Verallia, the world's third-largest producer of glass bottles and jars, designs and manufactures glass packaging that is increasingly environmentally friendly, infinitely recyclable, enhances the contents, and preserves both food quality and consumer well-being. In France, Verallia is the leading player in the wine, spirits, and food jar markets. With seven industrial sites dedicated to glass production and two technical centers across the country, Verallia also offers custom design services and glass decoration. Between creativity and authenticity, glass brings together beauty and utility: over the millennia, it has forged a unique emotional bond with the consumer. Today, this bond is renewed through the recycling chain and its ecological benefits.

Philosophy and theme of the competition

Participants are invited to imagine a glass bottle that fully exploits the creative possibilities offered by glass as a material.

2026 Contest Theme

Glass & Virtues "What if packaging became a wellness ritual in its own right? This edition celebrates glass as a medium of well-being, care, and consciousness. Designers are invited to imagine glass packaging that highlights natural virtues, functional ingredients, and beneficial consumption rituals. Glass becomes a vessel for products that nurture the body, the mind… and the planet. Here, design serves the living. Soothing textures, organic shapes, nature-inspired colors: these creations should awaken the senses as much as the conscience. Each package becomes a narrative object, inspired by herbariums, apothecary vials, medicinal plants, and more. It tells a story, a source, a virtue. More than a container, a daily companion. As habits evolve, so do formats: micro-doses, infusions, wellness shots, etc. are becoming part of our routines. Glass supports these new rhythms with elegance and responsibility, while enhancing transparency through informative labels about benefits, ingredients, and usage. Glass & Virtues is an invitation to design differently: To think of design as an act of care, a bridge between humanity, nature… and the choices we make as consumers.”

Contest Overview

The contest is open to individuals of legal age who hold “student” status and are enrolled for the 2025/2026 academic year in design schools, institutions offering a packaging option, or schools of Fine Arts, and who reside in France or Europe. The contest is also open to “recent graduates” (within two years of the contest date) from a design school, art school, or an institution offering design-related programs, residing in France or Europe. Students or recent graduates (within two years of the contest date) from business or communication schools, also residing in France or Europe, are likewise invited to participate. Verallia may request at any time that candidates provide any documentation necessary to validate their eligibility. It is understood that applications from candidates who do not meet the above conditions or who refuse to provide the requested documentation will not be considered. Students may enter individually or as part of a team. A team may consist of 2, 3, or 4 members maximum. The team submitting the project must include at least one student enrolled in one of the eligible institutions mentioned above. Registrations are made online on the dedicated contest website http://design.awards.verallia.fr/ with a deadline set for March 15, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The contest includes three categories:

• Glass Award

In this category, you have the opportunity to design a new glass bottle or jar that perfectly embodies the spirit of the “Glass & Virtues” theme. The design must focus exclusively on the shape of the bottle or jar, which should be innovative, functional, and truly unique. It’s time to bring your most creative ideas to life! You may choose from the following formats:

• • One bottle for Still or Sparkling Nolow Wine – 75cl format
  • One bottle for Functional & RTD Beverages (Kefir, kombucha, etc.) – 37.5 / 33 / 50cl
  • One Food Packaging item (bottle or jar) for sauces

• Decoration Award

For the Decoration category, the selected bottle is the YS Bague Plate Bottle. Your task is to focus solely on the decoration of this bottle, in direct connection with the theme. Let your imagination run free to transform the bottle into a wellness-inspired work of art that captures attention. Refer to our toolbox, which details all possible decoration techniques.

• The Special Rémy Cointreau Award

One spirits bottle, designed according to the brief provided by Rémy Cointreau.

File and deliverables:

Each application file, featuring a glass bottle dedicated to the theme, must include the following deliverables: 1. An illustrated file: A landscape PDF dossier featuring the following information about the project:

• The proposed concept and how it meets the expectations of the target audience
• The project's uniqueness (aesthetic value, practicality, etc.)
• A visual of the bottle (sketch or 3D rendering)
• A technical plan with the main dimensions

The weight of this document must not exceed 30 MB. Potential innovation and creation ideas could include (but are not limited to):

• The shape of the bottle
• The appearance of the bottle (color, texture, decoration/finishing, etc.)
• The bottle’s ergonomics
• The bottle’s usage (in new domains or markets)

The file must include at least sketches/visuals and a technical plan of the project, accompanied by a presentation note mentioning, as far as possible:

• The added value provided by the bottle (aesthetic, ergonomic, logistical, etc.)
• The "moment" of consumption
• The target audience(s)
• An estimation of industrial feasibility
• Any information that may enlighten the jury about the project.

