Our award-winning packaging is a testament to our capabilities and dedication in support of client partnerships to develop creative, cutting-edge, and environmentally friendly folding cartons, promotional packaging and rigid boxes that truly ‘Presses the Limits’.

We’ll take a closer look at each of these award-winning packages to provide insight on our client collaborations as a go-to premium packaging provider for leading national and global brands.

Goose Island Bourbon Stout 30^th Anniversary

Gold Award: Sustainability, Innovation

Goose Island Beer Company, a Chicago brewery named after a nearby island and pioneer of bourbon barrel-aged beer, granted us the opportunity to produce the package to showcase the 30th anniversary of their Bourbon County Stout.

While providing samples to drive inspiration, our client ultimately decided that a two-piece side loading slipcase and tray would provide the most unique package. We designed a structure that included windows on the front and back to showcase the 16.5 oz. Bourbon County Stout. To create a unique unboxing, we crafted a creative concept that featured a die cut image of the bottle on the left side of the slipcase for end users to push the tray open and slide out the inner carton.

Our collaboration for the 30^th Anniversary of the Bourbon County Stout resulted in a highly decorated paperboard structure.

• Printed on a 24pt stock, utilizing 4-color process, (2) PMS inks, and gold foil stamping throughout to create contrast.
• The look of charred barrel on the interior structure was designed using soft touch, spot gloss, and emboss patterns to create a wood grain, tactile feel.

The stock included 10% PCW, the brand’s 30^th anniversary paperboard package is sustainable and fully curbside recyclable.

Freixenet Mionetto’s Holiday Advent Calendar

Gold Award: Innovation

Freixenet Mionetto USA is one of the largest sparkling wine companies with global success drawn from an equal blend of quality, passion, and innovation.

The brand called on us to manage the production of their holiday program; an advent calendar that would house 12 of their specialty crafted sparkling wines. Freixenet specified the need for quick turnaround and a cost-effective design that would allow for flexibility of product placement.

Our structural engineers developed prototypes based on creative concepts the brand desired: a structure that resembled a Christmas tree. While the concept would pose more challenges than that of a standardized, rectangular structure, the tree format was viewed as more of a unique structure that embodied the spirit of the holiday season.

Our development team improved the overall design by compressing the concept’s initial size, ensuring sustainability while continuing to support the project’s creative integrity. We also recommended an additional panel for the outer carton to serve as a protective layer for avoiding potential tampering in the retail setting.

Due to the size and weight of the package, it was designed to be ergonomically carried by the handle for ease of transport by the consumer. Retailers were also able to stack the individual Christmas tree package to form an in-store Christmas tree.

Florence by Mills Advent Calendar

Gold Award: Sustainability

florence by mills is a brand made with love by Mille Bobby Brown (the well-known Stanger Things actress, also known as Mills.) Her brand was looking for a new domestic supplier for their Peace, Love, and Florence advent calendar in time for the holiday season. While quick turnaround was an essential priority, the calendar also needed to be high quality to reflect the clean, non-toxic qualities of the brand.

Our structural engineering team worked with florence by mills team to develop a fun, colorful, and interactive 12-day advent calendar featuring their skincare and cosmetic products as well as an ornament for the last day in individual cartons nested inside of a keepsake box.

The finished package includes:

• FSC stock used throughout the package.
• Fully recyclable and biodegradable materials.
• A keepsake box that can be repurposed and is reusable.

Lancôme Holiday

Gold Award: Sustainability

For the 2022 Holiday season, Lancôme was looking to create a package that would showcase an intricate flower pattern created by one of their designers in France . A digital comp of the pattern was provided for reference for our team to begin developing a luxury packaging solution including folding cartons and rigid boxes that also needed to be fully recyclable.

To achieve this, we:

• Translated the pattern into multi-level embossing creating a microetched effect combined with matte and gloss coatings to add dimension and fine detail.
• Used gold, silver and rose gold foil cold foil for the packaging and hot stamping for the inner paperboard trays.
• As part of L’Oréal’s commitment to sustainability, FSC paperboard and chipboard were used along with paperboard trays to replace traditional thermoform tray, making the entire package recyclable.

The entire packaging line also features a very detailed and dimensional rose pattern across the set of 9 rigid boxes with sleeves and 18 folding cartons.

Urban Decay ‘She Hulk’ Folding Carton

Gold Award: Innovation

Urban Decay teamed up with Marvel Studios to promote the new comedy series, She Hulk, now streaming on Disney+. The promotional kit helped fans get ready for the show’s premiere by releasing a limited edition set of one of their “hero” SKUs – the iconic, All Nighter Setting Spray with expandable sponge.

We engaged the Urban Decay team with ideas on how to best execute their desired decorative embellishments while providing cost saving solutions. Our team developed a plan to explore different finishes and printing techniques that would maintain the creative integrity of the client provided artwork.

Ink drawdowns and technical findings were provided to our clients to better understand the benefits of hot foil vs. cold foil while using a 4-color process to enhance the print.

An 18pt stock was selected to provide a premium feel package that was also lightweight. Stabilizers were added to the bottom of the carton to provide on-shelf stability. Featuring rainbow holographic hot foil stamping, multi-level embossing and a matte and gloss finish, the unique decoration on this paperboard folding carton really packs a punch!

Diageo Tanqueray Gift Box

Excellence Award: Innovation

As part of helping our partners boost their visibility in the marketplace, JohnsByrne provided support to the Tanqueray brand by developing an interactive, 2-piece carton for Diageo to gift to influencers and distributors. Both teams collaborated from concept to completion to develop this unique and impressionable packaging design: a vertical telescoping SBS box with a flower layflat reveal.

We worked closely with the customer to fit the artwork and the special challenges the flowering base created for art crossovers.  Use of tone-on-tone blind spot gloss UV on the base creates a modern look.

doTERRA Malama Holiday Kit

Excellence Award: Innovation

Our clients at doTERRA came to our team with an ask to manage their Malama Collection Holiday rigid box with an overwrap, insert tray, and carton.

We worked with the client to develop this creative concept as they were looking for a structure and enhancements that would bring the packaging to life.

To provide a premium unboxing experience for the 3 kit SKUs, the structure was wrapped and lined with a magnetic closure and featured tactile finishes including an overall soft touch and foil stamp throughout the design.

