Student Design Challenge Winners Find Sustainable Alternatives for Produce Packaging

AF&PA CONTACT: Clara Cozort
(202) 463-2722; comm@afandpa.org

PPC CONTACT: Brian Westerlind
(413) 686-9178, brian@paperbox.org

ATLANTA, GA – Today, the Paperboard Packaging Alliance (PPA) announced the winners of the 2024 Student Design Challenge, an annual competition in which university students in leading sustainable packaging design programs must create innovative paper-based packaging solutions to meet real-world customer needs and marketing scenarios.

A joint initiative of the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) and the Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC), this year's PPA Design Challenge tasked design teams from universities across the country to create sustainable, stackable paperboard packaging for fresh produce products.

Student design projects from the following schools were named as winners:

• 1st Place: Pennsylvania College of Art & Design: SPUDS Potatoes 
• 2nd Place: Rochester Institute of Technology: Grovey Garlic
• 3rd Place: California Polytechnic University: Lively Roots Potatoes 

“All of the projects submitted for the competition showcase the promising design and creativity of these up-and-coming paperboard packaging leaders,” said Heidi Brock, AF&PA President and CEO. “We are pleased to collaborate with sustainable packaging organizations like the PPC to support the Paperboard Packaging Alliance. Together, we are empowering the next generation of paperboard packaging decision makers with real-world design experience that prepares them for future opportunities in our industry.”

“Congratulations to this year’s winners and to all of the Design Challenge participants for their outstanding packaging designs,” said Ben Markens, PPC President. “Through the process, they created viable and sustainable solutions that will prepare them for successful careers in the packaging industry. We are thrilled to connect them with industry leaders at our annual Fall Conference this year in Atlanta.”

Additional acknowledgements were announced for the following entries:

• People’s Choice Award: California Polytechnic University: Lively Roots Potatoes 

Honorable Mentions:

• California Polytechnic University: Fun-Guys
• California Polytechnic University: Ripe ‘n’ Ready

Shout Out:

• University of Wisconsin Stout: Klamshell Killer
• Toronto Metropolitan: Jay’s Cherries

The Paperboard Packaging Alliance honored the winners on September 30, during the 2024 Fall Meeting & Leadership Conference, which brought together more than 280 paperboard packaging professionals.

For more information, visit paperboardpackaging.org.