Spuds sustainable potatoes inspire award-winning packaging design

Fresh Solutions Network says a sustainable packaging design for Spuds less-than-perfect potatoes was awarded first place in the nationwide Student Design Challenge.

The winning design, created by a team of four Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students, was announced Sept. 30 at the sold-out 2024 Paperboard Packaging Council's Fall Meeting and Leadership Conference in Atlanta, according to a news release. Non-GMO, gluten-free, all-natural Spuds less-than-perfect potatoes were launched in 2023 with the sustainability and value-focused consumer in mind, said Fresh Solutions Network.

“Spuds imperfect potatoes were created to decrease food waste and thus increase sustainability, and I knew their environmental emphasis would be a good fit for the contest,” said Tom Newmaster, PCAD graphic design professor and Spuds designer. “The students had to design packaging from paperboard that would be transport-ready, attention-grabbing and suitable for display.”

While the winning mock-packaging design features a 3-pound zero-plastic paperboard pack concept, Fresh Solutions Network said Spuds potatoes are available in a sustainable, BioFlex material 10-pound bag at retail. BioFlex is a sustainable packaging technology that looks and works like most plastic containers but breaks down and won’t remain in a landfill for generations, the release said, adding that it is also completely recyclable and should be co-mingled with existing plastic recycling. This bag material was selected to further the product’s sustainability position in the market, Fresh Solutions Network said.

“Spuds are part of the Fresh Solutions Network commitment to improving sustainable food management practices and reducing food waste,” said Kathleen Triou, president and CEO for Fresh Solutions Network. “Sustainability is increasingly important to younger consumers, and we are proud that our potato product and packaging inspired these students to create the innovative winning design concept. While the paperboard concept is not currently available for retail execution, it is part of our ongoing research to improve the sustainability of our packaging.”