Materials and Retail Packaging

PVC pellets in extrusion tank being inflated to produce plastic shopping bags.

You want custom candle packaging designed, developed, and produced by this holiday season? No problem. You want a matching set-up box and shopping bag delivered the same time? no problem.

 

You want to incorporate unconventional materials, printing techniques and still make the same deadline? PROBLEM.

 

When working with new materials, we find that you always need to allow ample time for sourcing, sampling, and testing the materials in a mass production setting. Custom packaging projects with critical deadlines are not the best choice for that fur lined, brushed aluminum, foil stamped, photochromatic make-up palette.

 

Using nonconventional materials in custom retail packaging, such as leathers (as used in barbwire's retail packaging), wood, acrylic, or metals to name a few require a lot of testing. Assuming the art is a simple hotstamped logo, we will need to source a foil that will adhere to the materials surface. Not all foils will create a surface to surface bond with material other than paper, and foils that adhere to these new materials are available in limited colors.  Also the material must be tested to dial in the temperature at which the foil will adhere to it, without melting or burning the material.

 

When concepting new packaging with new materials in mind, it is always best to involve the packaging manufacturer early on. A packaging firm's experience can help guide your project in the right direction and keep your deadlines on track.

Have you seen any interesting packaging using unconventional materials? Post a link, we'd love to share.