DS Smith, an International Paper company, and leading global provider of sustainable and fibre-based packaging solutions, announce multiple product and category award wins from the prestigious WorldStar Global Packaging Awards 2026 organised by the World Packaging Organisation (WPO).
The WorldStar Global Packaging Awards 2026 highlight excellence in innovation and sustainability. The winning entries were announced on Friday 9th January 2026 with the successful packaging innovations coming from regions including the Nordics, Central and Eastern Europe, and Spain.
Award winning entries:
- Finland – corrugated cardboard packaging solution for patented Insta Safe EOD™ drone system technology, developed in partnership with Insta, with a structured and 100% recyclable corrugated cardboard casement and support stand. The packaging provides protection for technological equipment during transit and incorporates a printed QR code with user instructions on its surface exterior. Awarded in the Other category.
- Czech Republic and Slovakia – the POS Harmonic Display combines shopper impact and supply-chain robustness with sustainability. The stand features an accordion-inspired folding system for rapid assembly and can be flat-packed in a neat protective sleeve. The POS assembly time is around 60% faster than typical multi-part corrugated displays to reduce costs, touchpoints, and energy use. Awarded in the Point-of-Sale category.
- Denmark – Transport Pack and Indoor Display for Kalanchoe Flower Bouquets in collaboration with Queen® Flowers. The design solution provides an alternative to traditional plastic buckets. It is fully recyclable and stackable and can be transported efficiently on pallets. The box is easy to fold, and the base can be used with two different lids, with eye-catching aesthetic for in-store displays and presentation as an exclusive gift experience. Awarded in the Transit category.
- Sweden – One-Fold Insert is a simple and versatile packaging solution comprised of a single piece of sustainable fibre-based material to protect products and hold them securely in place during transit. The packaging is reversable and can be folded either frontwards or backwards. Customers have the option to pack a wide range of different products using the single insert, and comprised of I00% recyclable corrugated cardboard, the concept is a packaging option for a wide range of sectors such as consumer goods and industrials. Awarded in the E-Commerce category.
- Hungary – a Packaging Optimization for E-bike Batteries was created in collaboration with COWBOY, an e-bike manufacturing company. The packaging solution is designed to fit two sizes of e-bike batteries and compliant with transit requirements for express road and air. With the new DS Smith solution, 208 smaller batteries and 192 larger batteries fit on to one pallet in comparison with forty-eight pieces for the original packaging and palletization. The design reduces CO2 and around 8,000 pieces of plastic have been replaced. The inserts are comprised of 100% corrugated cardboard as an alternative to previous foam elements. Awarded in the Transit category.
- Hungary – High-performance Electrical Switchgear was innovated in collaboration with Schneider Electric for the packaging of three different types of switchgear. Previously, the product weight meant that the products could only be moved from the side on the automated production line with use of a manipulator machine, but with the new DS Smith solution, they can now be simply assembled. An openable side tray provides a stable base to ensure easy handling and multi-layered endcaps ensure that the products are anchored into place, while their metal connectors are protected by a folded insert. Awarded in the Electronics category.
- Austria – Transport Box for Mach Water Filters in two versions is a die-cut packaging solution that is designed for optimum functionality. The robust construction is based on recyclable corrugated cardboard materials to successfully reduce the number of plastic parts. The product inside the packaging, the Mach filter is the latest generation of BWT backwash filters with patented rotational pulse backwashing technology (DIR) for clean and hygienic drinking water. Awarded in the Household category.
- Spain – DS Smith Tecnicarton’s Reinforced Foldable Cardboard Packaging for Heavy Industrial Components is a sustainable, versatile, and efficient alternative to traditional wood or metal systems. The packaging innovation stands out for its ability to combine lightness with maximum strength. It has a corrugated cardboard outer body, an inner cardboard strip to reinforce against compression and perforation and an internal wooden frame to provide structural rigidity. It is designed in a foldable format and can be customised and adapted for the dimensions and specifications of respective customer requirements. Awarded in the Transit category.
- Spain – Mono-material Corrugated Cardboard Solution for Exporting Curved Automotive Parts from DS Smith Tecnicarton is a highly functional alternative for exporting complex wheel parts and wheel arches. The solution replaces traditional plastic packaging while ensures maximum protection for the products. The internal positioner allows for up to twelve-wheel arches to be placed in a single unit, and the custom tab fastening system ensures secure closure without the need for additional elements. 100% recyclable, the packaging is made from single materials for end-of-life management, eliminating the traditional costs and emissions associated with the reverse logistics of returnable packaging. Awarded in the Transit category.
- Spain – Box Pallet is a heavy-duty corrugated cardboard logistics packaging innovation to provide a sustainable alternative to traditional pallets used for distribution and e-commerce. It consists of an integrated pallet with a high-strength laminated structure to support up to 200 kg of weight when stacked and it is compact and easy to assemble. The packaging design can be customized to suit respective customer’s requirements – making the solution suitable for a wide variety of products and sectors. The design is fast to assemble and ergonomic, requiring no adhesives or tools, and comprised of mono-material, it is both recyclable and reusable. Awarded within both the e-Commerce and the Transit category.
Packaging design for a circular economy
The WorldStar Global Packaging Awards has nineteen main categories and five special award categories, such as the President’s Award and the Sustainability Award. The competition receives more than three hundred three hundred entries from over thirty-four countries each year and the panel of expert judges select around two-hundred case studies.
Martin Kimland, Sales, Marketing & Innovation Director North EMEA, DS Smith:
“We are extremely proud to receive these WorldStar Awards for our region in the Nordics, and these highlight the advanced creativity and dedication of our Design and Innovation teams. Our innovations showcase how collaborative mindsets and thinking sustainably can deliver circular packaging solutions that make a tangible, measurable, and long-lasting impact for our customers and their supply chains.”
The WorldStar Global Packaging Awards 2026 international awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on Friday 8th May 2026 during the Interpack (Processing and Packaging) Show, in Düsseldorf, Germany.
DS Smith has a target-led sustainability strategy, Redefining Packaging for a Changing World, and is committed to leading an industry-wide transition to a circular economy while delivering sustainable circular solutions for its customers.