Visit JohnsByrne.com to learn more about our sustainable packaging solutions and innovation process for collaborating with clients to understand their brand direction, product vision and desired high-impact result. From our innovative structural design and sustainable packaging solutions to our robust printing and finishing capabilities, we look forward to continuing to ‘Press the Limits’ with our clients to help them be successful and build their brands.

The post Unboxing Award-Winning Innovative & Sustainable Packaging appeared first on JohnsByrne.

The Luxury Spirit Packaging Industry Is More Valuable Than Ever. With the emergence of more and more spirits, especially craft spirits, competition is heating up. The North American spirits market was valued at $154 Billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.7% to 2028. This huge increase in worth is largely due to millennials’ value of a premium spirit over traditional affordable brands. Millennials are choosing high-end premium spirits, which is driving significant growth.

Another significant factor in all this is the rising trend of craft spirits. With a 10.4% growth in the craft spirits market and an increasing number of distilleries, craft spirits are becoming a strong player in this market. The U.S. is home to over 2,500 craft spirit distilleries, which are primarily concentrated in California, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania and Washington.

Just head over to your local liquor store and you’ll notice dozens of new craft spirits with colorful, luxurious labels that have previously never caught your eye. This significant boom in the market involves everything from mocktails to celebrity brand spirits.

Huge names like George Clooney, Ryan Reynolds, Bob Dylan, and more are experiencing their fair share of success in the craft spirits market. Casamigos, founded by George Clooney and Rande Gerber, sold for $1 billion and continues to be one of the biggest-selling tequila brands. Bob Dylan’s premium whiskey brand, Heaven’s Door Spirits, has released 4 including Tennessee Bourbon, Double Barrel Whiskey, Straight Rye Whiskey, and their limited edition 10-year Tennessee Bourbon. These are just a few success stories within the celebrity spirits business.

Overall, the luxury spirit industry is booming. To stand out in this industry, brands need incredible marketing and packaging. As a leading provider of luxury spirits packaging, JohnsByrne will guide you along the road to bottling success through sprits packaging.

ESSENTIAL SPIRITS PACKAGING

Spirits packaging can make or break a liquor’s success. Our modern market is not only looking for a high-quality product but a product that exhibits luxury and class. Generally, as a spirit increases in price, within the $30 – $40 range, it will begin to leverage more specialized packaging, hence a more premium feel. A key way to encompass this feeling of luxury in your product is through packaging design.

Often, luxury spirits packaging utilizes two forms of structural design – rigid set-up boxes and folding cartons. Folding cartons offer versatile designs that can be formed into a variety of customized shapes and sizes. Folding cartons provide a great canvas for decorative finishes and elements and offer accelerated speed-to-market.

On the other hand, rigid set-up boxes exhibit luxury and sturdiness, utilizing high-quality chipboard. Rigid boxes are great for brands needing structurally sound packaging that portrays elegance. These are often utilized for promotional items and packaging incorporating interactive elements.

In order to present this luxury within your packaging, you must follow a few essential practices. There are three essential periods where your packaging must stand out.

Product Launch

Product launch is the first time your product will be seen by the general public, and keep in mind first impressions carry an enormous amount of weight. Having stand-out, on-brand, luxury packaging for your product launch is an absolute must.

Before hitting the market, defining who you are as a brand is essential and then relaying that into your packaging design. People are drawn to heritage and storytelling within the high-end spirit industry. Tell the story of your brand throughout your packaging and make a connection with your target consumer. Incorporate exotic substrates, dramatic effects, and more to pull consumers in.

Limited Editions

Packaging is key in limited editions of your spirits. Limited edition packaging should establish in one glimpse why this edition is special, its story, and why your consumer should pay a premium price tag.

Whiskey brands such as Rabbit Hole have done this perfectly. Rabbit Hole wanted to create an ultra-exclusive limited-edition package for their first ever Founder’s Collection series. Sequential numbering was also essential as the brand wanted to further enhance the exclusivity of the brand. For this limited edition, the signature bottle was replaced with a specialty design – however, the secondary packaging paid tribute to the brand’s linen-textured sash. The rigid box features the same linen-textured pattern throughout the packaging and includes soft touch coating hot foil stamping, with the founder’s signature prominently embossed on the side.

Holiday & Value-Added Packaging (VAPs)

The holiday season is the ideal time for changing  your packaging to add a bit more luxury. Holidays are a time for gifting, so it’s best to create exclusive value-added packaging that goes along with it. Complete value-added holiday packaging should be influenced by the festiveness of the time.

Traditionally, this is done by incorporating festive holiday colors – reds, greens, blues, golds, etc.

Gift-ready packaging is also extremely alluring to consumers due to its last-minute shopping convenience. Holiday and gift-ready packaging often utilize embossing, foil effects, and additional special coatings to create the ambiance of the holiday season and entice consumers.

TRENDS IN SPIRITS PACKAGING

Awareness of trends within the spirits packaging industry is essential to your success as a brand. More importantly, grabbing onto these trends and incorporating them within your packaging design, if only for a little while, can be key to boosting sales.

The premiumization trend has been a revenue and profit driver for the spirits industry and will continue, especially with a focus on value-priced brands.

To create a successful premium luxury package, you need to:

• Tell Your Story: any luxury product has a story to tell. The best way to communicate your heritage is through packaging. Use colors and graphics to tell the story of where your spirit came from, whether that be family, a country, a culture, or any other unique heritage.
• Use Proper Imagery & Graphics: luxury packaging should utilize more than just any imagery or graphics. Carefully select your imagery and graphics to fit your brand, season, and audience’s taste.
• Choose Your Substrate Carefully: luxury products use luxury materials. Therefore, luxury spirits need to incorporate high-quality substrates. This can be done by utilizing exotic substrates (i.e., wood veneers, leatherette, etc.). Embossing and debossing can also be used to create linen, wood, and leather textures. If sustainability is important, there are plenty of sustainably sourced and recyclable materials available.
• Incorporate Appropriate Colors: luxury packaging must exhibit class. Sometimes, this means utilizing more traditional deep colors aligned with your spirit. For example, rums often utilize deep wood tones, browns, and ivory to call upon their Caribbean history. Overall, your colors should align with your brand and your story.
• Never Forget Specialty Effects: specialty effects are the last essential element of luxury packaging. Finishing effects will elevate your packaging to new levels. With silver or gold foils, embossing, and more, you can put the final touch of luxury into your packaging.

