Alex Adda and Hannah Arkell from Team Packamama at the Charles Sturt University Challenge Showcase Event – Wagga Wagga
Packamama emerged victorious from 150 applicants and 8 finalists in the Charles Sturt University Sustainable Packaging Innovation Challenge, announced at the Showcase Event held in Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia.
The Sustainable Packaging Innovation Challenge, organised by Charles Sturt University Agrisciences Research and Business Park (AgriPark) and The Growth Drivers, aims to tackle the pressing packaging challenges within the wine and fresh food industries. The initiative, supported by Coles Liquor, Endeavour Group, Wine Australia, Planet Ark, Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), and Meat and Livestock Australia brings together innovative minds to develop sustainable solutions.
The showcase event commenced with a welcome speech by Hon. Michael McCormack, MP for Riverina, and an insightful Q&A session with Shae Courtney, National Quality and Sustainability Manager at Coles Liquor. The momentum continued with dynamic pitches from 8 teams, each addressing environmental challenges to meet industry needs head-on.
Packamama’s Winning Solution
Represented by Alex Adda, Sales & Sustainability Manager from Sydney, and Hannah Arkell, Business Development Executive from Melbourne, Packamama showcased their groundbreaking sustainable packaging solution for wine – the eco-flat wine bottle made from 100% Australian recycled PET. Their challenge solution proposition and pitch, developed over months of collaboration with Santiago Navarro, CEO & Founder in London, distinguished them from seven other competitors. Alex delivered a compelling presentation that earned Packamama the top spot.
About The Charles Sturt University Sustainable Packaging Innovation Challenge
The selected 8 teams from 150 applicants received mentorship from a diverse group of experts from industry, government, commercial sectors, and research institutions, ensuring their innovations were tailored to meet practical, real-world applications. The challenge offered selected participants the opportunity to pitch their solutions to investors and key industry players.
- Minimising Carbon Footprint: Developing packaging solutions that reduce the carbon footprint at every stage of their lifecycle.
- Capturing Packaging Value: Innovating to enhance the value of packaging after its first use.
- Novel Sustainable Products: Creating new packaging products and formats that appeal to emerging consumer markets and are environmentally sustainable.
Statements and Reactions
Nick Pagett, Executive Director of AgriPark, expressed his enthusiasm: “The showcase event is not just a celebration of months of hard work and creativity but a testament to the power of collaboration between academia, industry, and government. We are excited to see the groundbreaking solutions our teams have developed, which will undoubtedly contribute to a more sustainable future for the wine and fresh food industries.”
Alex Adda, Sales & Sustainability Manager at Packamama, shared his excitement: “We are incredibly honoured to have won the Sustainable Packaging Innovation Challenge. This recognition fuels our motivation to drive impactful change in the wine industry. Our team is ready to continue pushing the agenda for sustainable packaging, ensuring that our innovations not only meet but exceed industry standards for sustainability. Hannah and I are committed to championing these advancements and are excited about the positive impact our work will have on the environment and our wine industry.”
About Packamama
Packamama is the climate tech packaging business designed for a circular economy and offering packaging protecting Mother Earth. Believing in the far-reaching opportunity that packaging offers to be a force for good, Packamama is on a mission to help create a low carbon future in the drinks industry, starting with better wine bottles; multi award-winning, eco-flat bottles that are made from 100% recycled PET, saving space, weight, and energy to slash emissions. This tackles the wine industry’s carbon footprint hotspot of round, glass bottles. Packamama is powered by a production network of industry leaders spanning Australia, UK, Belgium, France, and shortly the US and South Africa too. A passionate team provides forward-thinking wine brands, companies, and retailers with the packaging and production to implement Packamama’s IP-protected portfolio of innovative, climate-friendly bottles into their businesses.
About Charles Sturt University
Charles Sturt University, a multi-campus public university in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, and Victoria, was established in 1989. The university continues to drive innovation and sustainability through initiatives like the Sustainable Packaging Innovation Challenge.
The Growth Drivers
A team of designers, analysts, technologists, and behavioural scientists who focus on empowering organisations by providing innovative solutions to complex problems across various sectors. Their approach involves working closely with clients to deliver meaningful, sustainable, and impactful outcomes.
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www.nativeshop.com.au
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