Metsä Board Americas presented its "Better with Less" design challenge at PACK EXPO Las Vegas, focusing on sustainable packaging solutions. Nate Pajka, the sustainability manager, discussed the competition, which invites designers globally to create eco-friendly consumer packaging. This annual event, now in its fifth year, has consistently showcased innovative designs aimed at reducing environmental impact.
Pajka highlighted the 2018 winning design, the flexible inner part, which aims to replace traditional bubble wrap. "In this design, our designer wanted to replace the need for bubble wrap by designing a completely mono-material paperboard package that flexes with the product inside to form sort of a cocoon," he explained. This design ensures that products remain secure during transport and can be easily recycled, aligning with the competition's sustainability goals.
The "Better with Less" challenge continues to inspire packaging designers to develop solutions that balance functionality and environmental responsibility. Pajka expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming competition, anticipating innovative contributions from talented designers worldwide.
Hi, my name is Nate Pajka. I am the sustainability manager for Metsä Board Americas. And today I talked about our design better, better with less design challenge here at the innovation stage at PACK EXPO Las Vegas, where we as designers from all around the world, come up with new sustainable solutions to frequently use consumer packages. This is a competition that we do every year, and this is our fourth, our fifth year going, and I have with me the 2018 winner, the flexible inner part. In this design, our designer wanted to replace the need for bubble wrap by designing a completely mono material paperboard package that flexes with the product inside to form sort of a cocoon, so that when product is in transport, it stays safe, it doesn't hit sides, and it can be very easily recycled. We're so excited for next year, for 2023 competition where we're gonna see what our very talented designers from all around the world can come up with.