Foils & Metallics

Foils and metallics are the perfect solution to highlight specific parts and unique pieces of your product. They provide a unique look and can be the final push for a new consumer to pull your product off the shelf instead of their typical repeat purchase.

Foil stamping, both hot (traditional) and cold, is ideal for an intense metalized look, making your packaging visibly gleam. Incorporating foils into your packaging gives you the feel of luxury and high quality since shiny metals are often seen as more valuable.

Metallic inks can also exhibit the same effect. Although metallic inks are incorporated earlier in the printing process, this finish will give off a subtler feel. Metallic inks still give off a unique shine and can be utilized in finely detailed packaging.

Vintage & Nostalgia-Inspired Packaging

Vintage is in, and there’s no denying this trend is inspiring the packaging industry. Brands are setting themselves apart by drawing on the nostalgia of the past. Consumers appreciate a trip back to simpler times in such a technology-driven era.

Brands are incorporating simple and traditional elements into their packaging such as simple color schemes or old-fashioned fonts. Vintage and nostalgic packaging is often offered as a limited edition to increase sales.

STANDING OUT IN THE SPIRITS MARKET

Now that we’ve established how significantly the spirits industry is growing let’s discuss how it’s possible to stand out in such a crowded marketplace. There are endless creative strategies that you can utilize from start to finish of your packaging process.

Every packaging design starts with an innovative structural design. Structural design is the backbone of spirits packaging. With a unique, innovative design, you’ll be set apart from the myriad of other craft spirits.

Inventive structural design can be met through 3D printing, extensive prototype proofing, and more. A few innovative solutions commonly used in spirits structural design are:

• Rigid set-up boxes
• Premium folding cartons
• Promotional packaging

Unique closures are perfect for making your spirits packaging appear interactive to create a memorable unboxing experience. Closures can be used as a revel feature – revealing hidden components of your packaging, product, and more. Unconventional openings, such as closures, are the perfect solution to create that true “wow” effect.

Whether you’re looking to promote interactivity or bring about a feeling of mysticism with hidden aspects, closures can help your spirit packaging stand out.

Specialty Effects

Specialty effects are truly the secret to being successful in the spirits industry. Specialty effects are the design aspects that intrigue consumers and advertise your spirit as a true luxury product.

A few effects that will most definitely propel the success of your spirit are:

• Metallic inks
• Hot foil stamping
• Cold foil printing
• Embossing / Debossing
• Holographic foils
• Coatings: soft touch, pearlescent, spot gloss, reticulating

These are just a few finishes that can press the limits of your packaging design. In addition to this, it’s smart to utilize other, more exterior effects such as magnetic closures and exotic substrates. Exotic substrates (actual or recreated through embossing and debossing) can give you the look and feel of a variety of materials such as wood, silk, leather, canvas and more, therefore encompassing even more character into your finish.

Color Consistency

Choosing the perfect color for your brand is crucial. But keeping that color consistent across all products is even more vital to your spirit’s success. Color inconsistency sticks out like a sore thumb.

When working with your packaging producer, make sure that they can provide consistency across all products, from different volume-sized products to promotional items.

Rigid Boxes for Collections

Collections and collectors’ items call for a different type of packaging entirely. When packaging a collection, it’s best to use rigid boxes, as they’re ideal for showcasing the beauty of the bottle within.

Rigid boxes are crafted from thicker, high-quality chipboard wrapped in a light printed sheet. Chipboard and the additional higher-quality features of rigid setup boxes are a powerful way to present a limited-edition item, collector’s item, collection, and more.

Rigid set-up boxes carry a plethora of similarities to folding cartons, but in reality, these two packaging solutions vary greatly. Where folding cartons, made of paperboard, can be folded down flat and have a quicker speed-to-market, rigid set-up boxes are made of thicker chipboard, which can be up to 4 times thicker than traditional paperboard. Rigid set-up boxes are stronger, more durable, and cannot stray from their original shape or form.

In celebration of the brand’s 135^th anniversary, Four Roses released a one-of-a-kind tasting kit that allows bourbon drinkers to taste all 10 of their signature recipes. The rigid box structure features a custom leather grain emboss pattern, dull varnish, spot gloss and gold foil stamping. The package overwrap is made from 100% recycled material, and the chipboard includes 90% PCW.

Incorporating Windows

Windows are a necessity for spirits packaging. Windows are the ideal solution to showcase your product. Windows can be utilized within a variety of structural designs and are crucial to presenting the colors, features, flavors, and more of your spirit.

A product that does this seamlessly is Jim Bean Black. Jim Beam Black showcases their extra-aged bourbon along with two high-quality whiskey glasses that are included in the packaging. The window gives potential customers valuable insight into what they are purchasing.

Duty-Free Packaging

When travelers are wrapping up their trips overseas, often they’ll wander into the duty-free liquor store to get that one last item tax-exempt. Liquor is a common duty-free purchase, so this is another significant area where you can distinguish yourself in a crowded marketplace.

Create exclusive packaging specifically for duty-free locations. Remember that often, duty-free purchases are gifts, so create a convenient ready-to-gift packaging. Incorporate embossing and foil stamping to establish luxury.

Themed Packaging

Themed packaging is a go-to for spirits companies to do something different. Whether it’s a promotional partnership between a movie franchise or a seasonal themed packaging, we’ve found themed packaging is another great way to stand out amongst thousands of other competitors.

Jagermeister released a successful Halloween-themed Stag-O-Lantern packaging that featured an eerie green figure and a light-up stag emblem. Not only was this packaging interestingly themed, but it was also multi-sensory with the help of real LED lights incorporated into the packaging.

Sustainable Packaging

Today’s society is more environmentally conscious than ever, and consumers are now shopping that way. Consumers value sustainable packaging. By creating sustainable packages, your path to success will be much easier.

You can attract an entirely new audience by utilizing more sustainable materials in your packaging. Start using recyclable materials such as paperboard and chipboard in your structural design. You can also dissect your packaging process to find wasteful areas. Ensure your packaging is optimally designed to eliminate waste and is recyclable.

Experiential Marketing + Packaging

Spirits are truly an experiential product, so it’s crucial to exemplify the experience within the product’s packaging. Casamigos does an exceptional job at this.

Casamigos Tequila is founded based on becoming the “best-tasting, smoothest tequila around.” This bold tequila is accompanied by a stripped-down, bold packaging. It pulls on the colors of the agave plant – featuring warm blue-greens, black, white, and beige components. The packaging truly exhibits the culture of a true, genuine tequila.

