Avant-Garde: the packaging innovation on display with the most revolutionary projects at Packaging Première & PCD Milan 2025

March 28, 2025

Packaging Première & PCD Milan has unveiled the projects that will compose the upcoming edition of Avant-Garde, the initiative dedicated to innovation in the packaging sector.

This project involves exhibitors, design and branding agencies, material manufacturers, luxury packaging suppliers, and start-ups committed to creating cutting-edge solutions in terms of sustainability, design, and innovative materials—the three categories that structure Avant-Garde

For each category—sustainability in the production chain and product development, innovative design in terms of aesthetics and functionality, and advanced materials—an esteemed jury has reviewed the submissions: for sustainability, jury members are Roberto Della Rupe (Machina Lonati, Plus4) and Federica Brumen (Comieco). For design, jury members are Alejandra Rubio (Guess), Davide Mosconi (Auge Design), Giuseppe Salerno (Resistenza Type Foundry), and Andrea Basile (BasileADV). For innovative materials, jury members are Barbara Del Curto (Politecnico di Milano) and Anna Pellizzari (Materially).

The 25 selected projects for Avant-Garde 2025 are divided as follows:

SUSTAINABILITY

Alter Eco Pulp with Cellulose Fiber Molding: A lightweight, durable, and customizable packaging made from plant fibers like bamboo and agricultural waste, ideal for perfumes, cosmetics, jewelry, food, and luxury accessories.
Bartoli with Infinity RePROJECT®: A patented embossed board made from 100% recycled paper (including 20% recovered client trimmings), offering superior mechanical performance through a process that enhances recycled natural fibers.
Fedrigoni Self Adhesives with Re-Play Tintoretto Gesso: An innovative self-adhesive solution that reduces environmental impact by reintegrating up to 15% of waste liner into new paper pulp.
Fiorini International with a 100% transparent paper rain cover, featuring an external coating that creates an effective water barrier, serving as a sustainable alternative to plastic rain covers.
Fontana Grafica with Satin Ocean: Developed with #tide ocean SA, this packaging uses pressed PET bottle waste collected from the ocean, transformed into granules, spun into fibers, and enhanced with hot stamping and screen printing.
G&CO with Cell: A new line of thermoformed products made from PEFC-certified renewable sources (wood cellulose and natural fibers). Plastic-free, carbon-neutral, biodegradable, and fully recyclable.
ICMA with WABI-SABI: A 100% recycled paper collection that embraces aesthetic imperfection, promoting responsible beauty over industrial perfection.
Mainetti with Clear Paper: A revolutionary material for bags, boxes with inserts, and transfer bags, replacing plastic with 100% cellulose, biodegradable in just 45 days.
Packoroma with Bio-Roma: A 100% biodegradable, compostable, and microplastic-free alternative to traditional plastic bags, designed for e-commerce, medical, textile, and retail industries

Sustainability Category Winner: Bartoli with Infinity RePROJECT®

DESIGN

- Advision with LUME – Only for truly important feet: A tin box containing three socks meant to be playfully mixed and matched, ensuring a spare one is always available.
- Auroflex with Audarya Sparkling Wine Label: A label featuring the mythical Audarya mermaid with flowing octopus-like tentacles, elegantly wrapping around a sparkling wine bottle.
- Cahm Europe with QPearl: A single-dose, biodegradable shampoo and body wash pearl—plastic-free and ideal for travel.
- ESKA x BEMAD with The Kiwara Box: Inspired by the African savanna, this box features wavy cuts for a tactile effect and is made entirely from premium recycled ESKA PINK board—eco-friendly, plastic-free, and fully recyclable.
- Essentia Beauty with Smart Compact: A refillable and customizable makeup packaging designed for modern consumers, perfect for quick touch-ups.
- Fedrigoni Special Papers with Terrae: A paper collection made with recycled fibers and natural mineral pigments, FSC® certified, available in three earthy shades—Desert Sand, Light Umber, and Iron Grey.
- Gold & Silver with Il Fruscio di un Gioiello: Exquisite paper-based jewelry packaging, crafted with hot stamping, embossing, micro-engraving, and textural effects.
- IDP Direct with Winged Bag: A shopping bag made with 40% post-consumer regenerated fibers, featuring iconic, foldable cardboard wings.
- IPOROUS Co. Ltd. with Bubloom: A portable device that transforms liquid perfume into bubbles for precise, waste-free application.
- Salco with Wine@box: An innovative e-commerce packaging for wine, with an outer corrugated board and an internal protective insert to prevent breakage during transport.
- Tonutti & Samorani (Alliance Etiquettes) with Olio Amare: A label made from ocean-recycled plastic over 100% recycled paper, featuring NFC technology to share the brand story digitally, reducing material consumption while enhancing interactivity

Design Category Winner: IDP Direct with Winged Bag

INNOVATIVE MATERIALS

- Bi-rex: A circular packaging solution that transforms agro-industrial byproducts (bran, rice, and beer mash) into sustainable fibers, strengthening paper as an alternative to traditional cellulose.
- Mara Paper Lab & Grifal Group with tissuePack: A 100% natural multi-layered fiber material with a soft, flexible, and wavy design, replacing plastic and corrugated board while absorbing liquids in case of spills during transport.
- Raiku Packaging: A 100% natural, 100% compostable, highly protective, and aesthetically refined packaging material, designed to replace single-use plastics and high-impact materials.
- Sleever International with SEELCAP® ONEGO: A biodegradable and home-compostable heat-shrink capsule, developed in collaboration with SLEEVER® and CARBIOS, ensuring packaging security.
- Woamy: Cellulose-based biofoam—100% bio-based, biodegradable, and recyclable with cardboard—offering a sustainable alternative to plastic foams

Innovative Materials Category Winner: Raiku Packaging with its 100% natural packaging

Special Mention: Mara Paper Lab & Grifal Group with tissuePack.

All selected projects will be showcased at Packaging Première & PCD Milan 2025 in the Avant-Garde area. The winners of the three categories will be awarded at the Avant-Garde Winners Ceremony, taking place at the Main Stage conference room on Thursday, May 15, at 11am

DISCOVER AVANT-GARDE

Source: Fast Company

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Avant-Garde: Showcasing the Most Revolutionary Packaging Innovations at Packaging Première & PCD Milan 2025

SUSTAINABILITY

DESIGN

INNOVATIVE MATERIALS

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