Cal Poly sweeps FPA design challenge

California Polytechnic State University students have taken first and second place in the Flexible Packaging Association's 2026 Student Flexible Packaging Design Challenge, with 49 concept outlines submitted from leading US university packaging programs and 23 advancing to the development phase.

The first-place award went to Cal Poly students Kanya Misra, Olivia Peterson and Jennifer Takao for Paw Pantry, a pre-portioned dog food concept that uses high-barrier, metalized flexible packaging with individually sealed, perforated tear pouches designed for portion control and freshness preservation.

Two Cal Poly teams tied for second place. Raina Patel, Vania Robles and Kimberly Santana received recognition for BoilBag Pasta, a heat-resistant pouch that allows consumers to boil, strain and serve pasta directly from the package, with an integrated drainage zone and a recyclable laminate structure. Apollo Son and Brooklyn Still took the second-place award for ChEASY All-in-One Mac n Cheese Pouch, a dual-compartment, BPA-free flexible package combining pasta and cheese ingredients in a single heat-safe structure.

Three honorable mentions were awarded to teams from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and Cal Poly, for concepts including flavored gravy sample pouches, a resealable flexible cotton swab package and a four-square beef package. A Best Video Award went to Cal Poly students Ethan Girtle, Katerina Harris, Alondra Lobos and Leo Miller for their DuoLoop dual-chamber concept.

The FPA has sponsored the Student Flexible Packaging Design Challenge since 2004.