Scentra Packaging Combines Rosemary Waste And Seaweed Binder

Scentra is a biobased packaging concept developed for AOLUX, a Macau-based brand owned by OMNI BIOTECH. Made from leftover rosemary trimmings and a seaweed-based binder, the packaging provides an alternative to conventional foam packaging. It also retains the rosemary’s natural scent and can be reused as a diffuser.

Using Rosemary Trimmings

The rosemary comes from the company’s organic farm in Guizhou, China. According to OMNI BIOTECH, the farm employs people from low-income local families as part of a rural revitalisation initiative. Scentra uses trimmings left over from the farm’s activities, turning this agricultural residue into a packaging material.

A seaweed-based extract functions as a natural binder, combining the rosemary trimmings into a moulded block. This block protects a bottle of rosemary essential oil inside the box. The material replaces conventional foam, which is often made from fossil-based polymers.

The company describes the resulting packaging as fully biodegradable. However, no information is provided about the conditions or time required for biodegradation.

Packaging With A Second Use

The rosemary trimmings give the material a natural scent, which becomes noticeable when the packaging is opened. This sensory feature creates a direct connection between the packaging material and the rosemary essential oil it contains.

After removing the bottle, the moulded block can serve as a diffuser. Its second function provides an alternative to disposing of the packaging immediately after use. The concept therefore combines protective packaging, scent and reuse within a single material application.

Design And Recognition

The European Product Design Award selected Scentra as Best Eco-Design 2025. The project also received the Top Design Winner distinction in the Sustainable Eco Design Products category and won the Sustainable Packaging category.

For packaging and product designers, the concept provides an example of how agricultural residues and biobased binders can be incorporated into moulded protective packaging. It also shows how the material itself can contribute scent and an additional function to a packaging design.

Source: European Product Design Award
Photos: Xu Yaohang / Zhixi Dai.