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: 

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 

Sustainability Assessment (within or appended to the design 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 

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 

All required materials must be submitted via the IMFA Competition Portal by the deadline, February 2nd, 2026. Incomplete or late entries will not be reviewed. 

Product Support: 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. 

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. 

Important Dates

• Final Submission Deadline: February 2, 2026 

• Winners Notified: February 20, 2026 

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

First Place Team 

• $1,000 cash prize 

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

• Recognition during the conference and in official IMFA communications 

• IMFA press release