winning solution.
“What makes this recognition particularly meaningful is that it comes from the gift card industry itself. We work closely with brands, retailers and partners across this market every day, so to have the innovation recognised by the people who understand the challenges it was designed to solve means a great deal to the whole team.”
A second award in 2026 is a fantastic achievement for everyone involved in the development of PaperBurstTech® and another proud milestone for Certus Card Group.
A huge thank you to the GCVA and its judging panel for the recognition, and congratulations to all of this year’s winners and finalists.
Find Out More
Speak to our team to explore how tamper-evident packaging can help protect your gift card programme.