CONCLUSION

The spirits industry is booming, and the only way to set yourself apart is through packaging that truly presses the limits. JohnsByrne has been helping clients do precisely that since 1959.

Our team of expert structural designers and innovators work to make your dream spirits packaging a reality. With JohnsByrne, you’ll experience seamless end-to-end manufacturing delivered by industry experts.

For more information on how JohnsByrne can help you press the limits of spirits packaging, reach out to us today!

The post JohnsByrne Guide to Premium Luxury Spirits Folding Cartons and Value-Added Packaging (VAPs) appeared first on JohnsByrne.

• 60 – 70% of consumers said they would pay more for sustainable packaging. A willingness to pay more was relatively equally distributed across end-use segments.
• 52% of consumers said they would buy more products with sustainable packaging if they didn’t cost more than conventionally packaged ones.
• Approximately 35 – 36% would buy additional sustainably packaged products if they were more available in stores, available for more products, and better labeled (to indicate green packaging).

From product ingredients to packaging, consumer demand for more sustainable, eco-friendly products continues to change how we design secondary packaging.

Defining Sustainable Packaging
According to the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development, something sustainable must “meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Furthermore, according to the Sustainable Packaging Coalition® (SPC), sustainable packaging must meet the following standards:

• Is beneficial, safe & healthy for individuals and communities throughout its life cycle
• Meets market criteria for performance and cost
• Is sourced, manufactured, transported, and recycled using renewable energy
• Optimizes the use of renewable or recycled source materials
• Is manufactured using clean production technologies and best practices
• Is made from materials that are healthy throughout the life cycle
• Is physically designed to optimize materials and energy
• Is effectively recovered and utilized in biological and industrial closed-loop cycles

Wondering how your brand’s packaging choices help sustain the future of the environment? Many options are available to make your packaging design more sustainable in each stage – from structure to embellishments – which will help your company stand out and meet your sustainable packaging goals.

Advantages of Sustainable Packaging
There are many advantages for brands that focus on providing sustainable product packaging. This results in a win-win for brands, the consumer and the environment.

• Cost savings: by designing for sustainability and eliminating excess material, savings can be realized by reducing material and transportation weight.
• Less environmental impact: this is realized through carbon footprint reduction by eliminating plastics and using recyclable and sustainably sourced paperboard that’s FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification). There are also options with PCW (Post Consumer Waste).
• Brand messaging: further communicate the sustainability messaging and commitment of your brand through your packaging
• Resonate with consumers: your eco-friendly packaging will enhance your brand connection with consumers as they continue to learn more about their purchases’ environmental impact.

Designing Sustainable Packaging
Product sustainability starts with the structural design of the product. While it may seem obvious, using fewer materials to create your packaging effectively makes a sustainable product. During the structural design stage, it’s essential to ask, Can changes be made to use less material without compromising product integrity?

• Lightweighting: there are several ways a brand can use less material in their packaging. One way is to reduce the amount of outer packaging. You can essentially “thin” out or downgauge your packaging to reduce overall material usage. For example, choosing a lighter paperboard weight can make a big difference, especially with larger packaging quantities.
• Restructuring: Another way to use less material is to creatively restructure packaging from how it is usually designed. For example, replacing a tray or insert via a unique structure that holds and protects the product. Additionally, omitting commonplace – yet extravagant and unnecessary – structures, such as a larger-than-needed container or additional layers of material, is a great way to remain sustainable. Minimalist packaging designs are on point and tend to reduce the use of total packaging material considerably. Cartons can also be designed with a fifth panel to contain additional information and omit the need for paper inserts or instructions. This eliminates extra material and production processes.
• Plastic Free: as the acceleration towards plastic-free packaging continues, there are options for using all paperboard packaging. For example, die cuts can be used to show products instead of using clear plastic packaging. In addition, paperboard trays replace traditional vac trays and allow the entire package to be recycled.

Sustainable Substrates
When it comes to sustainability, not all packaging materials are created equal. Depending on the material used, packaging material can be one of the biggest offenders when it comes to a brand’s environmental impact. Swapping out plastic for paper or other biodegradable materials in your product design (without compromising the quality or standards of the product) is an excellent way for a brand to move towards sustainability.

Additionally, using materials that are sustainably sourced or composed of recycled post-consumer waste is critical to finding sustainable, environmentally friendly substrates to decrease the size of your brand’s environmental footprint.

Here are sustainability options to consider for your packaging.

• FSC Certified Materials: To earn the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, the product must have been sourced from responsibly managed forests and made from post-consumer waste. The FSC chain of custody (CoC) is the product’s path from the forest, or, if the material is recycled, from when the material is reclaimed, to when the product is sold or finished with an FSC label. Sourcing, processing, trading, and distribution are all a part of the CoC.

There are different material categories for FSC-labelled materials. Three of the main FSC material categories include:

• FSC 100%: certified products that come entirely from FSC-certified forests.
• FSC MIX: FSC-certified products made from multiple sources, including FSC-certified virgin fiber, recycled materials and controlled wood.
• FSC Recycled: products made with only recycled materials (including post-consumer and pre-consumer reclaimed materials).
• PEFC Certified Material: The PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) is an international organization promoting sustainable forest management through independent third-party certification. PEFC Chain of Custody certification is only awarded to about 20,000 companies worldwide. It provides independently verified assurance that the certified forest-based material a product is made of originates from sustainably managed forests, Trees outside Forests (TOF), and recycled and controlled sources. This certification is a system that tracks fiber from certified forests through production and manufacturing to the end product. To qualify for the PEFC Certified Material & PEFC Recycled label, at least 70% of the product’s material must be certified or recycled.
• Post Consumer Waste Paper: Post Consumer Waste (PCW) is recycled paper made from waste people have used and recycled instead of being discarded to landfills. Post-consumer waste can be any paper product, including books, junk mail, milk cartons, etc. Post Consumer Waste paper offers a way to use paper materials that might have otherwise gone to a landfill. Depending on the paper-making process, PCW paper might also be less carbon-emitting and resource intensive.

• Other Options: tree-free materials, such as bagasse made from sugarcane pulp and hemp made from industrial hemp pulp, are also available. There are also recyclable metalized paperboards available now.

With such a growing emphasis and importance on sustainable packaging, new materials are continually being developed to give brand owners choices when selecting sustainable substrates.