It is forbidden to use Artificial Intelligence or software such as Midjourney, DALL-E, NightCafé, or Snowpixel. 2. Visuals: Additionally, when submitting the dossier, candidates may submit 1 main image and up to 4 additional images in png, jpeg, jpg, or gif formats. The images must be landscape-oriented, with a maximum size of 1329 x 768 pixels. Candidates should ensure that their main visual accurately represents their project. Candidates must verify that there are no identical or significantly similar precedents to their project. If there are, the participant must justify how their project significantly differs from existing creations to avoid any risk of counterfeiting or unfair competition. The organizers reserve the right to withdraw a project from the contest if they deem there is a significant legal risk due to the project’s similarity to an existing creation. 3. Candidate Photograph: Finally, the candidate must also submit a photograph of themselves with a clear, centered, and natural face, in portrait format. A candidate may cancel their participation at any time during the contest. If participating as part of an educational program, they must inform their institution as soon as possible.

Responsibility of the organizer

The contest secretariat is responsible for the transfer and safekeeping of the objects, the exhibition of the works, and the organization of the award ceremony. It cannot be held liable for any loss or damage to the object.

Composition of the Jury

The jury’s composition reflects the multidimensional approach adopted. The jury includes at least:

• One designer
• A journalist specializing in packaging
• One or more Verallia clients
• One or two Verallia employees (a member from the design office and a marketing/commercial manager)

The jury may also include additional members whose professional experience ensures expertise in design and/or packaging.

Calendar

• Opening of registration and project submission: October 27, 2025*
• Deadline for registration and project submission: March 15, 2026 at 6:00 PM*
• Award ceremony: June 25, 2026*

* The calendar may change A pre-selection of projects will be carried out by an internal jury composed of individuals from the design office, marketing, production, and sales, before the projects are submitted to the online vote of the jury. A final jury of professionals (employees from the food industry, journalists, designers, etc.) will then convene to select the winners.

Selection criteria

The objects presented will be evaluated based on the following criteria (indicative and non-exhaustive list):

• Added value to the various users of the bottle
• Aesthetic enhancement of the glass material
• The jury’s estimation of the project's industrial feasibility and/or viability
• Enhancement of the bottle's content
• New perspectives opened for the material (e.g., addressing new segments for glass)
• Innovation in design/concept
• Added value of the proposed finishes (e.g., interaction with the bottle's shape)
• Quality of the submission (complete, well-argued, and offering an overall vision of the project)

Promotional Use of the Contest

Participation in the contest implies the candidate’s agreement to the dissemination of their creations, name, and the information they provide. Candidates authorize the organizers to use their names and projects for advertising, promotional purposes, or a national press campaign.

Confidentiality

Throughout the duration of the contest, candidates agree not to disclose or allow the disclosure of their projects without prior written authorization from Verallia. This confidentiality obligation will remain in effect for two years following the date of the awards ceremony. Candidates must refrain from any public disclosure or communication regarding their project, including on social media, without Verallia’s prior written consent. It is expressly agreed that this confidentiality requirement does not apply to internal communications within the candidates’ academic institution, particularly in the context of educational presentations. All information provided by Verallia to the candidates (i) regarding the Special Rémy Cointreau Award, especially the Rémy Cointreau brief, and (ii) in connection with any potential future development of their project (including glassmaking plans, prototypes, analyses, studies, technical data, names of potentially interested clients, etc.) shall remain strictly confidential during the contest and for a period of ten years following the date of the awards ceremony, unless such information enters the public domain through no fault of the candidates.

Awards, Prizes, and Rights

• Glass Award – Still or Sparkling Nolow Wine (75cl format): €2,000
• Glass Award – Functional & RTD Beverages (Kefir, kombucha, etc. – 37.5 / 50cl): €2,000
• Glass Award – Food Packaging for sauces: €2,000
• Decoration Award – YS Bottle: €1,000
• Special Rémy Cointreau Award: €1,000
• Verallia Employees’ Favorite: €500

Each prize corresponds to a reward for a project. Therefore, even if a project team consists of several students, the prize amount remains the same and must be shared among the team members. Verallia will not be held responsible for any potential disputes between team members.

