Smurfit Kappa Announces Winners of First-Ever Packaging Design Challenge

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): European packaging major Smurfit Kappa announced winners of its first ever Better Planet Packaging Design Challenge. The competition was part of company’s efforts to offer a collaborative platform to address the rising volumes of non-recyclable waste across the world. The winners were selected from among 300 entries.

Eric Haas, a freelance product and packaging designer from Germany was adjudged the winner of the first challenge to develop an alternative for the plastic stretch wrap used around pallets. Eric developed a net-like structure, made from paper, capable to provide extra stability during transport and storage. Unlike plastic stretch wrap which are immediately discarded, the new product could potentially be reused.

Commenting on the achievement, Eric stated that he is excited about the immense potentials of his submission and is looking forward to seeing it being developed.

Kerstin Fischbacher, a student at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna won the second challenge, which was to develop a fully paper-based parcel with thermal protection for transporting chocolates. He developed a fully recyclable, biodegradable thermal insulation product made from paper pulp. The receipt of the prestigious award will open up possibilities to develop the idea further, said Kerstin, while commenting on her project winning the award.

The winning ideas were unveiled at the recently concluded Better Planet Packaging innovation event in the Netherlands. The company has already assigned Project Teams to explore the full potentials of the winning ideas.

Both the winners were awarded €8,000 prize fund each.