Two Mondragon Unibertsitatea projects will compete in the international WorldStar Student awards
Two Mondragon Unibertsitatea projects will compete in the international WorldStar Student awards
Two Mondragon Unibertsitatea projects will compete in the international WorldStar Student awards
The Fracta and AERIS projects, developed by students from the Higher Polytechnic School of Mondragon Unibertsitatea, have been awarded at the Liderpack 2026 and will represent Spain in the international packaging competition, where they will compete with proposals from 35 other countries.
Two projects developed by students from Mondragon Unibertsitatea have been recognised at the Liderpack 2026 Awards, one of the benchmark competitions in the packaging sector. The works, called Fracta and AERIS, have been awarded in the Young Design category and will participate in the next edition of the WorldStar Student Awards 2027, organised by the World Packaging Organisation (WPO).
Both proposals focus on the development of innovative food packaging adapted to the use of air fryers. Through solutions that combine design, functionality and sustainability, the teams have sought to respond to the new needs of consumers, facilitating food preparation and improving the user experience.
The Liderpack Awards, organised by the Graphispack Association and the Hispack trade fair at Fira de Barcelona, have recognised 18 projects in the Young Design category this year, from 12 universities and training centres. All of them will represent Spain in the international competition.
Fracta: a modular packaging that facillitates food preparation
The Fracta project, developed by Iñaki Aldazabal, Saioa Pérez, Amaia Resano and Lorea Zaballos, arises in response to the Airfry Ready challenge, set by Familia Martínez. Its objective is to adapt food packaging to new ways of cooking, avoiding the need to use additional containers or accessories.
The proposal consists of a packaging designed to cook directly in the air fryer, designed to be made from 100% recycled and recyclable monomaterial CPET. Its main innovation lies in a modular structure made up of two compartments that can be physically separated by a division system. In this way, each food can be cooked independently, respecting its specific time and temperature needs.
In addition, the packaging incorporates the possibility of using a removable rack, especially useful for foods that release fat during cooking, as well as ergonomic fins that facilitate safe handling and removal.
The design also takes into account sustainability and logistical efficiency. Its geometry allows for optimised stacking during transport, while the possibility of cooking and consuming food directly from the packaging reduces the need for other utensils, simplifying preparation and subsequent cleaning.
AERIS: an innovate solution for cooking meat products
For its part, AERIS, developed by Ane Pelayo, Garazi Portillo and Yaiza Zuazo, proposes a specific packaging for meat products, such as minced meat, sausages or chorizo, which allows them to be cooked directly in the air fryer.
The project was born from the need to adapt the packaging of these foods to an appliance that is increasingly used in homes. Although air fryers have become popular, many meat products continue to be prepared in a pan due to the lack of suitable packaging solutions.
To respond to this challenge, the students have designed a tray made of materials resistant to the temperatures of the airfryer, which incorporates a second perforated tray inside. This structure allows the fat released during cooking to filter into the bottom, while the food remains slightly elevated, favouring the circulation of hot air and a more uniform cooking.
Another feature of the project is that it maintains the dimensions of the original packaging, facilitating its integration into the logistics and transport systems of companies. In addition, the design allows the contents to be divided into individual portions, favouring more flexible consumption and helping to reduce food waste.
The next challenge, the WorldStar Student Awards 2027
The next challenge, the WorldStar Student Awards 2027
After their recognition at the Liderpack Awards, the two teams will participate in the WorldStar Student Awards 2027, an international competition organised by the World Packaging Organisation that brings together innovative proposals from students from different countries.
The 18 award-winning university projects in Spain will compete with works from 35 other countries. The international jury will evaluate the proposals on December 7, 2026 and the results will be announced on January 29, 2027. Subsequently, the official catalog of award-winning projects will be published on February 5 and the award ceremony will take place on March 1, 2027 in online format.
The participation of Fracta and AERIS in this international competition highlights the ability of Mondragon Unibertsitatea students to develop innovative solutions that respond to the real needs of industry and society, integrating creativity, technical knowledge and sustainability criteria.