Sustainable Printing
When brands and consumers think of sustainable packaging, usually the type of substrate used or the structure of the packaging is what comes to mind. However, the printing process also has a significant impact on the environment.

From digital printers to state-of-the-art printing technology, the printing process offers a variety of ways to create efficiencies that translate into less wastage of materials such as inks and even electricity and other resources. In addition, printing technology that reduces a step in the process or a need for a second pass through the printer reduces overall production times and increases output.

Take our Press384, a modern triple coater printing press. This 15-unit triple coater combines three coaters, eight print units and four dyer units all in one machine while feeding sheets at speeds of up to 18k sheets/hour. This provides inline printing and enhancement options in a single pass and eliminates additional offline processes.

Our newest CO²-neutral Heidelberg Speedmaster XL press offsets the environmental cost of building it by purchasing “certificates” representing carbon offset by planting trees that soak up the CO². In addition, the new press will continue to contribute to operation, given that the faster it runs, the more energy it saves per 1000 printed pieces.

Using sustainable inks for your packaging also helps reduce the need for solvents. Sustainable inks also can streamline the process of detaching the ink from paper, making for a less energy-intensive paper recycling process.

Making packaging as minimalistic as possible is an ideal method for sustainable packaging. However, this style only works for some products, depending on the industry and what catches the eye of the target consumers. Luckily, brands can still use embellishments to make their packaging stand out while being sustainable.

Foil-decorated paper and board are commonly misunderstood as bad for the environment. However, this is only the case for some types of metalized material. While most aluminum foil board laminates and metalized film laminated boards are not biodegradable or recyclable, the following embellishments are sustainable options:

• Metallic Inks and Coatings: since they can be used many times, metallic inks and coatings are considered recyclable. However, this process does leave a carbon footprint
• Cold Foil and Hot Foil Stamping: repulpable and recyclable metalized decorations

Communicating Sustainability
Consumers won’t automatically assume your product is sustainable due to the way it looks or by the feel of the packaging. In many cases, you’ll need to tell them explicitly. For example, if your product’s packaging is FSC-certified, putting the FSC logo onto your packaging will key customers in. Furthermore, giving instructions on what to do with the packaging when the user is done with it is also helpful. If your product is recyclable, but the user doesn’t realize that and throws it away, much of your brand’s effort towards sustainability remain un-awarded.

Additionally, in a world where eCommerce is becoming increasingly popular, a consumer’s first interaction with your product may be online. Therefore, it is helpful to also market the product as sustainable on your website, with the FSC logo (if applicable), directions for disposal, and more.

Conclusion
Sustainable packaging is the norm today. Making your product packaging more sustainable not only helps protect the environment but can also increase sales and create customer loyalty. Assessing your packaging design at every stage of the production cycle is critical to developing the most sustainable packaging design that will demonstrate your commitment to the environment.

Need help putting your new sustainable-focused vision into something tangible? Then, collaborate with the experts at JohnsByrne. With our state-of-the-art equipment and expertise, we can help you create a compelling and sustainable packaging solution and help you meet your sustainable packaging goals.

At JohnsByrne, we are committed to creating top-quality products sustainably and ethically with a focus on good social & environmental standards. Please reach out to us today to discuss your sustainable packaging needs.

The post Guide to Sustainable Packaging appeared first on JohnsByrne.

Premium packaging and premium products go hand in hand. So it’s that time of the year again when we look at what’s trending in the world of premium packaging. But, more importantly, we’ll look at what’s behind those trends to see what’s driving the evolution of structural design and packaging enhancements.

Why distinguish “trends” in the first place?  Because economics, consumer preferences, brands and products are all moving targets that are interrelated in various ways, and constantly shifting. Extraordinary outside influences – economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal factors – impact packaging like never before. Those pressures continue to generate strong market trends that should be kept in mind.

Exploring trends in package design helps fine-tune product packaging for the consumers you most want to reach. It also guides thinking regarding on-shelf product packaging vs. packaging for DTC products. More importantly, it can reveal important structural/material/design considerations, tweaks and tricks which will offer actual savings in production, fulfillment and logistics even as they generate greater brand loyalty.

Maintaining focus on relevant trends in packaging offers clues to shifts in consumer behaviors/beliefs, so marketers can better meet consumers where they are in their lives today and tomorrow. We’ll look at best practices for creating premium packaging to leverage the following seven trends.

1. Premiumization

Think of premiumization, in terms of packaging, as a way to motivate consumers to desire and pay more for brands they recognize and products they want. In particular, brands in competitive, more mature markets can look to “premiumize” to maintain growth and profitability.

For example, premiumization has been a hallmark of the spirits industry for decades: every aspect of packaging – limited editions, bottle shapes, labeling, boxing, gift sets, etc. – demonstrates the real power of this trend.

As inflation rises, more value-driven brands will take advantage of “premium positioning” through packaging design, finishes and the new stories they tell. It’s the perfect strategy to present their products as higher-quality alternatives to higher-priced goods as families seek ways to continue including affordable luxuries in their lives.

2. Sustainable Packaging

Another ’mega-trend‘: a nearly universal and evolving and increasingly important challenge: sustainability. Sustainability continues to be one of the most powerful, pervasive trends. Brands across diverse categories demand it, consumers are willing to pay more, and ultimately, packaging costs and logistics benefit from it. Moreover, consumer demand for ’greener‘ and their support for environmental regulation, combined with economic and regulatory pressure on brands to take it seriously, will continue to drive sustainability efforts to a new level in 2023 and beyond.

This growing emphasis on sustainability at every step now includes:

• Increased focus on sustainability in premium and luxury packaging
• Accelerating the move away from plastic (vac trays and other use of plastics), substituting functional paperboard
• Reducing waste in production and at point-of-use by replacing paper inserts/instructions with information printed inside or on the packaging itself
• Creative structural design that “does more with less” paper (and provides a host of downstream, real-world cost benefits)
• Increased use of recycled paperboard (post-consumer waste or PCW) and more recyclable rigid and flexible plastic substrates. As an industry leader in sustainable packaging, JohnsByrne can advise on the various PCW content levels available and guide how the PCW level can affect the aesthetics, price point and availability of the paperboard.
• Increased use of low-VOC soy inks, which are much more environmentally friendly while still producing bold, vibrant colors
• Attention to showcasing a brand’s environmental stewardship by including package identification such as “FSC/SFI logos,” “Printed with soy ink,” or “Packaging produced from responsible sources.”

