STUDENTS DISPLAY PACKAGING EXPERTISE

Paperboard Packaging Alliance Announces Winners of 2009 Student Design Challenge at Pack Expo

LAS VEGAS – Financial planning paid off early for design students involved in the fifth annual Student Design Challenge sponsored by the Paperboard Packaging Alliance (PPA). Their challenge: create a promotional carton for a series of financial planning DVDs that combined protection and shelf impact while reflecting the fictitious manufacturer’s commitment to sustainability.

Winning design teams shared $4,500 in prize money while an additional $4,500 was awarded to their universities’ packaging programs. The challenge is designed to foster awareness and appreciation of paperboard with university educators and the next generation of packaging decision-makers.

PPA is a joint initiative between the American Forest & Paper Association, the national trade association for the forest products industry, and the Paperboard Packaging Council, the leading trade association serving suppliers and converters of all forms of paperboard packaging.

The winners were announced at a luncheon sponsored by PPA as part of Pack Expo, the national tradeshow for consumer product packaging. The announcement came on the same day that the paper-based packaging industry launched “The Responsible Package,” an industry-wide campaign to promote the industry’s versatile and sustainable packaging solutions.

“Students engaged in the PPA Student Design Challenge benefit by learning about the positive attributes of paperboard – including its renewability, recyclability, and billboard impact – while also considering package design and marketing,” said Peter Heist, PPA Chair and Vice President and General Manager, Coated Paperboard Business, International Paper. “This is an exciting time for our industry, and we are pleased to have provided designers of the future with an experience that will help them meet their professional sustainability goals.”

Competing against students from the nation’s top design programs, the first place design team was from the Rochester Institute of Technology, the second place team from the Fashion Institute of Technology, and the third place team from San José State University.

In total, 26 entries were received from six university programs. Winning entries were selected by a team of paperboard packaging industry professionals who judged submissions based on their response to the competition scenario, innovative structural and graphic design, functionality, and quality of the finished product.

First Place:
The winning submission came from the student team of Lynsie Gibson and Zachary Mendoza from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Professor Bill Wynkoop advised the team.

Second Place:
FIT students Nicole Nardi, Jackie Roll, Allessandra Greco, and Hannah Nicdao, led by Professor Krasovec, achieved second place.

Third Place:
The San José State University team of Bradley Bussolini, Derek Lam, Sayaka Uchida, Thura Lin, and Zach Yambrach secured third place, and were led by faculty Professor Fritz Yambrach.

To learn more about the contest, the entries, and the benefits of paperboard packaging, visit PPA at www.paperboardpackaing.org.

About PPA
The Paperboard Packaging Alliance (PPA) is a joint initiative of the Paperboard Packaging Council and American Forest & Paper Association. The PPA promotes the benefits of paperboard packaging and products with targeted audiences. Alliance membership includes companies representing the full range of mills and converters engaged in the production of paper-based consumer goods packaging. Additional information about PPA can be found at www.paperboardpackaging.org.

About AF&PA
The American Forest & Paper Association is the national trade association of the forest products industry, representing forest landowners and pulp, paper, paperboard, and wood products manufacturers. Our companies are in the business of producing products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources that sustain the environment. The forest products industry accounts for approximately 6 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing, putting it on par with the automotive and chemical industries. Industry companies produce $200 billion in products annually and employ more than 1 million people earning $54 billion in annual payroll. The industry is among the top ten manufacturing sector employers in 48 states.

About PPC
Now in its 80th year, the Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) is the leading trade association serving suppliers and converters of all forms of paperboard packaging. PPC works to grow, promote, and protect the paperboard packaging industry while providing its members with resources and tools to compete effectively and successfully in the marketplace. For more information call 413.686.9191 or visit www.ppcnet.org.