Packaging reduction for sustainability 

Packaging is something that lots of people are looking to change. A lot of people are looking for a sustainable sort of plan, in order to reduce that environmental footprint. This can also aid with meeting the demands of the attentive customers which are there. It also can help with being eco friendly. Here, we’ll go over why this is important, and why it’s good for purchasing choices. 

The Manifesto 

This Wellness Manifesto pushed by Kellogg, is something that’s a focus on being sustainable, while also being socially responsible.  It’s something that also limits hunger within the world too.

There are now recyclable packages for pringles.  This is something that’s become a pilot project, but now works on a global level. 

By 2025, Kellogg plans to reduce all of their current packaging in order to make it either reusable, compostable, or recyclable. 

Their New Boxes 

One thing that they’ve also managed to do is reduce the packaging. They got creative designing this packaging in order to focus on the reduction, the reusing, and the recycling of said materials. Due to the reduction of the cardboard that’s used to package these cereals, and also shrinking the bag internally. This actually reduces the plastic and paper that’s used in the environment, and it releases hundreds of tons less of the plastic that’s there. 

From the design of the packaging viewpoint, the novelty of the band that’s at the top shows that it’s sustainable, especially in the packaging.  In that center part near the red Ka, there’s now a band that points out the supply of different vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that are there too. 

The company has released a key statement on this here people do demand rightfully more from companies such as that. Everyone expects the food to be the same. They’re working to resonate the product a bit wider with the box contents. Their goal is to minimize that environmental impact, while also preserving and protecting the food in the best ways that they possibly can.

For many companies, this reduction doesn’t mean a lessening of the content that’s inside, but instead it reduces the amount of filler and packaging that’s being used. 

What This Means 

What this means for a lot of their packaging, is you’ll start to see them phase out the current boxes in favor of shorter, maybe a little bitter, and more eco friendly packaging. The plastic inserts that are inside are going to be changed, and many times, people will be able to get a more sustainable sort of box and bag.

The boxes, of course, are made from cardboard, which is being changed to a more recycled kind of product, which offers a better way for you to get the most that you can with this.

You want to make sure that, with this, you optimize the packaging to these different sizes. The spaces that are empty, too much packaging, and the usage of less items.  This is something that’s great too.

Most people do not want spaces that are empty, or having too much packaging, especially if the materials are not sustainable. This is because, when you do that, you’re going to create packaging that’s going to be a problem over time. What you need to do is to design a packaging that’s fitting for your needs. By creating prototypes that you can try out, and from there, seeing if this is right for you, you’ll be able to get top-level packaging for a great price,  and it’ll fit your packaging needs as well. 

Why Inclusive Packaging is a Must 

A lot of companies are moving to inclusive packaging, which is one that’s less focused on specific traits that genders have, and more on some unisex options for design.

This is something that’s taken personal care products and other worlds by storm. You’re seeing it with slimming options, protein bars, and the like. In the past, these used to be a female focused product, but now, we have them for anyone really. 

There are some sociological reasons as to why people want this, and a lot of brands are acknowledging this.  This is why, before you make any changes on a superficial level to the packaging that you have, you should look at the different changes that you can incorporate there.

Trying to fool the customers by just adjusting a few colors is not a smart move, because they won’t react the way that you expect. 

Why Inclusive Packaging 

This is something that’s actually rewarding and great.

For decades, women made the majority of different purchases, so there is a tendency to create messages and images that are female focused. With more involvement by men in the decisions of purchasing, this has changed the paradigm.  Adapting to this is also good for positioning yourself in a way where you won’t’ lose the customers that you’ve managed to include. 

Simple, but powerful.

What does this look like for the most part? How can a brand make sure that their packaging this this mark?

Most experts do agree that it’s less about gender, but more on the visuals, and the messages that drive the purchase in order to create the ultimate success for this.

You usually have to look beyond subjectivity on the general neutral aspects. 

The best way to win over people with gender neutral packaging is going minimal. What that means is, have a lot of white space, limit the color usage, and also keep all of this simple. 

You want to also look at the hallmarks of your brand. This is good, because it takes it away from the characteristics of the people that might be buying it, and instead, you as a brand.

Having faithfulness or a palette that’s established while also showing off your personality, keeping gender and other delineations out of it, is a great approach.

