Packaging on a Diet?

14 May 2009



Environmental concerns continue to dominate innovations in pack designs, writes Russell Hicks


With the wonders of Easter now just a fading memory, one element of this religious-based “choc-fest” that may remain longer in the minds of companies who make the card-based creations housing these products will surely be the number of initiatives introduced to reduce the amount of packaging involved. Thorntons, as just one example, committed to cutting its Easter packaging by 22 per cent.

Boxes Prestige worked closely with Thorntons to help achieve this, actually reducing the weight of its Easter egg cartons by nearly a quarter. The 2009 models featured lower caliper but stronger board. The cartons were manufactured using a white-backed board, printed in up to seven colours and with spot gloss, emboss/blocking and window patching techniques to give the eggs added ‘shelf-appeal’.

Commenting on the work for Thorntons, Boxes Prestige sales manager Jon Basford says: “The reduction in weight and thinner callipers meant we had to go through quite a bit of testing to ensure the cartons remained robust. We have plenty of experience in this area and the trials we ran helped us find a good combination of lower calliper boards that were structurally sound.”

Robert Herridge, founder of Packology, a company created three years ago to examine a supplier’s packaging issues in full, considers the opposite side of this debate. “There have been times where we’ve advised a client to re-design their packaging to make it more robust, which might seem like an additional cost and a greater [negative] environmental impact, but they soon see fewer customers returning damaged packaging, so a solution like this has a longer term financial and environmental benefit.” In other words, more packaging but better protection of the product means less damage, which means less waste, which equals better for the environment.

Fudging the awards

Another area that attracts a lot of attention with regard to packaging design issues is the examination of what makes the award winners win. One such product is the Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Fudge Range, which has won a UK?cartonboard packaging award.

Combining a contemporary flat-matt look with a new type of aqueous coating carton producer Benson Group achieved a soft-to-the-touch feel to the carton. The overall tactile effect comes from the novel materials in the formulation, and the unusual friction characteristics they impart.

Design agency Parker Williams’ co-founder Tamara Williams says: “We wanted to use the graphics on the carton to enhance the beautiful structural shape created by the ‘lid’ both when it is closed, with the jewel-like colours showing through, and as it opens to reveal the full intensity of colour and the treat of the fudge inside. The luxurious feel of the soft touch ink, as you pick up the pack, suggests the smoothness of the fudge itself and the graphic flourish makes it suitable for all year round treats and gifting.”

Materials

Eastern European manufacturer of flexible packaging materials Ukrplastic claims some success for its Twispan film, a twist film for various types of confectionery. Manufactured from polymer granules and inks, the finished flexible film is certified by the Polish Packaging Research and Development Centre for safety for food contact in accordance with EU directives.

Typically used for twist-wrapping of irregular shaped confectionery these films offer high twist retention (65-75 per cent) for tight, effective wrapping. The decorative films are available in white and metallised finishes, in 30 and 35 micron thicknesses.

For carton producers seeking to add that extra special finish, the world of lamination continues to move forward with its offerings. Reflections, the largest trade finishing specialist in the south-east of the UK, offers in excess of 25 different film finishes, ranging from standard matt, gloss, silk, satin, and semitone, to the more exotic soft touch, pearlescent, and textured finishes. A recent launch even offers a fabric laminated substrate, with this film applied prior to printing.

Environmental focus is also given to modern lamination options, with the Reflections Organic Lamination products – a range of films that boast biodegradability, conforming to the DIN 13432 standard and thus offering full compostability.


Shapes with a twist Shapes with a twist Less for eggs

Less for eggs Less for eggs
Shapes with a twist Shapes with a twist


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