South Africa’s success in the 2026 World Packaging Organisation’s WorldStar Student Global Packaging Awards

FROM the 2025 Student Gold Pack Competition, 50 winning and finalist projects were selected and entered into the WorldStar Student Global Packaging Awards by the Institute of Packaging SA (IPSA). Of the 50 entries, 40 were awarded a WorldStar Student Certificate. Additionally, two trophy wins were awarded to South Africa.

This year’s competition showcased exceptional talent from the next generation of packaging professionals, with 246 entries from 90 educational institutions across 23 countries. Students ranged from undergraduate to master’s level. Disciplines of study included packaging design, industrial design, graphic design, food science, engineering, and global business studies. A notable trend emerged where multi-disciplinary team entries were submitted by students who combined their diverse expertise to create innovative packaging solutions.

The WorldStar STUDENT Awards are designed to encourage and globally showcase
these students’ talents and their innovative ideas in the field of packaging. Through the publicity of WPO’s global publications, social media channels and websites, student winners have their success professionally acknowledged on a global stage, enhancing their potential careers as packaging professionals.

All the winning students were celebrated at the WorldStar Student Online Awards Ceremony. The recording of this ceremony and the full winner ’s brochure can be downloaded on the WorldStar Student website

ACCESSIBLE PACKAGING – SILVER AWARD
Redesigned Slow Mag Range

Inge Botes, a Graphic Design student from the University of Pretoria and a finalist in the Student Gold Pack competition, won the Silver Award for Accessible Packaging. This is a newly introduced Special Award Category where judges look for packaging that addresses ease of use for consumers, and that is easy to understand and handle.

Inge’s project, ‘Redesigned Slow Mag Range,’ reimagines Slow Mag effervescent tablets as an easy-open, hygienic dispenser inspired by the famous Pez dispenser. The cap is designed to flip back to dispense the tablet. This process is quicker for athletes on the move and people with limited physical abilities.

University of Pretoria really stood out on the global stage, with nine students awarded certificates, and this trophy win for Inge.

HOUSEHOLD MARKET – BRONZE AWARD
Braai Mate

Sibusiso Mokhoana, an Industrial Design student from Tshwane University of Technology and the overall Gold Trophy Winner in the Industrial Design Category of Student Gold Pack 2025, was awarded Bronze for the Household Market Category of WorldStar Student 2026. His innovative ‘Braai Mate’ pack is a portioned charcoal pack that redefines a national tradition with a single serve (one braai) convenience. The portioned pack features a built-in ignition mechanism, eliminating the need for firelighters to make braaing safer and easier for everyone.