Since 2012, the Federal Ministry for the Environment and the Federal Environment Agency have been organising together with the International Design Centre Berlin (IDZ) the Ecodesign competition. The competition is looking for creative design ideas and projects that meet the highest ecological standards. The search for new and improved packaging plays a central role.
The competition is aimed at companies of all sectors and sizes, designers and students. Applications can be submitted until 18 April and the winners will be announced in December. The highest state award for ecological design is presented in four categories: product, service, concept and young talent.
A lot has been happening in packaging design in recent months and years in terms of multifunctionality and sustainability. These developments were also reflected in the awarding of the Ecodesign Prize.
In 2021, three of the ten award winners were honoured for developments in packaging design, among other things. Soap manufacturers CareTwice and Less Waste Club, for example, impressed the jury with soap in powder form, which saves transport weight and plastic. In addition, the labelling of the products a clear trend towards refill products clear, the now also available in German supermarkets and drugstores is.
The Finnish company RePack, which won the 2021 award, also manufactures a remarkable product. The product of the same name is a system for reusable packaging made from recycled polypropylene for online retailers. Consumers can simply fold up the mailing bags on receipt and send them back to the retailer postage paid - in keeping with the circular economy.
"The key to sustainable consumption is the products themselves. This is because up to 80 per cent of a product's environmental impact is predetermined by its design. If electrical appliances are easy to dismantle and repair, they will be used for longer and not replaced so quickly with new products. This saves resources and greenhouse gas emissions and is easy on consumers" wallets. The Federal Ecodesign Award combines excellent design with environmental and consumer protection."
Submissions are evaluated in a multi-stage process by a panel of design and environmental experts and a high-calibre jury. Projects that impress with their outstanding environmental and design quality and innovative approach are honoured. On 5 December 2022, the winners will be honoured and publicly announced at the award ceremony at the Federal Ministry for the Environment.
Source: Federal Ecodesign Award