Beyond JohnsByrne’s FSC® (Forestry Stewardship Council®) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) certifications, sustainability is integrated into our entire operational culture, from design to fulfillment. Result: JohnsByrne clients can seize the opportunity to capture invaluable brand equity, which increasingly includes social/environmental concerns.

3. Structural Design/Engineering

Structural innovation including distinctive one-of-a-kind packaging, unique/unusual shapes and up-to-the-minute functionality that, taken together, create terrific shelf appeal and memorable unboxing experiences will continue to impact consumer behavior as a way to entice a purchase.

Innovative design can produce highly efficient, highly desirable packaging in “outside the box” configurations, such as triangular, pentagonal, circular, you-name-it. And multiple compartments can enhance the unboxing experience, particularly for an event or holiday-related product collections. In addition, customized designs can foster enormous attention, inspired by product shape or attribute, to grab attention in-store and create brand loyalty DTC.

Packaging design should present as many touchpoints as possible to address consumers’ evolving perceptions of value – functionality included. In the current climate, they seek real value as reflected in things like ease of opening, package integrity and storage convenience.

Nobody wants to struggle to open a box. And while some products require stricter tamper-resistant packaging, the key remains to find the balance between ease of use and safety/security. This exploration should also yield cost savings: can an innovative design reduce the amount/weight of the material without sacrificing product protection? That is an excellent question to ask.

At the same time, consumers also want assurances of tamper resistance before purchase. Cosmetics packages, for example, should ensure they have not been “sampled.”

With more and more consumers buying in bulk to offset rising prices, it’s also vital to consider how they’ll store and use it and how stores will display it to create the optimum design. For example, irregular-shaped packages may be eye-catching for display purposes but hardly practical for products packed on shelves.

The structural engineering experts at JohnsByrne always begin by “designing with the end in mind: integrating intended use, sustainability, functionality consumer preferences and current market trends (among many others) in intentional package design.

4. Enhancements 

Beyond structural design lie all the extraordinary possibilities inherent in JohnsByrne’s in-house technological/engineering capabilities: the “Limitless Pressroom.” In 2023, you might consider packaging that includes the following:

• Unique die cuts which reveal, entice and augment package graphics to spark engagement
• Matte, soft touch coatings lend sophistication while engaging a sense of touch
• Textured packaging, including emboss/deboss, brings even more multi-sensory appeal while offering new avenues to innovate brand graphics
• Pearlescent UV Iriodin coatings – a trademarked coating in natural colors that results in a subtle, shimmer effect and vibrant luster almost equal to a natural pearl’s sheen
• Glitter… because, hey, why not? Ideal for the holidays, by the way
• Reflective/metallic/holographic foil stamping can add incredibly powerful visual impact to typography and design elements, particularly when used carefully with texturing
• Scented coatings to create a deeper dimension and experience with your brand

Given JohnsByrne’s single-source, one-location business model, leveraging these effects won’t impact speed-to-market or add high costs.

5. Personalized Designs

How do products “speak to us?” When we see packaging that relates directly to ourselves, our interests and aspirations, we’re more likely to engage with the design at purchase. This is an emerging and powerful trend, particularly in specific markets.

In beauty categories, for example, post-pandemic consumers have “shed the mask” and now seek new ways to express themselves in-store and online (along with value, sustainability, etc.).

Color cosmetics sales are booming, but with so many new lines and choices, SKU proliferation is a natural consequence. Packaging that differentiates lines but remains brand-centric is essential to maintain brand equity. At the same time, SKU proliferation will demand more flexible, agile processes to manage shorter runs, faster development and time to market.

And remember, customers want to see proof of social responsibility: they increasingly demand sustainability in packs and the move away from plastics without losing essential functionality. More sustainable materials, mono-materials, and less plastic will fill that bill, mainly when eco-aware consumers are willing to pay more for such alternative materials and package designs.

In spirits, the nostalgia that drives brand equity will take on new emphasis and direction as Millennials and Gen-Xers require an update in “era-specific” graphic design and messaging. The ability to unlock personal reminiscences of the 80s and 90s through appropriate symbolism, period graphic designs, icons and such will attract the spending power of these new generations of consumers.

At the same time, event-specific promotional packaging will continue to generate real sales power. Leveraging major sporting and media events, holidays and other such seismic popular cultural happenings will retain the ability to attract buyers who are invested in them vs. non-customized designs.

In cannabis marketing, overproduction and competition in mature recreational markets have resulted in falling prices. Cost-effective yet innovative packaging which provides genuine brand differentiation can make an enormous difference. But, again, sustainable, regulatory-compliant packaging (and package messaging that calls it out) will be essential.

We know there is consumer segmentation within the this category – a diverse and multi-generational audience for which packaging is becoming increasingly vital for retail success. So package structure and design must accommodate the lifestyle differences and motivations of enthusiasts, artists/performers, medical patients, and connoisseurs in terms of lifestyle as well as Boomers, Millennials, Gen-Xers and Gen-Zers in terms of generational interests.

6. eCommerce

Post-pandemic, eCommerce channels aren’t going to contract – quite the reverse. Continued focus on packaging requirements (durability, security, weight, etc.) is essential. Clear-eyed attention to the differences between the on-the-shelf shopping experience vs. online click-and-buy will reveal the growing importance of powerful brand-centric design and the necessity of providing remarkable, memorable unboxing experiences.

With the growth and increased attention on unboxing videos, some trends have developed for DTC brands to take advantage of in creating powerful unboxing experiences including:

• Unique package engineering creates customer “Oh wow!” moments
• Brand-appropriate, elegant design/art direction captures visual attention
• Premium materials and finishes convey higher perceived product value
• Secondary packaging and enclosures provide additional options for brand storytelling

7. Smart Packaging

The resurgence of QR codes in our smartphone age is a terrific opportunity to improve the packaging experience, increase consumer interaction, reduce in-package waste, personalize the product and provide links to a much more immersive, interactive product experience. Other methods of “smart” packaging include adding RFID or NFC tags as another way to create consumer interaction and an extended brand experience beyond the shelf.

Conclusion

But know this: more than ever, brand promise and personality must leap off the package to help customers “find” a given product in so crowded a world. Relentless, authentic, multi-sensory branding, aligned with most-likely purchaser personae, should drive graphic and structural design decisions. And packaging must represent value while not compromising quality, convenience or sustainability.

