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Pro Carton is delighted to feature articles from our sponsors of the Pro Carton Young Designers Award 2026
Designing with Fibre: Why Innovation Starts with Material Understanding
Innovation in fibre-based packaging is often linked to new formats or visually striking designs. Yet in many cases, it begins earlier, with a deeper understanding of the material itself. How fibre behaves, how it can be engineered and how it performs across the value chain determines whether a packaging concept can succeed in practice.
Cartonboard offers a wide range of possibilities as an engineered material. Fibre composition, layering, density and surface characteristics all contribute to its performance. Properties such as strength, barrier behaviour, printability and converting efficiency are closely connected. Rather than focusing on a single attribute, development means balancing several requirements at once. This relationship between fibre and function is a central element of innovation in packaging.
This becomes particularly relevant in more demanding applications, such as food or other sensitive products. Packaging in these areas is expected to protect the product, run efficiently in production and meet regulatory expectations, while still fitting into existing recycling systems. In this context, material driven approaches can offer new possibilities. For example, barrier functionalities can be integrated into fibre structures, supporting performance without necessarily adding further material layers.
“The real challenge in packaging innovation is not adding complexity, but managing it,” says Andreas Macku, Innovation Director Food and Specialities at MM Group. “Each application has its own requirements and understanding how fibre properties can be engineered helps deliver consistent performance.” A further aspect is the combination of different fibre types. Virgin and recycled
fibres each bring specific strengths, from consistency and mechanical performance to resource efficiency and circular value creation. Rather than treating them as opposing choices, effective packaging development considers how they can be used individually or in combination, depending on the application.
Focusing more on material understanding may shift innovation away from general assumptions towards more application driven thinking. It can support the development of packaging solutions that aim to balance functionality, efficiency and circularity in a more integrated way.
Within initiatives such as the Pro Carton Student Award, this perspective can open up new ways of thinking. When ideas begin with a closer look at fibre and its potential, they often move beyond form and aesthetics, towards solutions that feel both purposeful and relevant. This curiosity for the material itself is what can inspire the next generation of packaging concepts: solutions that are not only visually compelling, but technically sound, scalable and circular by design.
Innovazione: la forza trainante del packaging moderno
Packaging as a system, people at the center
Technology, materials and production capacity matter enormously in the packaging industry. But what truly makes the difference is vision. At Lucaprint, packaging is never seen as a simple container: it is a system where design, materials, production processes and sustainability come together to create value for brands.
Since its foundation, Lucaprint has built its identity around a clear idea: that industrial excellence and strong design culture belong together. High-quality folding carton packaging is the company’s speciality, helping brands transform their products into something that stands out on the shelf.
None of this can happen without collaboration. Every project begins with listening – understanding the product, the brand positioning and the market it sits in. From there, Lucaprint works closely with customers to develop packaging solutions that are not only visually distinctive, but also technically efficient and viable on an industrial scale.
The demands on packaging have never been greater. Communicate brand values. Protect the product. Optimise logistics. Meet ever-growing sustainability expectations – all at once. For Lucaprint, this complexity is exactly what makes packaging such an interesting field. Design is not just about aesthetics; it is about integrating all these elements into a coherent and effective solution.
This is why Lucaprint believes strongly in the role of knowledge sharing and education within the industry. Supporting initiatives such as the Pro Carton Training Days is part of this commitment. Working with young professionals, designers and students means playing an active role in shaping a generation of packaging experts who are as comfortable with production realities as they are with creative thinking.
For Lucaprint, sponsoring these initiatives is not simply about visibility. It reflects a broader vision: attracting talent and fostering curiosity about packaging as a multidisciplinary field. From materials science to design thinking, from sustainability strategies to industrial processes, the future of packaging will depend on professionals who can connect these different perspectives.
The company culture also plays a key role in this vision. Lucaprint combines the structure of an advanced industrial company with a collaborative and open working environment. Teams from different departments – sales, design, production and management – work closely together, sharing knowledge and experience throughout the development of each project. The professionals who will define the future of packaging are those who can bridge all of these worlds.
For many employees, this collaborative spirit is what makes Lucaprint a unique place to work. The company encourages initiative, curiosity and continuous improvement, creating an environment where people can grow professionally while contributing to ambitious projects for international brands.
At the same time, Lucaprint remains deeply rooted in its entrepreneurial origins. Leadership within the company is guided by the idea that long-term relationships – with clients, partners and employees – are the foundation of sustainable growth.
As Alberto Luca, CEO of Lucaprint, puts it:
“Packaging is not just about producing boxes. It is about understanding a product, interpreting a brand and transforming both into a tangible experience for consumers.”
Looking ahead, Lucaprint continues to invest in innovation and advanced production technologies. But above all, the company continues to invest in people – because behind every successful packaging solution there is always a team capable of turning ideas into reality.