Awards ceremony

The prizes will be awarded during an event organized on June 25, 2026.* * The calendar may change Participants selected by the Jury, as well as the institution in which the students are enrolled, will be individually notified of their preselection by phone or by email sent to the address provided in their application. At the same time, they will be informed of the location, date, and time of the event during which the Jury will announce the winners. The candidate agrees to attend the awards ceremony if selected as a winner, or to be represented at the confirmed location and date. Travel expenses incurred by the candidate to attend the awards ceremony will be covered by Verallia, subject to submission of transport receipts and up to a limit of €200. Reimbursement will be based on second-class train travel or economy-class airfare (only if train travel is not feasible). Train travel should be prioritized. Prizes will be paid exclusively by bank transfer. A bank account identification document (RIB) will be requested from the winners. No other form of payment will be accepted.

Prospection

Verallia may present all or part of the contest participants’ projects—whether awarded or not—to its clients, with a view to potentially developing one or more of these projects. As a result, for a period of two years following the date of the awards ceremony, participants—whether selected by the jury or not—agree not to submit their creations to other contests or approach third-party companies for project development, unless they have obtained prior written consent from Verallia. Beyond this two-year period, for participants whose projects have not been identified by Verallia for development and who wish to collaborate with a third-party company to exploit their creation, we ask that you first contact Verallia to discuss the conditions under which Verallia may assist in the glass development of the project. Verallia will, of course, maintain strict confidentiality regarding the details of any such potential projects. In the event that Verallia decides to develop a candidate’s project, Verallia may invite the candidate to participate in the various phases of its development. It is important to note that a project cannot be developed solely based on the materials submitted for the contest. Additional analysis, research, and testing are essential to adapt a project to the industrial realities of the glassmaking sector.

Intellectual property

The candidate grants Verallia an exclusive option on the creation(s) submitted as part of the contest, allowing Verallia to develop them and, if applicable, present them to any client of its choosing who may be interested. By participating in the contest, candidates firmly and irrevocably agree to transfer to Verallia, on an exclusive basis, worldwide and for the entire duration of intellectual property protection as defined by applicable laws and international conventions, full ownership of all economic rights related to the creation(s) submitted in the contest—whether awarded or not—in exchange for a fixed fee of €8,000 excluding taxes. Verallia may exercise the option to purchase any candidate’s project at any time within two years following the date of the awards ceremony. If Verallia decides to exercise the option, it will notify the candidate at any time before the expiration of the above-mentioned period, by mail or email sent to the address provided in the candidate’s application. Candidates agree, if necessary, to sign any confirmatory documents and to provide Verallia with the necessary details to process the payment of the agreed fee. Upon exercising the option, the economic rights transferred by the candidates to Verallia include, in particular:

• Reproduction rights, i.e., the right to reproduce all or part of the creation in any quantity and by any means, including printing, drawing, photography, video, digital media, and more generally, any mechanical or graphic arts process;
• Representation rights, i.e., the right to present and communicate all or part of the creation to the public, directly or indirectly, by any method, including public presentations, press and catalogs, public displays and exhibitions, broadcasting and advertising films, and more generally, any image, data, or message communication method (such as television, computer networks, telematics, or the internet);
• Rights to grant licenses or sub-licenses, or to transfer all or part of the creation for any of the purposes listed above;
• Adaptation rights, including the right to adapt bottle or jar designs to any volume or material, for any of the purposes listed above.

The candidate expressly waives the right to have their name or status as creator appear on industrial reproductions or on Verallia’s commercial documents, catalogs, or brochures. The candidate also agrees not to transfer or encumber the rights in any way during the entire option period. If Verallia does not exercise the option within the two-year period mentioned above, the option expires and the promise becomes void. The candidate then regains full rights and is free to transfer them to any third party of their choice.

Miscellaneous

Participation in this contest implies full and unconditional acceptance of the terms and conditions by the candidates and, for students, their academic institution. Verallia reserves the right to shorten, extend, modify, or cancel the contest if circumstances require it. Its liability cannot be engaged as a result.