Only JohnsByrne combines deep in-house ingenuity/talent, all relevant technological/engineering capabilities and tenacious client service in one location to respond to the above, regardless of segment, brand or product. Contact us to see how we can help you take advantage of the latest packaging trends for your brand.

The post 7 Trends to Leverage for Your Premium Packaging appeared first on JohnsByrne.

With direct mail, marketers have a unique opportunity to engage with their audience’s senses. While direct mail already appeals to our sense of sight and touch it can further engage consumers through their sense of smell using scent marketing.

A fragrance scent is more than just a smell. It’s an avenue to invite your consumers to participate with your brand and message to drive response rates.  Additionally, it creates a new and deeper dimension with your brand reaching emotional triggers of targeted consumers.

Why Scent Marketing?

The olfactory (sense of smell) system is linked to the limbic system which evokes emotional and behavioral responses, memory and recall. All of the other senses are passed through the brain’s interpretive center where consumers process things they see or hear. Scent on the other hand, creates a flow state, where one loses the normal sense of time and is consumed in the moment which can last up to several minutes.

We can all remember a specific memory and scent that’s associated with it. The smell of a certain cologne, perfume or flower might transport you back in time to remember a distant memory, person or event. The connections and possibilities are endless.

There ae plenty of statistics that prove the effectiveness and impact of scent marketing:

• We are 100x more likely to remember something we can smell than something we can see, touch, or hear
• 75% of the emotions we generate daily are affected by smell
• Readership of advertising copy increases 136% when a scent is included
• Smell has a greater impact on consumer purchase decision than all of the other senses combined
• Print buyers and brand owners rate scented inks as offering the highest ROI over all other value-added print enhancements

With the continuing success of direct mail as a way to stand out and connect with consumers who are inundated by emails, scent offers the ability to add a deeper connect through the use of activated or non-activated coatings in direct mail campaigns.

Scent Innovation

At JohnsByrne, we can incorporate ambient (non-activated) as well as “scratch-off” (activated) coating fragrances that invite tactile sensory involvement – a “one-two punch” in the user experience. Moreover, given that scented coatings can be applied during the printing process on our state-of-the-art print presses, they are highly cost-effective. Especially when you consider that scented coatings deliver the highest ROI of any other value-added print enhancement.

JohnsByrne offers standard as well as custom developed scents to match a program or related brand scent. Rub and smell coatings are ideal for use on the outside of a direct mail piece to encourage consumer interaction. The scent area is suggested to be at least 2”x2” and can be applied using a varnish or aqueous coating and perform best on coated stocks. A graphic call out is needed to prompt a consumer to ‘scratch & sniff’ the scented area.

Ambient scents deliver fragrance without physical activation and have proven ROI used inside of envelopes or direct mail inserts. The coating is aqueous and is suggested to be a 24+ sq in area. Uncoated stocks perform best for this coating although coated stocks are acceptable.

Scented direct mailers are a growing trend in the marketplace to stop, hold, and captivate prospective and current consumers. The act of engaging the scent creates an emotional response which in turn increases response rates and ROI. And that is particularly impactful when fragrance marketing is paired carefully with campaign imagery, that “one-two punch” mentioned earlier. Fragrance, like imagery, can be associated with core brand attributes, a particular campaign theme, or even an individual commercial. In addition, scent can evoke experiential memories (think vacation), seasonal memories, lifestyle associations and much more.

USPS Tactile/Sensory/Interactive Promotion

And, when scented direct mailers are included with the USPS’s current Tactile/Sensory/Interactive promotions, it can provide net savings on direct mail programs. For 2023, the USPS will offer a Tactile, Sensory and Interactive (TSI) discount of 5%, pending approval of each execution.

In fact, JohnsByrne produced the first use of scent on an outer envelope. We recently produced a rub and smell acquisition direct mail campaign to increase response rate and drive ROI. The campaign included a fall scent with corresponding graphics inviting consumers to ‘scratch & sniff’ for the scents of fall. The envelopes also featured a matte & gloss finish and embossing for a tactile as well as sensory appeal.

The JohnsByrne Difference

Of course, achieving this kind of innovative high impact packaging on time and within budget, in keeping with a given brand’s strict quality requirements, demands an equally innovative approach to print manufacturing. At JohnsByrne, that means combining extensive in-house ingenuity, all relevant technical engineering capabilities, and tenacious client service in one location for single-source efficiency. All of this is also located in one of the industry’s most advanced, technologically superior pressrooms that’s backed by end-to-end quality practices.

And it includes the clear advantage of “institutional memory:” successful solutions for a given client are always available for later projects, ready to be adapted to a new challenge. It also allows our creative teams to offer genuine refinement to clients’ design concepts, including alternatives they hadn’t considered.

JohnsByrne’s teamwork, talent, commitment, and passion together with our singular business model, is the secret combination that gives JohnsByrne clients a competitive advantage with high impact direct mail that never fails to impress.

Contact us today to see how scent innovation can increase your response rates and drive ROI for your direct mail campaigns.

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When scent is applied to packaging, it enables consumers to engage and test products, which is proven to increase sales. A fragrance scent is more than just a smell. It’s an avenue to invite your consumers to participate with your brand and increase purchases. Additionally, it creates a new and deeper dimension with your brand reaching emotional triggers of targeted consumers.

A recent study conducted by the analytic firm Mai Reserve, confirmed that most consumers surveyed say that they are more likely to purchase a product that has a scented applied, and that brands that include scent on their packaging are significantly more likely to be considered innovative and caring.

Why Scent Marketing?

The olfactory (sense of smell) system is linked to the limbic system which evokes emotional and behavioral responses, memory and recall. All of the other senses are passed through the brain’s interpretive center where consumers process things they see or hear. Scent on the other hand, creates a flow state, where one loses the normal sense of time and is consumed in the moment which can last up to several minutes.

We can all remember a specific memory and scent that’s associated with it. The smell of a certain cologne, perfume or flower might transport you back in time to remember a distant memory, person or event. The connections and possibilities are endless.

Key facts regarding scented packaging

• It is proven to drive consumer engagement with the product and brand.
• Makes products more noticeable on shelf.
• Promotes trial and sampling at point of sale where 75% of purchase decisions are made.
• Enables consumers to make informed buying decisions.
• Enhances the shopping experience.
• Reduces product damage and returns caused when consumers open products to smell the contents.

