What inspired you to pursue a career in the packaging industry?
Thomas Bernad - I grew up in a small, family-run industrial business that manufactured spray paints. From a very young age, I was immersed in this world, especially through trade shows, which gave me a very concrete understanding of the industry. Packaging is never neutral — it directly shapes how a product is used.
During my studies and internships, I had access to a laboratory and to experts in formulation and packaging. That’s when I realised how closely chemistry, mechanics and user experience are linked. But my greatest inspiration comes from my father. I’ve always admired his ability to innovate by stepping off the beaten path. Questioning established standards became second nature to me, and that mindset is what pushed me to rethink the spray can from the inside out.
What has been your biggest challenge as a young leader?
Thomas Bernad - The main challenge has been technical. Working with compressed air instead of liquefied gas means dealing with less constant pressure and far more complex atomisation. With paint, dispersion has to be perfectly homogeneous to deliver a clean, high-quality finish.
We had to rebuild the entire system: the geometry of the diffuser, the rheology of the paint, and the pressure dynamics. Nothing could be copied from traditional aerosols. I studied more than 800 formulations to understand how the material behaves and how to control fluidisation at the nozzle.
On top of that, there are business and human challenges. Navigating between small, agile structures and large industrial players demanding high volumes is complex, especially when you’re still refining the technology. And in a sector where decision-makers are often more experienced, my young age can sometimes be perceived as a hurdle — which means I have to prove the concept through performance.
If you could change one misconception about packaging, what would it be?
Thomas Bernad - That packaging is passive. In the aerosol world, it’s exactly the opposite. Packaging is the core of product performance.
The valve, internal pressure, propellant, compatibility with the formulation and the spray pattern all directly shape the user experience, from the quality of the finish to the smoothness of application and overall safety. When you replace fossil propellants with compressed air, you can’t adapt an existing model. You have to reinvent the entire system.
This year marks 25 years of Paris Packaging Week. What legacy would you like Future Leaders to leave?
Thomas Bernad - I believe our generation is capable of addressing today’s challenges (sustainability, creativity and the transformation of industrial models) but only if we work alongside the senior experts who built this industry.
AI accelerates development cycles, but humans remain central to meaning, responsibility and long-term vision. The legacy I hope we leave is one of collaboration, asking the right questions and building a future that remains viable.
What advice would you give to young professionals entering packaging?
Thomas Bernad - Packaging is an incredibly broad field. You have to approach it with humility and curiosity. Understanding a spray system means mastering formulation, regulations, mechanics, market dynamics and commercial constraints. The more global your understanding, the more relevant and credible your solutions will be.
An iconic packaging design, in your view?
Thomas Bernad - For me, the spray can itself is iconic because it has barely evolved since World War II: a can, a liquefied gas and a formulation.
What inspires me is the idea of atomising paint without fossil energy. My goal is to create a truly sustainable alternative, not just less harmful, but structurally better, with a reusable and refillable system that breaks away from the disposable logic of traditional aerosols.
