Innovations Take Sustainability Gold

SmartSolve 3X15 Pouch Stock Wins Gold Award in Sustainability

Founded in 2016, SmartSolve initially focused on water-soluble labels and paper. From the start, CEO Jonathan Jakubowski understood that water-soluble paper would serve as a foundation for a broader platform to launch water-soluble breakthroughs.

One of the earliest innovations we identified was flexible packaging. The team began investigating dissolvable heat-sealable coatings and quickly recognized that, if successfully combined with water-soluble paper, those unique properties could unlock something entirely new in the marketplace.

The result was a dissolvable, paper-based flexible packaging structure designed to significantly reduce the amount of polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) and traditional plastic components commonly used in applications such as dishwashing pods and laundry tabs.

“We knew that if we could bring together two unique value propositions—bio-based materials and dissolvable adhesive technologies—we could create an entirely new product category,” Jakubowski says.

That vision ultimately led to the development of the SmartSolve 3X15 Pouch Stock, which took one of two Gold Awards in Sustainability in the Flexible Packaging Association’s (FPA) Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards Competition for 2026. The SmartSolve 3X15 Pouch Stock delivers a scalable, plastic-reducing solution that aligns performance, sustainability, and real-world manufacturability.

A team effort

The company knew it had a strong concept and worked directly with customers to validate whether its theory had commercial and functional potential. That led to Safetec, the first customer to partner with SmartSolve on the development of the 3X15 Pouch Stock.

At the time, Safetec was working with SmartSolve’s sister company as a provider of first-aid kits and was using a tea-based packaging material to hold its powdered blood coagulant. Through conversations with Safetec, SmartSolve identified a key safety issue with the existing format. To use the product, employees had to come into close contact with hazardous fluids, such as blood or vomit, to open the package and pour the powder directly onto the spill. This proximity increased exposure risk and slowed the cleanup process.

SmartSolve and Safetec co-developed a slim, premeasured pouch—later known as Drop-In Pacs—that could be dropped directly into suction canisters without tearing or pouring.

The Drop-In Pacs disperse upon contact with liquid, instantly activating the solidifier for fast and effective waste containment. This approach increased the distance between the user and the hazard, improving safety and simplifying the cleanup process. The solution also reduced packaging waste by replacing traditional plastic materials with a dissolvable, paper-based alternative that has no lingering end-of-life impact.

At the time, SmartSolve was a team of three people, working closely with Safetec to iterate, test, and refine the structure. This collaboration enabled the successful launch of SmartSolve’s first 3X15 pouch application and laid the foundation for future innovations in dissolvable flexible packaging.

Sustainability as a goal

SmartSolve is guided by a vision “to make packaging no longer trash.” To that end, its tagline is “Zero Waste. Zero Hassle.” That commitment shaped the development of the 3X15 Pouch Stock, with a primary objective of creating a zero-waste material that is convenient for people to discard and that causes no long-term environmental harm at the end of its life.

A critical focus during development was ensuring the new packaging substrate didn’t have microplastics. To validate this goal, the 3X15 material was tested through one of the world’s most rigorous regulatory frameworks in France. This testing confirmed that when the material enters waterways, marine environments, or municipal waste systems, it fully biodegrades, leaving no microplastic residue.

The material is certified as readily biodegradable under OECD 301B, one of the most stringent internationally recognized standards. Additional aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation testing was conducted to confirm performance across multiple environmental conditions.

In addition, the 3X15 Pouch Stock is made from wood pulp fibers certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC^®) and sourced from responsibly managed forests. These fibers are biodegradable and recyclable.

Spreading the word

SmartSolve approaches marketing as a partnership with its customers.

As a raw material supplier, the company equips brands with the tools, data, and certifications needed to confidently market products made with 3X15 Pouch Stock. Each brand can tailor messaging to its specific application. The material is being used across a range of categories, including laundry and dishwashing packs, household cleaning, feminine care, healthcare, and personal care and beauty.

At the core of our marketing approach is SmartSolve’s brand promise: “Truth in Green Packaging.” All sustainability claims associated with the 3X15 Pouch Stock are supported by verified testing and third-party certifications, ensuring transparency and eliminating greenwashing.