A lot of times, you also want to avoid specific colors that are very gender focused. Pink for instance, might not be something that you wish to use, because pink is usually associated with females. If you’re trying to create a gender-friendly product solution, you’ve got to look past this.

The best way to ensure that your packaging is gender neutral is to work with a packaging expert to help you with this. this can change the identity that’s there. you can choose different ranges and even various models that come with this. you can from there, test and adjust this as needed to create the correct packaging that you need.

Once you’ve created the correct packaging for you to try out, you want to then also have it sent out to a test audience. This can be good for a lot of adjustments as needed. Your packaging may still be too focused on one gender over the other. This can tell you everything that you need to know.

Adjust the packaging as needed, and if you’re someone who sells personal care products, consider going to more gender neutral and inclusive packaging. That way, you can create a quality item that people love, without having to rely on specific colors and other delineations for the packaging needs. 

Ecommerce Packaging Tips 

With a lot of people shopping online more than ever before, the correct packaging is important, and so is the shipping. Choosing packaging that’s correct is important for making sure that you save the business some money, while also improving the profits.  Here is a general idea of how to make your packaging the best that it can be during the holidays, and also some things that you can do.

Making the Packaging Last 

One of the biggest things to remember is that you want to have packaging that fits the products, and promotes a correct brand strategy, not just to the customers here and now, but those down the line and in the future. Making sure that you have the best ecommerce packaging that you can is integral, as it will allow for the packaging to last, and create the best results that it can.

The first thing is to remember that you want to make sure that the packaging is the right shape and size for this. you want to make sure that the packaging doesn’t impact the way that it stays in there. if the box is too small, it could risk breaking it, as you’re pushing it to be in something that’s small, but if it’s too big, the contents might start to jostle about.

But if you’re also looking at the budget, the size of the packaging does matter too. The wrong packaging will eat away at the costs of shipping, so you want something that’s the correct size for these items as you ship them, saving you some money on the materials that are used to impact the spaces, and also what might be used to fill them.

Make it Easy 

This is another given, but make the packaging easy enough that people can open it. making the packaging easy to open is really important, because if you make it hard to open, people will feel that enjoyment get sucked away, and it’ll upset the customers. 

This is what causes the first impressions to sour, so it’s important that you also make sure that the packaging is easy for a person to open, and quick too. Perforation lines and tabs are great for customers, especially those who don’t want to deal with the wrap rage of packaging. 

You want to make sure that the packaging is impactful for the customers, and serves the needs. 

Have the Brand Showcased there. 

The brand being showcased is another thing. Don’t be afraid to let customers know who you are.

Having a branded packaging experience will help get people to remember who you are, and they might even reuse the boxes too. For those who see the packaging, this matters a lot, and showing them that this packaging is what they’re getting will make it shine, and they’ll be able to enjoy the packaging, and want to buy it once again.

Focus on Sustainability 

Finally, even with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, you need eco friendly packaging. That’s because, it’s more important than ever before. With some countries banning plastic, and more people caring about sustainability than ever before, having the correct types of packaging, and one that’ll improve the overall way that the person views the packaging is super important.

Holiday packaging is now being made to improve the relationship with the customer, and you’ll be able to, with this packaging, create the best holiday season experience for those who are interested in this, and in turn, have more people come back to your packaging as a result of the efforts as well too. 

Just What a Corrugated Box Is 

In the world of centers of distribution, along with warehouses and places that focus on shipping, most places utilize a corrugated box. But for newbies recently into the industry, they might not have an idea of the corrugated box, and also why it differs from cardboard boxes. If you’re wondering what the difference between these are, then you’re in luck, because here, we’ll go over the main questions that corrugated boxes have.

What Corrugated Means 

Corrugated as a term means furrowed and wrinkled, and the wrinkled nature of this is seen on the inner portions of these boxes.

Unlike cardboard boxes made from paper that’s heavy duty, corrugated boxes come with three different types of layers.

The first is the outer layer, and then, you’ve got the inner layer, and then finally, you’ve got the fluting that goes in between both of these.

The fluting creates arches that then connect on the outer and inner parts, and they offer a strength that’s larger than a regular old box. 

Why Use These 

Corrugated boxes are great in a business because they offer a durable, strong sort of solution for shipping. Because these boxes get stronger than  a regular cardboard box, you have some comfort in knowing that the item will be packaged correctly.

