The Paperboard Packaging Alliance (PPA) recently announced the finalists of its 2025 Student Design Challenge. The Student Design Challenge is an annual competition where university students apply their talent and design skills to develop innovative, creative approaches to paper-based packaging in response to real-world customer needs and marketing scenarios. PPA is a joint initiative between the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) and the Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC).
This year's Design Challenge tasked students with designing a new paperboard packaging line for an original pet care company, PPA Pets. Students were required to include a pet DNA testing system or a similar lab-dependent item.
Student projects from the following schools were named as finalists:
- PAWSH - California Polytechnic State University
- Protection Prevention & Awareness for Pets - Rochester Institute of Technology
- Teef Story - California Polytechnic State University
“The Student Design Challenge bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world application,” said Heidi Brock, President and CEO of AF&PA. “The Challenge empowers students nationwide to turn bold ideas into recyclable, paper-based packaging solutions. This challenge not only showcases their talent, it also helps shape the future of packaging design.”
The winner will be announced at the PPC’s Spring Outlook & Strategies Conference from March 25 – 27, 2026 in Louisville, KY. Each team will present their designs and showcase their prototype to current industry professionals, gaining valuable exposure and insight into the packaging design field.
"The Student Design Challenge shines a spotlight on the possibilities of sustainable paperboard packaging," said Ben Markens, President of PPC. "It’s inspiring to see students bring fresh, creative ideas to an industry that’s evolving rapidly. We’re eager to showcase their designs in Louisville.”
About the Paperboard Packaging Alliance
The Paperboard Packaging Alliance (PPA) is a joint initiative of the American Forest & Paper Association and the Paperboard Packaging Council. The mission is to promote the benefits of paperboard packaging to influence preference for these materials in packaging design and selection.
