L-R: Oliver Smithee, 2025 winner, collecting his Starpack Students award from Jason Galley and Debbie Clements, MPMA
Design students are invited to demonstrate their creativity and commitment to circularity by taking part in a real-world design challenge focused on metal packaging as part of the Starpack Students Competition 2026.
The Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association (MPMA) sponsors ‘Brief D’ of the annual student competition, which is organised by the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining (IOM3). This year’s challenge tasks students with designing and developing a metal pack to hold confectionery of a type of their choosing. The deadline for submissions is midnight, 16 March 2026.
A prestigious design opportunity
Since 1964, Starpack Students has given up-and-coming designers the chance to solve packaging challenges set by major FMCG brands and manufacturers. This isn’t just a competition – it’s a career-boosting opportunity to gain hands-on experience with a real design brief while creating stand-out portfolio pieces to impress potential employers.
Open to students studying a variety of Higher Education courses, including those with a focus on graphics, structural or product design, and materials technology, this competition is an opportunity to impress key industry figures.
Jason Galley, Director and Chief Executive of MPMA, explains: “Metal packaging provides students with a dynamic canvas for creative expression. Both steel and aluminium packaging have exceptional recyclability, with recent government data highlighting that metal packaging has a recycling rate of 80.4%1. Because of metals’ permanent material status, which means that it can be recycled over and over, it’s an ideal material to spark conversations with Next Gen talent about how packaging can truly support circular economy goals.
“For over 20 years now, we have sponsored a dedicated brief for this competition to celebrate the creativity and versatility of metal packaging. We look forward to seeing what the students design for this year’s real-world brief.”
The brief: metal gifting for confectionery
For the 2026 competition, MPMA’s sponsored brief calls for students to design and develop a metal pack for confectionery aimed at high-end stores specialising in quality foods, giftware, and souvenir packs, such as those found at airport duty-free.
With metal as the primary material, entrants are encouraged to explore its unique qualities, including shaping, texture, perforations, embossing, debossing, micro embossing, print finishes, high-quality graphics, and innovative opening and closing mechanisms. At the same time, confectionery packaging demonstrates the best of innovation: imaginative design, striking finishes, advanced print techniques and unique shaping make it an inspiring example of what’s possible.
Prizes and recognition
The winning design will demonstrate an understanding of what can be achieved with metal packaging alongside an appreciation of how brands and retailers can present the product to consumers.
The winner of the MPMA-sponsored brief will receive a cash prize of £600, with additional Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Highly Commended awards also being presented. Beyond the prizes, this is an opportunity for students to gain visibility in an industry that actively seeks fresh, innovative talent.
How to enter
For full details and to submit an entry in 2026, visit: https://www.mpma.org.uk/student-starpack/