The winner of the international packaging design competition Better with Less – Design Challenge has been chosen. Exceptionally high-quality entries were submitted, and the winning design ‘Stretching Inner Part’ by Iiro Numminen, was considered by the judges to be extremely appealing, versatile, scalable and easy to implement.
The Better with Less – Design Challenge, organised by Metsä Board, aimed to find new environmentally-friendly and functional packaging solutions for some of the world’s most frequently used and fastest growing types of consumer packages. Launched in November 2017, the competition inspired designers around the world – altogether 302 design concepts were entered from 38 different countries. The international competition jury included renowned packaging design experts from various fields – related to packaging, design, brand strategy and innovation.
The winning design “Stretching Inner Part” was submitted into the e-commerce category. It is a corrugated box inner part that allows variable sized products to be packed without the need for bubble wrap. This versatile product could be used to pack various types of items and it ensures that the product stays attached to the package during transportation. Numminen will receive the main prize of 10,000 euros for his design.
“The winning design successfully eliminates the need for plastic thermoformed inserts of bubble wrap. The balance between the rigidity of the board and the strength required to support the product weight is well-thought through. This design is extremely appealing, versatile, scalable and adaptable for wide number of uses,” states the chairperson of the competition jury, Cyril Drouet, Design & Innovation Director of Metsä Board.
The 1st honorary mention went to the ‘Plastic banning toilet roll’ by Jeroen Caelen. His work was submitted to the ‘wild-card’ category. This new type of toilet paper packaging consists of a hexagonal tube designed from paperboard which also functions as a toilet paper roll holder. It appealed to both the judges and the wider audience as it was also the public’s favourite design.
The 2nd honorary mention was awarded to ‘The Moisture face creme cosmetic package’ designed by Abdullah Cam. The re-usable paperboard package is combined with a changeable plastic inner part. This solution makes plastic or foil coating unnecessary and recycling the package easier.
Pawel Krawczugo took home the 3rd honorary mention with his design ‘TWIST’, an inconspicuous but functional packaging design intended for the cosmetics industry and other industries. Both the 2nd and 3rd honorary awarded entries were submitted into the cosmetics category.
Metsä Board also offered an additional prize of an internship for one student with its packaging services team in Shanghai. ‘The Playing nature’, a snack packaging design that transforms into small puppets for children to play with, by Alessandro Grossi won the judges over in the student category.
“The honorary mentions and winner of the student category represent functional and fresh package designs with sustainability and consumer experience being at their core. Consumers are looking for brands and packaging that engage them, entertain and most of all connect them with good storytelling. Packages that are designed with sustainable materials and use materials smartly have a great story to tell and help enhance the consumer experience,” Drouet explains.