Sales and market adoption have been accelerating, Jakubowski says.

“COVID slowed down some of the momentum as many companies shifted back to survival mode and paused testing and innovation,” he says. “However, over the last couple of years, the growth has been significant.”

Last year was a record-setting year for SmartSolve, and this year is on track to be another.

After Safetec was the first customer to bring the 3X15 Pouch Stock to market, companies began reaching out organically. One notable example came from the feminine care space. In 2019, Daye contacted SmartSolve while developing what would become the world’s first flushable tampon wrapper.

Although SmartSolve’s packaging carried a higher initial material cost than Daye’s existing solution, Daye chose to validate consumer demand through a short social media campaign. Within 24 hours, a video featuring the packaging surpassed 1 million views, confirming strong consumer interest and the value of sustainable packaging as a differentiator.

In addition to market appeal, Daye chose the 3X15 package because it is a bio-based material that could safely carry active ingredients and offer a better end-of-life solution. At SmartSolve, the experience reinforced an important insight: When sustainability, performance, and consumer experience align, packaging becomes a growth driver rather than a cost consideration.

One of our more recent customers, noodees, is a South African startup. It uses SmartSolve’s 3X15 Pouch Stock for personal care products, including powdered facial wash and hand soap, showcasing how water-soluble packaging can deliver both convenience and meaningful waste reduction.

This application has strong potential to transform hospitality and on-the-go use cases. By replacing traditional bar soaps and single-use plastic packaging with a zero waste, dissolvable hand-washing powder, noodees reduces material waste while improving portability and the user experience.

PaperWave Air Cushion Wins International Gold Award in Sustainability

AirWavePackaging Inc. won the InternationalGold Award—Sustainability for its PaperWave Air Cushion in the Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards Competition for 2026.

The idea behind the package was based on an analysis of three concerns:

What do clients expect from a sustainability perspective?

What is the best in-the-box cushioning concept?

Which material has the best recycling stream in the U.S.?

“We know we can make air cushions from different materials, so we decided to laminate a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC^®) 100% recycled-grade paper with a compostable potato starch blend to form an air cushion,” says Marc Rapp, founder and CEO of AirWave. Air cushions offer the most cost-effective way to fill voids in e-commerce packaging, so the company added the advantages of paper. “Yes, there were moments when we thought about giving up, but gladly we did not.”

The company spoke with various laminators and extruders to find the right product.

“We came across many challenges, but we overcame the obstacles of laminating an ultrathin paper grade with an even thinner potato-starch film,” Rapp says.

When it came to sustainability, the company sought to address the issue from numerous angles, he adds.

“Sustainability does not translate for everyone the same way,” Rapp explains. Sustainability might mean recyclability or compostability for some people, while others focus on the amount of recycled content being used or if a product is climate neutral. “So, with PaperWave, we checked all the boxes to make sure nobody can question it.”

PaperWave had successful product launches in Europe and Asia, he says. It is now being rolled out in Canada and the U.S. The company has a manufacturing plant in Indianapolis with the capacity to produce more than 2 million pounds of the product. The company also offers a line of supporting products, including automatic dispensers and automated packaging systems.

“We sell our PaperWave line mainly through a network of qualified distributors who can support our users to succeed in the transition from plastic,” Rapp says.

With expanded color lines, the company has adopted a motto: “Sustainability does not have to be ugly.” The goal is to impress clients with the unboxing experience. The product also allows companies to carry their logos and colors into the shipping boxes, Rapp adds.

Other Gold Winners

Bryce Corporation PepsiCo® Doritos® FLAMAS® 7- to 4-Color Transition: Gold Award—Printing

Emirates Printing Press, L.L.C. Lekkers Minis Stand-Up Pouch: International Gold Award—Shelf Impact

Flavour Makers & Cheerpack Asia Pacific – Australia Australian Organic Vanilla Custard Mono-material Retort Spout Pouch: International Gold Award—Packaging Excellence; International Gold Award—Technical Innovation; International Silver Award—Sustainability