KarTent and Smurfit Kappa win prestigious global product design award for ground-breaking eco-friendly tent

KarTent and Smurfit Kappa have been recognised for their innovation in product design at the internationally-renowned Red Dot Awards for a pioneering cardboard tent.

Selected over entries from more than 40 countries, the eco-friendly product – the KarTent – sits alongside previous winners including Apple, Dyson, Rolls-Royce and Samsonite.

KarTent was invented by two young Dutch entrepreneurs who spotted a growing tendency by festival goers to abandon their tents at the end of the event, creating an enormous waste pile of mostly unrecyclable material. As the worldwide leader in paper-based packaging, Smurfit Kappa was able to help the pair turn their vision into reality by creating a 100% cardboard tent that is both eco-friendly and convenient.

Due to its effective design and use of materials, the cardboard structure is able to absorb up to 400% of its own weight in water and can retain its integrity even in wet conditions, as was proved at some very rainy events last year. It is more energy-efficient in production, emitting just half the amount of carbon dioxide of a traditional tent, and is completely recyclable after use.

Jan Portheine, co-founder of KarTent, said: “Being passionate about both music and the environment, I wanted to find a way to make the festival experience more eco-friendly. Working with Smurfit Kappa made it possible to achieve an impossible mission - being able to produce such a unique product. We could never have unlocked the full potential of KarTent without Smurfit Kappa’s input and we’re very proud to see our creation recognised by Red Dot.”

Arco Berkenbosch, Vice President of Innovation and Development, Smurfit Kappa said: “Red Dot recognises the very best in design so we are honoured that this collaboration has won one of their prestigious product awards. It’s a welcome addition to the six Red Dot Communications Design Awards we’re proud to have already won. Finding solutions to complex challenges is an opportunity we relish at Smurfit Kappa and the KarTent is a prime example of how innovation and sustainability can work together to create something truly exceptional. The team in our Van Dam Plant really enjoys working with KarTent on this product.”

This is the seventh time Smurfit Kappa has been recognised by Red Dot, having won six Communications Design Awards in the last two years. This year’s winner, the KarTent, will be on display at the Red Dot Design Museum in Essen, Germany, amongst a host of other cutting-edge designs.