High-end heading aid packaging solution
When it was time to update the packaging for their hearing aids, Sonova turned to PAWI, a company specialising in sustainable and innovative packaging solutions. Sonova wanted packaging that reflected the premium quality of their products, as Olivia Husslage, packaging developer at PAWI, explains: “Sonova was looking for a very high-end solution with a special opening and closing mechanism, and it had to be modular to accommodate different inserts.”
Unique resealable mechanism
The result is a package with an angled lid and a signature Phonak green interior, reinforcing the brand’s visual identity. The lid features a unique, easy-to-open, resealable mechanism that doesn’t require a label, and modular inserts allow flexible configurations.
“A package can evoke emotions by turning the act of opening it into an experience,” says Husslage. “With this project, the goal was to make the opening and closing mechanisms a memorable part of the unboxing, to highlight the product in a special way, and to create an experience that supports the premium quality of the product inside.”
Invercote G was selected because of its excellent processability and high-quality feel, which perfectly matches the premium design and reinforces the overall luxurious impression of the packaging
—Olivia Husslage
Designed for long-term use
Dimensional stability was another important factor in the choice of material. This type of packaging is often used as a storage box by customers. It is opened and closed frequently, and needs to last for a long time. To achieve this, high-quality paperboard with long fibres is required. This minimises the risk of the package losing its shape, or the closure mechanism breaking.
That is why Holmen’s paperboard Invercote G was chosen. “Invercote G was selected because of its excellent processability and high-quality feel, which perfectly matches the premium design and reinforces the overall luxurious impression of the packaging,” Husslage says.
Award winning packaging
The balance between functionality, material performance, and user experience has been recognised by the packaging industry, with the Phonak Hearing Aid packaging being honoured twice. PAWI won a 2026 WorldStar award in the medical and pharmaceutical category, presented by the World Packaging Organisation, regarded as one of the most prestigious awards in the global packaging industry.
The packaging also received an award in the pharma/health care category at the European Carton Excellence Award 2025, organised by the industry organisations Pro Carton and ECMA (European Carton Makers Association).
Achieving the goal
“Together with Sonova, we developed packaging that combines innovation, functionality, and sustainability while creating an inspiring experience for the user. The ECEA 2025 and WorldStar 2026 awards confirm that we have achieved this goal,” Husslage concludes.