November 24, 2025

IPL Packaging Partners with Glasgow School of Art

Shaping the Future of Luxury Packaging Design

Global packaging leader marks 25th anniversary with innovative academic collaboration exploring sustainability and premium design

Glasgow, UK – IPL Packaging, a global leader in premium and luxury packaging design and manufacturing, has launched a project in partnership with the Glasgow School of Art (GSA), engaging third-year Product Design Engineering students in a future-focussed project that bridges creativity, engineering excellence, and sustainable innovation.

Marking its 25th year of packaging excellence, IPL is working with the next generation of design talent through this collaboration between GSA – one of Europe’s leading art schools – and the University of Glasgow’s School of Engineering and Physical Science, a world top-200 institution.

The Challenge: Designing Premium Whisky Packaging for 2035-2040

The brief presents a compelling real-world challenge: reimagine premium whisky packaging for 10-15 years in the future, navigating the intersection of luxury brand values and stringent environmental regulations. Students must design solutions that address:

• Regulatory compliance: Meeting EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) requirements that mandate all packaging be reusable or recyclable by 2030, with stricter targets by 2040.
• Sustainability innovation: Creating packaging that is reusable, immediately compostable, or fully recyclable via kerbside collection.
• Material exploration: Investigating biomaterials, composites, and mono-material innovations
• Technology integration: Exploring smart packaging, NFC, digital storytelling, and traceability solutions.
• Premium positioning: Maintaining luxury brand perception while meeting industrial scalability and performance requirements.

The challenge is particularly significant for Scotland – home to world-renowned whisky heritage – and reflects the pressures IPL navigates daily with clients including Pernod Ricard, LVMH, Bacardi, and Edrington.

Michael O’Donnell, Project Manager at IPL Packaging, comments:

“With PPWR and extended producer responsibility on the horizon, we’ve been exploring potential solutions internally, so it will be extremely interesting to see the concepts the students develop. Luxury packaging offers a wide variety of materials, finishes and design considerations, making it a rich area for creative exploration – and this project will certainly challenge them as they become familiar with two complex industries within a relatively short timeframe.”

Industry Expertise Meets Academic Excellence

IPL Packaging brings significant credentials to this collaboration:

• Global reach: A worldwide team across six countries (UK, USA, South Africa, Bulgaria, Malaysia, China)
• Industry partnerships: Decades-long relationships with leading spirits houses.
• Local expertise: Seven-person Central Scotland team providing students with direct access to technical specialists and manufacturing insights

The project is scheduled to run from November through February, with an exhibition taking place on the 13th February in the Art School. The collaboration provides students with authentic industry mentorship while giving IPL access to fresh perspectives from the intersection of GSA’s creative excellence and Glasgow University’s engineering expertise.

About IPL Packaging

IPL Packaging is a global leader in premium and luxury packaging design and manufacturing, celebrating 25 years of excellence in 2025. Combining innovative design with deep expertise in spirits and luxury goods, IPL delivers exceptional packaging solutions that protect brand integrity and create exceptional unboxing experiences. For more information, visit iplpackaging.com

Media Contact:

Michael O’Donnell +44 132 462 2295 michael.odonnell@iplpackaging.com

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