High quality with low material use – this is the criteria of Metsä Board’s “Better with Less” Design Challenge. The company calls on young designers to develop sustainable and recyclable packaging solutions. We spoke with the judge and Packaging Services Director of EMEA & APAC, Ilkka Harju, about the competition and the challenges facing the industry.
Metsä Board has again called for a Design Challenge in 2022 and is dedicated to the topic of circular economy. What does the circular economy mean to Metsä Board and why is it important?
![The sushi packaging combines two materials that can be put into the respective recycling streams separately.](https://packaging-journal.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/1-2-2-1024x555.jpg)
You also mentioned energy savings, renewable energies and material reduction. Are there other aspects that go into sustainability when developing paper or board packaging?
![Ilkka Harju sits on the Design Challenge jury as an expert and looks for innovative packaging solutions that save material and perform strongly in terms of quality.](https://packaging-journal.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Metsae-Board-Excellence-Centre-18-683x1024.jpg)
Let's move on to the Design Challenge. What is the focus of the Challenge? Is it design, convenience for consumers, sustainability or do the topics go hand in hand?
Where would you say the big challenges lie in the circular economy?
To create a cycle, many parts have to fit together. What innovations do you see when you look ahead to 2023?
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