We take a look back at some of our 2024 Sustainable Design winners to see those leading the way in sustainability within the packaging design industry. Could your design be the next one to take centre stage?

Since introducing a dedicated category for sustainable design in 2021, we’ve seen incredible growth in submissions that prioritise sustainability—not just in this category, but across the competition.

Through our awards, we want to showcase both those helping to bring sustainable behaviours into consumer's everyday lives as well as those pushing the boundaries in sustainable packaging with the next big thing. From your basic products like refillable cleaning sprays to sustainable luxury packaging and the latest innovations in bio-materials, we want to hear from you!

Take a look at some of last year's top winners in our Sustainable Design category:

2024 Diamond - Best of Show: OGT by This Way Up (UK)

One Good Thing (OGT) snack bars made history as the first-ever Sustainable Design entry to win the prestigious Diamond, Best of Show Award. Their innovative, eco-friendly packaging redefines sustainability. The primary packaging consists of an edible beeswax-based coating that protects the bar while being completely edible, alongside a rice paper label printed with 100% natural, food-safe ink. For secondary packaging, corrugated cardboard is used in a postage format, made from 70% recycled materials. It's fully recyclable and compostable, aligning with the brand’s commitment to sustainability by eliminating waste and reducing environmental impact.

Find out more about This Way Up here .

2024 Sustainable Design Platinum: Wool Gusset Envelope by Woola (Estonia)

Wool Gusset Envelopes were designed to replace plastic bubble mailers, and they offer a sustainable way to ship products safely and deliver a message of sustainability with the parcel. Ecommerce retailers use Wool Gusset Envelopes to ship fragile products such as beauty, skincare, and health goods to their customers. Wool Envelopes are made of a regenerative waste material, reusable and compostable. They have also launched a pilot circular program in Estonia to let people return the wool inlays to keep the valuable material in the loop.

Find out more about Woola here .

2024 Sustainable Design Gold (Home, leisure & other markets): Sony's Original Blended Material : HT-AX7 Package by Sony Group Corporation (Japan)

In 2021, Sony Group Corporation released Original Blended Material, an environmentally conscious paper material. While it has previously been used for the packaging of relatively small products, like wireless earbuds and smartphones, this time they used it for a 2.7 kg medium-weight product—a portable theater system—with an eye to expanding its use to a wider range of products. Previous packages made with Original Blended Material were produced by wet press pulp molding that can achieve smooth surfaces to maintain aesthetic qualities. This time, however, Sony used dry press pulp molding to create a form that envelops the product. While this method results in rough surfaces on one side, Sony glued them together to create a dual structure that can accommodate the size and weight of the product. This achieved the strength and shock-absorbing properties required to protect the product without relying on conventional cushioning and packaging materials. Sony managed to make the outer surface smooth to make sure the packaging looks attractive. In addition, they were able to reduce the manufacturing costs compared to wet press pulp molding.

Find out more about Sony here .

2024 Sustainable Design Gold (Beverages): Luxury Redefined by James Cropper Paper and Packaging (UK)

James Cropper partnered with Islay single malt Scotch whisky brand Bruichladdich, bringing the first of its Luxury Redefined range to market with a fully sustainable outer wrap. The project proves that sustainable packaging can be simultaneously stripped back and beautiful. Rather than adding elaborate packaging or unnecessary weight the choice was made to subtract, letting form follow function to rethink what modern luxury can, and should, be. The coloured wrap for The Bruichladdich Eighteen and The Bruichladdich Thirty is the first of its kind in the whisky space. Made from fully recyclable paper pulp and moulded to the shape of the Bruichladdich optimised, proprietary glass bottle, the wrap is the definition of conscious modern luxury. The wraps have been expertly colour matched to convey Bruichladdich's own brand colours. With unique emboss and deboss features, the design also includes a branded, oversized custom clasp.

Find out more about James Cropper Paper and Packaging here .

2024 Sustainable Design Gold (Branding & Consumer): Dell Laptop Multipack Initiative by Dell Technologies (USA)

The Dell Laptop Multipack Initiative involved redesigning the current packaging for sustainability and efficiency through utilizing recycled or renewable materials. The new multipack is engineered to meet Dell’s 2030 Moonshot goal of 100% of packaging being made from recycled or renewable materials. The new design offers a simplified, professional, and efficient experience, saving 60% more time during unboxing. The multipack is designed to meet the growing demands of bulk commercial orders, in which efficiency is a primary focus. The packaging’s simplified design consists of only removing a single top cushion to access the product. The packaging structure streamlines the unboxing with individual accessory boxes that can be removed and distributed with the system. The packaging’s fully FSC-certified corrugated internal structure allows to replace all EPE foam cushions, reducing the packaging size to improve logistical efficiency. All PE plastic bags used for systems and accessories are also eliminated and uses 100% recycled non-woven PET system bags. 

Find out more about Dell here .

2024 Sustainable Design Gold (Food): Notpla Chip Forks by Plastek (UK)

This project marked a pioneering step towards sustainability in UK sports, delivering cutlery made from Notpla Rigid - a seaweed-based native polymer - to Twickenham for the Six Nations rugby tournaments. It represented the first instance of seaweed-made cutlery being used at a major UK sporting event, emphasising the project's innovation and the UK industry's commitment to eco-friendly solutions. The onshoring approach not only facilitated significant reductions in transport-related emissions but also promoted local manufacturing excellence. 

The use of seaweed and plant-based materials supports a circular economy, where products are designed to be reused, recycled, or composted, thus limiting environmental impact and promoting sustainability. Overall, these materials offer a regenerative, low-impact solution, showcasing an innovative step towards reducing the environmental footprint of disposable cutlery.

Find out more about Plastek here .

As this year's competition deadline edges closer, why not enter your latest designs in sustainable packaging and showcase yourself as leader in the field? Find out more and enter the competition here .