With growing concerns over waste and environmental impact, packaging is under the spotlight. While sustainable materials are key, the next frontier is designing packaging that doesn’t end when the product does. This brief challenges students to create dual purpose packaging solutions that extend their usefulness beyond initial use, reducing waste and adding long term value.
The Brief
Design a sustainable packaging solution for a product of your choice —cosmetics, food, electronics, fashion, or homewares. The packaging must have a meaningful second life once the product is used. This could involve reuse, transformation, or upcycling into something practical, decorative, or playful. The repurposed design should offer genuine value and appeal to users, encouraging long-term use rather than ending up as waste. Avoid gimmicks; focus on functionality and desirability to promote sustainability and reduce landfill. This brief invites the next generation of designers to think holistically about the lifespan and consumer behaviour, designing for longevity, circularity, and delight.
- Prioritise eco-friendly materials with a clear rationale for selection.
- Integrate innovative structural design that allows reuse or repurposing.
- Communicate the second life function clearly and effectively to consumers.
- Consider ease of manufacture and real-world viability.
Inspiration Example (not to be copied)
- A juice carton that folds to be a bird feeder.
- A takeaway box that becomes a plant pot.
- A cosmetic package that doubles as a travel case or vanity organiser.
An explanation of the materials used is required, and you are free to use any material you choose. These do not need to be limited to a single substrate, a combination of materials is acceptable. However, please carefully consider the source and origin of each material, as well as the environmental impact associated with its production, processing, and (eventually) end of life disposal. Your choices should reflect a thoughtful approach to sustainability, durability, and environmental responsibility.
Entry Guidelines
Entries must include uploads of the developments boards
- No model required.
- VIsualise the texture/inclusion on how you believe it should look/feel.
The 4 A3 development boards uploaded as a single PDF document should include the following:
- Research board
- Design exploration board
- Final design solution.
Development boards must not show the entrant’s name or university/college.
- The project names submitted at the time of entry will be printed as typed, if there are any errors and certificates/trophies need replacing, then the entrant will be liable for these costs.
- If you are not able to attend the ceremony in person or the ceremony becomes virtual, certificates and trophies will be sent by post to the entrants to the mailing address listed in the entry in early July 2026.
- Please make sure you have access to the mailing address past term times. If you are unsure, please enter your home address.
- IOM3 is unable to issue replacements for certificates/trophies sent to wrong addresses.
- The entry fee is £20 per entry.
- You will be invoiced for the entry payment once you have submitted your entry. If you have indicated that your college/university is paying for your entry, please ignore the invoice directed at you as another invoice will be sent directly to your college/university.
- The invoice will be received by Monday 30 March 2026 at the very latest and the deadline for payment is Friday1 May 2026. If your invoice is not paid, your entry will not be shortlisted for judging.
About the Entry
Judging criteria
Judges
Prize
Winner: £500.00 cash prize
Runner-up: £100.00 cash prize
IOM3 presents trophies to Gold, Silver and Bronze and certificates to Highly Commended entries.
About the Sponsor
Valpak is the UK’s largest compliance scheme. As well as ensuring compliance with government regulations for packaging, waste electrical and electronic equipment, batteries and textiles, we provide customers with pioneering tools to streamline data reporting and design the packaging of the future. At over 50 million SKUs, our database on packaging weights is the largest in the UK. This gives us unique insight into the composition of packaging, which is used by both government and wider industry.