Finding a sustainable alternative to plastic packaging
With sustainability continuing to be at the forefront of consumers’ minds when making their purchase decisions, it’s never been more important for companies to show positive changes. Alternative substrates produced from recycled, or recyclable materials, are some of the many options available for consideration.
The challenge
blp was approached by a well-known FMCG client wanting to remove all plastic packaging from one of their bestselling product ranges.
The challenges were clear from the start – although the packaging needed to be strong and attractive, above all, it needed to be secure. The product was a high value consumable, with the current plastic packaging offering protection against theft. The main concern was that any sort of carton board would make it easier for the packaging to be tampered with.
The blp solution
Our packaging development team set to work, designing a custom prototype. Using solid folding carton board removed the need for plastic – not only is it a flexible substrate but it’s easy to recycle after use. blp is an FSC® certified organisation, guaranteeing to source our materials responsibly and this assurance addressed any sustainability concerns.
The product would no longer be on view to the consumer, so high-quality product imagery was printed onto the packaging, with soft touch finish and foiling to make it stand out among competitor products.
To meet security concerns, the development team created multiple elements that would work together, making the product less susceptible to theft. Creating an interlocking design between the fitment and the outer packaging would make it more difficult to remove the product inside.
The fitment was designed to hold the product snugly enough to make it difficult for hasty removal, but flexible enough for the consumer to be able to easily remove it. The inclusion of a specially designed ‘euroslot’ allowed the packaging to hang in-store and be strong enough to prevent it being torn from its holder.
The results
We created a standout piece of packaging that exceeded the client’s expectations. Using solid folding carton board removed the need for any plastic components and had the added benefit of being completely recyclable after use. The final design was fit for purpose in terms of product security and also attractive to the consumer, instantly drawing their attention to the product.
Our people are our biggest asset
With a can-do attitude, our team is completely proactive and responsive. Our wealth of knowledge is unrivalled and passion for our craft is core to everything we do.
Paul Stephenson
Key Account Manager
Cameron Butler
Key Account Manager
Leighton Hopper
Client Manager
Jill McCartney
Senior Client Manager
Sharon Sloanes
Client Manager
Sophie McNeal
Client Manager
Gavin Quinn
New Business Sales Manager
Katie Laidlaw
Senior Client Manager
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Waking up to our impact on the planet
From ‘plastic’ oceans to deforestation, we see the impact pollution and unsustainable processes have on the environment every day. As a business, we’re committed to showing responsible behaviour and increasingly focussing our attention on minimising the impact our processes have on the planet. We are continually looking for ways to become more sustainable in the management of our business but also amongst our staff, from recording and monitoring our energy use and introducing LED lighting to reduce GHG emissions, to installing recycling points throughout our factory and offices for paper and card. It’s all going in the right direction and even small changes can make a difference.
What we’re doing
An effective environmental management system
We are proud holders of the ISO 14001 certification. This international standard makes sure we have a robust environmental management system in place and helps improve performance and compliance. It includes things like our environmental policy, reducing waste and evaluating our operational procedures.
We’re FSC® certified
FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) is dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management and carefully manages forests to make sure they increase in size each year. No tropical rain forests are destroyed in order to make paper and board. FSC certification brings social benefits to workers and local people, and environmental benefits for biodiversity and ecosystems.
Products made with wood and paper from FSC certified forests carry the ‘tick tree’ logo. FSC inspects and tracks timber and pulp right through the chain, from an FSC-certified forest, to a paper manufacturer and then to a printer that has FSC Chain-of-Custody certification.
Monitoring our equipment
We continually monitor the use of our machinery to identify any areas for improvement, already reducing our carbon impact by 35 tonnes.
Our printing presses are alcohol-free. As well as reducing waste, it’s kinder to the environment, plus, we use environmentally friendly inks, which is particularly important for the food industry.
Supporting the community around us
As a local North East business, giving back to our community is at the heart of blp. We sponsor a variety of worthy causes through fundraising activities and are proud to be a corporate sponsor of ‘Street Zero’. This brilliant charity is on a mission to end rough sleeping in Newcastle by 2022. ‘Street Zero’ has already helped reduce rough sleeping in our city by 74% which is a truly remarkable achievement (Jan 2020-21).
Find out more about this brilliant organisation and their worthwhile cause at:
