SHOWCASING THE FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY

Student Flexible Packaging Design Challenge

The student, or team of students, who develops the first place winning entry will receive $1,000 and the second place winning entry will receive $500.

A Prestigious Competition

The Student Flexible Packaging Design Challenge has become a prestigious competition within the flexible packaging industry honoring flexible packaging solutions developed by students. Flexible packaging is used to package a wide variety of items. From retail food to medical and pharmaceutical products, the packaging possibilities are endless. The only limit is imagination!

The Challenge 

The Challenge for students is to develop a flexible package solution that addresses a packaging issue, such as consumer convenience or the protection of food. The package should:

  • Advance the use of flexible packaging;
  • Make an improvement over an existing flexible package;
  • Convert a non-flexible package into a flexible package; or
  • Package a product that is not currently available in flexible packaging.

How To Compete

Students are asked to submit a concept outline which will be evaluated and when approved, students may begin the development of the package prototype/bench sample. Students may work on the design in conjunction with their packaging schools. FPA members may be available as mentors to students advancing to the flexible packaging prototype/bench sample development round.


Stay tuned for the 2024 competition dates!

FPA 204 Student Flexible Packaging Design Challenge

Thank you for your interest in the Student Flexible Packaging Design Challenge! The "Challenge" honors flexible packaging solutions developed by students. Flexible packaging is used to package a wide variety of items. From retail food to medical and pharmaceutical products, the packaging possibilities are endless. The only limit is your imagination! The details for the 2024 competition will be posted as soon as they become available.

Congratulations to the 2023 Winners

FIRST PLACE HONORS

Sprout Ease

Students: Caroline Powell, Emily Kovarik, and Jason Li

School: California Polytechnic State University

Professor: Joongmin Shin, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Introducing the revolutionary Sprout Ease stand-up pouch! The innovative design not only boasts recycled plastic material but also reduces carbon emissions by minimizing transportation space with its lightweight, foldable gusset feature. And that's just the beginning. Say goodbye to traditional plant-growing pots and hello to Sprout Ease. The pouches offer a sustainable alternative to conventional plant pots, with the added convenience of built-in drainage for watering. The easy-peel drainage feature allows you to control the amount of water your seeds receive, ensuring optimal growing conditions for every plant. But it's not just what's inside the pouch that counts – the manufacturing process is just as environmentally conscious. I prioritize energy efficiency by minimizing material modification processes and utilizing heat sealing and hole puncturing for drainage. Join me in revolutionizing the way we grow plants and protecting our planet with the Sprout Ease stand-up pouch.

SECOND PLACE HONORS

Puppy Chow Kit

Student Team: Olivia Leipnitz, Elaina Marxen, Annabelle Meyer, and Ella Stelter

School: University of Wisconsin – Stout

Professor: Gary Borges, Associate Professor

The Puppy Chow Kit would change the way of making puppy chow altogether. This innovative design reduces packaging waste, food waste, minimizes the use of utensils and dishes, and creates a new storage method. This flexible material would be sustainable because the chosen material of 90% PCR content based. This product would greatly increase customer convenience and would reduce the amount of clutter in the kitchen.

HONORABLE MENTION

Double Guacamole Flexible Pack

Student Team: Trenton Klabon, Ann Rackliffe, and Derick Vollendorf

School: University of Wisconsin – Stout

Professor: Gary Borges, Associate Professor

Guacamole has a short life of desirability and quickly turns unappealing to consumers when exposed to air. Our packaging design helps to minimize this problem by taking a standard size of the product and compartmentalizing it. This allows our single package format to get both benefits of a large and small package. Consumers now get a more consistent product than they would normally receive in the larger format. This design saves the product, reduces materials used, and is recyclable creating a package that is more sustainable and reduces waste. This concept can be adapted to other sensitive products for applications.