Registration has opened for The Salmon Packaging Design Competition sponsored by CMPC, which asks participants to design packaging using corrugated cardboard sourced from ‘sustainable’ and renewable materials that reflects U.S. consumer preferences.
The main objective is to design ‘visually appealing and functional’ salmon packaging that reflects U.S. consumer preferences, integrates key technical considerations, and aligns with consumer habits and expectations in the U.S. market. This year’s focus is the “Smoked Salmon Charcuterie Board by Latitude 45” - a premium, ready-to-serve product that combines hot and cold smoked salmon. Exported to the United States, the product is designed for direct consumption with an emphasis on convenience, presentation, and brand identity.
Participants including designers, design agencies and students are invited to take part, provided they demonstrate a strong understanding of the U.S. market and cultural context. Individuals and teams are both welcome to apply.
The submitted designs must utilize corrugated cardboard with high print quality, emphasizing environmentally friendly and biodegradable materials. Entries should successfully address the following criteria: the box design should fulfil essential functions, preserve product freshness and provide impact resistance, enabling efficient loading at salmon production sites and allowing easy consumer access to the salmon.
Additional considerations include flat-pack transport efficiency and suitability for the retail environment, with particular attention to point-of-sale display appeal. Designs should also account for assembly logistics, whether at the salmon producer’s facilities or at CMPC Biopackaging in Chile.
After registering for the competition, participants will receive a formal brief, design specs, and informational videos to guide and support the project. Participants will submit digital designs and plans, as well as images of a 1:1 physical prototype made from cardboard. Judges will select 10 finalists to present their submission in a live virtual pitch, from which three winners will emerge.
Anyone interested can register here.
In related news, DS Smith’s corrugated board seafood box claims to keep fish fresh at under 40°F (~4.44°C) for over 40 hours in cold chain operations while helping processors lower both costs and CO2 emissions. Apparently, DryPack is the only containerboard seafood box to be approved for air freight by the International Air Transport Association, which enables processors to ship their seafood over long and short distances.
In May, Freshr completed an oversubscribed seed funding round for its proprietary antimicrobial coating for recycled, recyclable, and compostable fresh fish packaging – a solution designed to extend shelf life, reduce waste, and save money. The technology can apparently be chemically immobilized into post-consumer recycled, recyclable, and compostable materials, distributed in rolls in hopes of easier implementation compared to standard modified atmosphere packaging.
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