They’re also very easy for a person to recycle, and when they get worn out after being utilized a few times, you can recycle these, rather than just tossing them in the trash. 

They also can house a lot of stuff. You can get them custom made in a lot of instances, so if you’re someone who likes to actually have boxes that are weird and different, then you’ll definitely want to look at this.

Why Companies like to use these 

There are a few reasons why we haven’t gone over just yet.

For starters, you don’t have to stuff this with void fill in certain instances, or if you do use void fill, you don’t have to use as much due to the fact that it’s very easy for them to house everything and protect the contents.

Another reason is that they can handle being jostled.  Many types of shipping services, despite being reliable, will toss aside and around items, and they’ll oftentimes try to create a mess in some cases. If you’re a company that’s struggling with the breakage rate of their items, you might want to consider corrugated boxes.

Empty cardboard box close-up.

Finally, they’re also very easy to dispose of.  In our world, having different items that are strong and solid will protect the contents there, and there are a lot of people who benefit from this. If you’re someone who is trying to protect your items, and you also want to make a difference on the planet, this is a great way to do it.

Finally, they can be customized. If you have a business that prides itself in custom boxes, then you can use this, and from there, you’ll be able to, with this, craft boxes that are great for users, and also will help with improving the way that they hold up with time.

Cardboard boxes and corrugated boxes both have their own personal benefits, and your business should definitely start to utilize this.

You can also get used corrugated boxes too at a lower price. They have better strength, and from there, money can be saved just through reusing these, rather than buying, and in turn, it also makes you look good as a company, because they see you’re dedicated to using corrugated boxes too. 

Laminate Vs. Varnish 

When you’re planning custom materials and labels, you may get asked if you want a varnish or laminated topcoat, and here, we’ll go over this.

What a Topcoat Does 

The product labels that you have come with a variety of label layers, and it’s something that you’ll want to keep in mind. Usually, your face stock, or the label image, is not the top layer.  This is because it’ll help with protecting the label, and also enhances this performance.

There is a layer that’s above this, and it does impact the lifespan and the look of the labels there. This top portion is called the topcoat, and it offers proper protection against both damage and scuffing. It does also impact the way that the label looks as well. 

The two most common are laminate and varnish. Now, do you need this? Well, it’s not mandatory, but there is a protection there. without your topcoat, the ink will rub off this, or it’ll get scratched on the face stock. It also won’t be protected from liquids, moisture, or even oils that might be there too.

Varnish topcoats 

This is a type of coating that’s on a silicone-based sort of liquid. It’s used for labels that are indoor usage, and they’re not super resistant to the presence of moisture, and it offers only minimal amounts of protection when you’re trying to protect this from scuffing, or even smudging too.

Varnish is usually used in a gloss, satin, or matte finish. There are some common usages for this. There is the flood coat that goes over the entire label. There is the spot varnish, which is used to offer specific contrast for these surfaces too. Then, there are dimensional varnish layers, offering that 3-D dimensional effect that comes with this.

What about Laminate 

This is a type of film that’s made with polyester that offers a barrier of plastic, which is one that’s used to protect everything. They offer more texture and sheen to your label. This offers a protection that’s robust when you’re protecting from scuffing, smudging, oil, moisture and the exposure of UV rays that are here too.

Many laminates are made for specific types of applications. They come in gloss and matte, and there is also the thermal transfer, along with secondary types of printing, which is known to be serialization.

Now, you do need to choose these in a couple of different ways, based on the needs that you have.

For starters, if you need something that’s going to be used in temperatures that are extreme, or in the outdoors, you’ll want to make sure that the topcoat is made with this. Typically, lamination is better for this.

But, if you’re going to be using this for ecommerce labels, you’re better off with just using a varnish sort of topcoat, as this can definitely be cheaper in the long haul.

Finally, you’ll want to also look at the lifespan of the label. How long do you need this to exist? For the labels that are applied to plastic and glass jars, or boxes that are corrugated, varnish is going to suffice.

If you need something that is used for longer kinds of packaging, or making it almost permanent, then lamination I’ll be the best way to help boost the appearance of this, and it usually lasts as long as the product. That means, industrial and automotive industries should just use lamination.

Both are good topcoats, but they do have different needs, and you should focus on the needs that you have, before choosing the correct product.