Stora Enso has been recognised with a Red Dot Design Award in Product Design 2025 for its recyclable and scalable gift packaging portfolio created for Marimekko. The first products in the range were launched in May 2024.
The packaging is made from renewable, certified corrugated cardboard and features artwork from Marimekko’s archive, including the brand’s Unikko print and logo patterns.
According to the company, the packaging is designed to minimise material use, with a folding system that allows items to be securely packed without adhesive tape or padding. Some versions also include handles, allowing them to be used in place of shopping bags.
The materials are locally sourced, and the portfolio is designed to accommodate a variety of product shapes and sizes. In a statement from the Red Dot jury, the packaging was praised as a flexible system that “reduces resource consumption”, while acting as a “brand ambassador” for Marimekko’s visual identity. The jury also highlighted the packaging’s reusability and adaptability in design.
Anna Kjellberg, design director in Stora Enso’s Packaging Solutions Division, explained that the team aimed to balance protection, function and presentation. “Our design team aimed to present a gift packaging portfolio with a clear purpose while expressing Marimekko’s strong brand identity. We are proud of our collaboration with Marimekko and delighted to see the gift packaging being used worldwide,” she said.
Eija Salmela, who led Marimekko’s team during the collaboration, said the packaging was designed to be “scalable and highly functional”, while offering visual appeal that encourages reuse. “Our in-house visual team played a key role in ensuring that the packages are a seamless extension of our brand’s visuality,” she said.
The Red Dot Award is one of the largest design competitions globally, recognising product, communication and brand design since 1955. Winners are featured in Red Dot yearbooks, exhibitions and on its online platform.
