Sustainable potato packaging design tops nationwide competition

A sustainable packaging design for SPUDS less-than-perfect potatoes has won first place in the Paperboard Packaging Alliance’s nationwide student design challenge.

The design for SPUDS less-than-perfect potatoes was created by a team of four Pennsylvania College of Art & Design (PCAD) students. Non-GMO, gluten-free SPUDS were launched in 2023 by Fresh Solutions Network, exclusive suppliers of Side Delights Potatoes.

The winning mock-packaging design features a 3-pound, zero-plastic paperboard pack concept. SPUDS potatoes, a Side Delights product featuring spuds that are not in perfect cosmetic condition but are still good to eat, are available in a BioFlex material 10-pound bag at retail.

BioFlex is a sustainable packaging technology that looks and works like plastic containers but breaks down and is completely recyclable, according to a news release.

The competition winners were announced Sept. 30 at the 2024 Paperboard Packaging Council’s Fall Meeting & Leadership Conference in Atlanta.

“SPUDS imperfect potatoes were created to decrease food waste and thus increase sustainability, and I knew their environmental emphasis would be a good fit for the contest,” PCAD graphic design professor Tom Newmaster and SPUDS designer commented. “The students had to design packaging from paperboard that would be transport-ready, attention-grabbing and suitable for display.”

The Rochester Institute of Technology took second place with its Grovey Garlic design, while California Polytechnic University’s Lively Roots Potatoes won third place.

“SPUDS are part of the Fresh Solutions Network commitment to improving sustainable food management practices and reducing food waste,” Kathleen Triou, president and CEO of Fresh Solutions Network, said in the release. “Sustainability is increasingly important to younger consumers, and we are proud that our potato product and packaging inspired these students to create the innovative winning design concept.

“While the paperboard concept is not currently available for retail execution, it is part of our ongoing research to improve the sustainability of our packaging.”