Sign up soon: entries for the Better with Less – Design Challenge 2019–2020 close on 5 January


The closing date for the second Better with Less – Design Challenge is approaching, with last entries to be submitted by 5 January 2020. The competition – organised by Metsä Board, the leading European producer of premium fresh fibre paperboards and part of Metsä Group – encourages designers and design students to come up with innovative packaging solutions that will have a positive impact on sustainability.

Submissions are being received in four categories – cosmetics, e-commerce, food packaging and a ‘wild card’ category, with cash prizes for first, second and third place of EUR 7,000, EUR 2,000 and EUR 1,000 respectively. One student will also receive the opportunity to take an internship at Metsä Board’s Excellence Centre in Äänekoski, Finland.

The first Better with Less – Design Challenge received over 300 entries from 38 countries and the winning design was a paperboard alternative to plastic bubble wrap. Stefan Junge, Professor in Packaging Technology at Beuth University of Applied Sciences in Berlin and a member of the jury panel, is looking forward to exploring this year’s entries: “I was amazed by last year’s winning concept, because it was using less material with no die-cut waste and with very smart 3D-bending performance. It will be difficult to top that in this year’s challenge, but I am very excited to see inspiring new ideas.”

The jury members include packaging design influencers from around the world:

Alissa Demorest, Editor in Chief of luxury packaging magazine Formes de Luxe
Andrew Gibbs, Founder, CEO & Editor in Chief of Dieline
Charles Ng, Founder & Chief Brand Consultant of MCL Group Hong Kong / China
Clark Goolsby, Chief Creative Officer of Chase Design Group
Stefan Junge, Professor in Packaging Technology at Beuth University of Applied Sciences Berlin
Ilkka Harju, Packaging Services Director, EMEA and APAC at Metsä Board

 Enter the competition at www.betterwithless.org

Follow the competition on social media with the hashtag #betterwithless