Alupro, the aluminium packaging recycling organisation, has been announced as the latest sponsor of the 2023 Student Starpack Awards. Organised by the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining (IOM3), the competition challenges university students to create innovative packaging solutions to solve problems set by leading brands.

As part of the agreement, Alupro has published a comprehensive brief, tasking applicants with redesigning the packaging of a product within the food and dried beverage market using aluminium. The judging team will be looking for originality, functionality and – most importantly – design for recyclability.

Alongside taking home a £500 cash prize, the winner will also win a VIP personal tour of one of Crown Packaging’s drink can manufacturing plants, in either Leicestershire or Carlisle.

Commenting on the announcement, Tom Giddings, executive director of Alupro, said: “We’re pleased to announce that we’ll once again be sponsoring the Student Starpack Awards. It’s an excellent platform to inspire the next generation, challenge convention and embrace creativity, while also showcasing why aluminium is the perfect packaging material.

Our 2023 brief aims to highlight the widespread application of aluminium as an infinitely recyclable food packaging material, while also making entrants think closely about how to introduce more sustainable materials into their designs and reducing their reliance on secondary packaging.”

Kate Harrison, director of operations and professional development at the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining, added: “We are extremely grateful for Alupro’s continued sponsorship of The Starpack Student Awards as it enables this inspirational awards programme to continue to inspire tomorrow’s packaging designers.”

The Student Starpack Awards, established in 1964, aim to identify, reward and support up-and-coming packaging designers and their tutors, encouraging the future adoption of innovative new ideas to the UK’s ever-growing packaging industry.

For more information about IOM3 or the Starpack awards, visit www.iom3.org or www.iom3.org/starpack.

ENDS