Archives for May 2018

Quantrelle Contract Packaging Sustainability Statement

There has been a lot in the press about single-use plastic and recyclability in packaging. With that in mind, we would like to re-assure you that it is our company practice to ensure a high level of commitment to good environmental policies throughout our business activities. As a contract packaging company, we enforce these policies by minimising the production of waste, and re-using and recycling materials. In case you are asked the question by a vendor, member, or other individual here is a checklist that may be helpful regarding the products we supply:

The main statement is that all of our materials are 100% recyclable.

  • Plastic Blisters (Eco-Pack™) –Made from RPet plastic and contain a minimum of 50% post-consumer waste (i.e. contains materials destined for waste after use).
  • Corrugated Cardboard – the corrugated materials we use in trays and pallet skirts are 100% recyclable, the thin printed layer we use is a virgin paper and we purchase this exclusively from suppliers that participate in the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) UK. (Paper produced from well-managed forests and/or recycled materials).
  • Shrink Film – The shrink wrap material we use contains recyclable material that can then be re-used in the future, including shopping bag recycling points, present in most UK retailers. It’s the same LDPE plastic found in bottled water packaging, shopping bags, milk cartons and garbage bags.
  • Printed Cards – We use vegetable oil-based or water-based inks. These inks are fully biodegradable and do not interfere with recycling processes. Our liners (the printed paper layer) are covered with an aqueous (water-based) coating, which is both biodegradable and recyclable. The cards themselves are fully recyclable.

Quantrelle is BRC certified and ISO registered working to ISO 9001/ISO 14001 guidelines, therefore it is our responsibility to continue to produce 100% recyclable products along with purchasing materials that use the highest percentage of recyclable material.

For more information, please visit our website: www.quantrelle.com/our-green-materials/

contract packaging contract packaging

Thank you,

Andrew Dear

Sales Director

Quantrelle Contract Packaging Solutions

Sustainable Contract Packaging

Designing Product Packaging to fit Consumer Needs

Product packaging design has come a long way since the days when packaging was simply designed to hold a number of products together for easy transportation. Now, as much thought goes into the outer packaging design as the product design itself. For example, only a few years ago you would go to the shop and buy a dozen cans of drinks that came in a simple cardboard box. These days, you can choose canned drinks that come in ‘fridge packs’ that are designed to fit on a narrow fridge shelf with an easy-open perforated top to allow for quick access.

Designs such as these have taken product packaging to the next level – not only for convenience of transporting goods home, but to fit with consumer needs to provide an extra service and prolong its usefulness.

What product packaging manufacturers are now having to do is to create an end consumer profile for the product, and then design the right packaging to best serve their needs. So a company can actually have more than one very different set of packaging for their single product, depending on the end users needs and shopping habits.

This is just one example of how using innovative packaging design can increase the products appeal to its end users. Quantrelle are in a fortunate position to be able to work with marketers and designers to explore new and inventive packaging methods to improve consumer experience.

Having the ability to look beyond the basic function of packaging for more than just easy transportation, we like to develop packaging that enhances the customer experience, which can only help to boost sales and increase profits for you!

If you can provide a really positive customer experience, then they in turn will be more likely to repeat buy your product. This is why it is so important to look your customer profile and reverse engineer your product packaging.

Once you have your customer profile (or multiple profiles) in place, you can take a deeper look into what they want from their product packaging. Do they want a simple way to transport their goods home, and then unpack and discard the packaging? If so, do they want green-conscious packaging that is easily recyclable? Do they want packaging that continues to serve a purpose, such as the fridge pack design for canned drinks?

The questions you generate from looking closely at your customer profiles will help to guide your decision making about what product packaging you offer and where you place your packaged product for sale.

For more information, get in touch with us at Quantrelle or visit our website.

Packaging Companies Facing Demands for Green Wrappings

No matter how good a product may be, green-conscious consumers are demanding more eco-friendly wrappings for their goods. Contract packaging companies are now looking closely at ways to cut down on excessive packaging, and offering clients more eco-friendly options.

The challenges of producing wrapped household products while considering environmental sustainability is a hot topic right now. While it is true that commercial business and the environment don’t always go hand in hand with regards to product packaging, many packaging companies, such as Quantrelle, are doing something to address environmental concerns over plastic waste.

What business owners need to understand is that the first thing that their customers see is their product packaging, and how eco-friendly that packaging is can heavily sway their decision to buy or not.

Businesses are set up to make money, so naturally they will think about ways to encourage consumers to buy their product, but they also want to deliver that product in the cheapest possible way. Unfortunately, this can often mean choosing packaging that is not environmentally stable or easy to recycle.

A greener option

With Quantrelle, when it comes to plastic packaging, we use rPET plastic. PET stands for polyethylene terephthalate, which is a plastic resin and a form of polyester material. Our rPET also contains a minimum of 50% post-consumer waste, meaning we are reusing plastic that would otherwise be destined for the landfill.

Our packaging is fully recyclable and can be disposed of easily by consumers through their household recycling collections along with their plastic water or soft drink bottles. This means that customers have a convenient way to easily remove and dispose of the product packaging that doesn’t harm the environment.

Consumer education

Another way that packaging companies are tackling the demand for green packaging materials is through consumer education. Working with their clients to help highlight the potential for product  packaging to be reused or repurposed in some way rather than simply being thrown away is a really positive move. For example, upcycling and reusing plastic packaging as materials for arts and craft projects, food containers, sandwich bags and household storage such as pen holders and desk organisers.

Another option for product manufacturers is to use compostable, biodegradable packaging. Something that Quantrelle has been at the forefront of offering their clients. Take a look at our Eco-Pack range for more information.