Molded Fiber Student Innovators Competition

• Open to currently enrolled students at accredited universities in packaging or paper science programs. 

• Projects must be submitted as team entries. 

• Each university may submit up to three (3) student teams. 

• Each team must have a faculty advisor who will act as their mentor and primary contact. 

Teams are to design a molded fiber package for a real-world consumer product. The packaging solution must: 

• Provide effective protection during transit and use 

• Be feasible for production using molded fiber manufacturing processes 

• Demonstrate creativity in material use and structural design 

• Consider the entire lifecycle of the package, from production to disposal 

• Demonstrate usability on a packing line for an operator 

Each team must submit the following digital materials: 

1. Design Report (PDF format) that includes: 

• Project overview and design goals 

• Description of the target product and packaging requirements 

• Step-by-step explanation of the design process 

• Detailed rationale for material selection 

• Considerations for manufacturability and cost 

• Packaging performance: cushioning, durability, and product fit 

1. Sustainability Assessment (within or appended to the report): 

• Analysis of environmental benefits compared to conventional packaging 

• Transportation Efficiency: how the design reduces weight, volume, or shipping frequency 

• Material Efficiency: strategies for minimizing raw material usage while maintaining performance 

• End-of-life considerations: recyclability, composability, or biodegradability 

1. Visual Documentation: 

• 2D engineering drawings, technical illustrations, and/or 3D CAD renderings 

• Visual aids should clearly demonstrate how the product is packaged and protected and applied 

1. Product Purchase Documentation: 

• A copy of the receipt or invoice for the product used in the design 

• IMFA will provide $150 per team to support the purchase of the product being packaged 

A panel of industry experts will evaluate submissions using the following criteria: 

• Design Execution (30%)
  Innovation, detail, and effectiveness of the packaging solution. 

• Practicality (30%)
  Manufacturability, production cost feasibility, ease of application, and suitability for market implementation. 

• Critical Thinking & Methodology (25%)
  Depth of research, clarity of problem-solving, and structured design approach. 

• Sustainability Impact (15%)
  Environmental benefits including transportation efficiency, material reduction, and end-of-life outcomes. 

• First Place Team 

• $1,000 cash prize 

• Sponsored travel to the IMFA Annual Conference for one student team member and their faculty mentor 

• Recognition at the conference and in official IMFA communications 

• IMFA press release 

• Final Submission Deadline: February 2, 2026 

• Winners Notified: February 20, 2026 

• Winners Announced: At the IMFA Annual Conference March 14-16, 2026 

IMFA will provide $150 per team to assist in the purchase of the consumer product the packaging is designed for. A receipt is required for reimbursement. 

All required materials must be submitted via the IMFA Competition Portal by the deadline. Incomplete or late entries will not be reviewed.