An Australian-designed reusable closure inspired by waterproof hiking bags has earned international recognition, offering a simple way to add airtight resealability to everyday flexible packaging.
Sydney startup Bound's Looplock has been recognised with a 2026 Red Dot Award for Product Design. Rather than redesigning the pack itself, the reusable accessory enables airtight resealability for existing flexible packaging, extending freshness while allowing consumers to continue using the original pack.
The idea draws on the roll-top closure long used on waterproof hiking and dry bags. Bound adapted the proven sealing mechanism for kitchen use, allowing consumers to roll the top of an opened pack around Looplock before securing it with a click. The company says the result is an airtight seal that keeps food fresher for longer while preserving product branding and expiry information as the pack shrinks with use.
When PKN enquired about the polymer used for the product, the Bound team responded: "The material is one of the few things we keep proprietary; getting to it took a lot of iteration during the design phase... it’s an engineering-grade polymer chosen for its shape memory behaviour, durability over thousands of cycles, and food-contact safety. The real IP is in how the material, the geometry and the moulding process work together."
Luke Hamilton, co-founder of Bound, said the award recognised both the product's design and its performance.
"The Red Dot jury physically tests every product that comes through the door. This isn't a pat on the back. It's independent proof that Looplock does exactly what we say it does."
The company says the closure is suited to pantry staples including flour, rice, cereals and snacks. At its core is a shape-memory polymer that can be reset in hot water, returning the product to its original form if it becomes distorted through use, extending its service life.
Hamilton said the product demonstrates how focused design can solve everyday problems.
"Great design isn't reserved for companies with thousands of staff. It's about finding one problem and solving it perfectly. We obsessed over one simple object until it couldn't do its job any better, and we did it all from Sydney."
Founded by Ryan Burke and Luke Hamilton, Bound designs and manufactures Looplock in Sydney. The product is currently available in Australia and the United States, with European availability planned later this year.
