The International Molded Fiber Association (IMFA) has announced the University of Wisconsin–Stout as the winner of its 2025 Student Design Competition. The winning team, represented at the association’s recent 27th Annual Conference by student Preston Briggs, earned top honors for developing a sustainable molded fiber packaging solution that replaces expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam in a commercially available waffle iron package.
The IMFA Student Competition challenges university packaging students to rethink traditional petroleum-based packaging for real-world products utilizing molded fiber as a more sustainable alternative. The UW-Stout team, comprised of Preston Briggs, Hunter Clausen, Isaiah Sparks, and Lukas David, answered the call with an innovative endcap design that not only reduces environmental impact but also lowers shipping and warehousing costs thanks to its nesting structure.
Briggs presented the project from the main stage at IMFA’s 27th Annual Conference in Miami, Florida, where industry leaders gathered to celebrate student innovation and discuss the future of molded fiber packaging.
“This project is a great example of what happens when we connect academic curiosity with real-world sustainability challenges,” said Max Gehl, Chair of IMFA’s Education Committee and Chief Operating Officer at Keiding. “The UW-Stout team showed technical creativity, solid research, and a clear understanding of what makes molded fiber such a powerful packaging material, designing an impressive product that is economically viable and easily manufactured.”
The winning design repackaged a common waffle iron—originally protected by petroleum-based EPS foam—using molded fiber endcaps designed in SolidWorks and refined through feedback from industry mentors. The team evaluated multiple design formats and ultimately selected a solution that balances manufacturability, product protection, and consumer experience. Their final concept included rounded corners for improved molding and a return flange for structural support inside the carton.
As part of the grand prize, Briggs received a $1,000 award and attended the IMFA Annual Conference to present on behalf of his team and university.
IMFA’s Student Design Competition is part of the association’s ongoing commitment to cultivating the next generation of molded fiber innovators. By giving students hands-on opportunities to explore the design potential of molded fiber, the competition aims to accelerate the adoption of fiber-based packaging across industries traditionally dominated by plastics.
IMFA’s Student Competition will once again be held as part of the association’s 28th Annual Conference in Barcelona, Spain. The competition will focus on spotlighting students from European institutions. More information will be made available in advance of the April 2026 event.