Scent coatings add value, effectiveness, and unique point-of-difference to all types of premium packaging.

Scent Innovation

At JohnsByrne, we can incorporate “scratch-off” (activated) coating fragrances that invite tactile sensory involvement – a “one-two punch” in the user experience. Moreover, given that scented coatings can be applied during the printing process on our state-of-the-art print presses, they are highly cost-effective. Especially when you consider that scented coatings deliver the highest ROI of any other value-added print enhancement.

JohnsByrne offers standard as well as custom developed scents to match a brand scent. Rub and smell coatings are ideal for use on the outside of a package to encourage consumer interaction. The scent area is suggested to be at least 2”x2” and can be applied using a varnish or aqueous coating and perform best on coated stocks. A graphic call out is needed to prompt a consumer to ‘scratch & sniff’ the scented area.

And while adding scent to an environment is a proven approach to keeping customers shopping longer in a given store, it can be equally powerful when incorporated into premium packaging. Multi-sensory design is a powerful-yet-subtle technique to create more inviting, involving and memorable unboxing experiences and product interactions.

In-store, the addition of fragrance to product packaging has multiple benefits. Research tells us that buyers prefer products packaged with olfactory appeal vs. products with only visual appeal. And while certainly enhancing the shopping experience, it also helps reduce the inevitable damaged packaging when consumers open a given product’s package to check the actual aroma. It promotes trial even as it makes a given product more noticeable on the shelf.

The JohnsByrne Difference

Of course, achieving this kind of innovative high impact packaging on time and within budget, in keeping with a given brand’s strict quality requirements, demands an equally innovative approach to print manufacturing. At JohnsByrne, that means combining extensive in-house ingenuity, all relevant technical engineering capabilities, and tenacious client service in one location for single-source efficiency. All of this is also located in one of the industry’s most advanced, technologically superior pressrooms that’s backed by end-to-end quality practices.

And it includes the clear advantage of “institutional memory:” successful solutions for a given client are always available for later projects, ready to be adapted to a new challenge. It also allows our creative teams to offer genuine refinement to clients’ design concepts, including alternatives they hadn’t considered.

JohnsByrne’s teamwork, talent, commitment, and passion together with our singular business model, is the secret combination that gives JohnsByrne clients a competitive advantage with premium packaging that never fails to impress.

Contact us today to start using the power of scent to create interactive packaging experiences for your customers.

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So, what is the most eco-friendly packaging for cosmetics and skincare products? And what does the most sustainable packaging for these products look like? As a leading single-source supplier in the packaging industry, we’re here to demystify these questions and guide you toward sustainable solutions that align with your brand’s environmental commitments.

Eco-Friendly Packaging: A Necessity in Today’s World

Eco-friendly packaging, by definition, is designed to reduce its impact on the environment. It’s made from materials that are biodegradable, recyclable, or reusable. The most eco-friendly packaging for cosmetics and skincare products is often crafted from materials like glass, aluminum, paper, recycled or plant-based plastics.

Glass and aluminum are materials that can be recycled infinitely without losing their quality. While not infinitely recyclable, paper is biodegradable and can be recycled multiple times and paperboards are available that contain up to 100% PCW (post-consumer waste) content. Plastic is also not infinitely recyclable but there are recycled plastics available as well as plant-based plastics that are derived from renewable resources and can biodegrade under specific conditions. These materials represent a significant step towards reducing the environmental impact of packaging.

There are also certified sustainable paperboard options available including FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) which certify that the materials are sustainably sourced.

The Journey Towards Sustainable Packaging

While eco-friendly materials are a great start, sustainable packaging takes it a step further. The most sustainable packaging for cosmetics and skincare products considers the entire lifecycle of the package. This includes sourcing of materials, package design, manufacturing processes, transportation, usage, and disposal.

Sustainable packaging aims to minimize environmental impact at every stage. It involves using renewable energy sources during manufacturing, reducing water usage, and optimizing logistics to lower carbon emissions. It also promotes a circular economy where materials are kept in use for as long as possible, and waste is designed out of the system.

Our Commitment to Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Practices

As a vertically integrated packaging provider, we’re uniquely positioned to deliver eco-friendly and sustainable packaging solutions. Our comprehensive capabilities, including a structural engineering lab, an on-site ink lab, an advanced pressroom, and finishing and fulfillment services, allow us to control every aspect of the packaging process. This control ensures that we can adhere to the highest environmental standards from concept to completion.

Our structural engineering lab designs packaging that optimizes material usage, and ensures durability, reducing the need for additional protective packaging. Our on-premises ink lab uses eco-friendly inks that are safe for the environment and the end-user. We also hold FSC and PEFC chain of custody certifications to offer sustainably sourced material options. Our advanced pressroom utilizes energy-efficient machinery, and our finishing & fulfillment services prioritize responsible disposal and recycling practices.

The Role of Consumers and Brands in Driving Sustainable Packaging

In today’s world, consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of their environmental impact. Eco-friendly and sustainable packaging is not just a trend, but a necessity. As a business, making the switch not only helps the planet but also builds a positive brand image and drives customer loyalty.

Brands that embrace eco-friendly packaging demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, attracting consumers who prioritize environmental responsibility. This alignment between brand values and consumer preferences can significantly boost customer loyalty, brand reputation and increase sales with consumers looking for eco-friendly products.

The Future of Eco-Friendly Packaging

The future of eco-friendly cosmetic packaging and eco-friendly skincare packaging is promising. With advancements in technology and materials science, we expect to see even more innovative and sustainable packaging solutions in the coming years. We aim to be at the forefront of this innovation.

As we look to the future, our company remains committed to leading the charge towards more sustainable practices in the packaging industry. We’re continuously exploring new materials, technologies, and processes to deliver even more eco-friendly and sustainable packaging solutions.

At our company, we’re committed to providing eco-friendly cosmetic packaging and eco-friendly skincare packaging solutions that don’t compromise on quality or functionality. Let’s work together to make a positive impact on our planet, one package at a time. Trust in us to deliver packaging solutions that are as kind to the environment as they are effective for your products. Together, we can shape the future of the beauty industry towards sustainability.

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After all, the holidays have become synonymous with epic consumer packaging projects. From advent calendars to limited-edition gift sets, every year brings new challenges and equally novel solutions that take the unboxing experience “up on the rooftop” and spread consumer joy wherever they go.

So, in the spirit of the season, let’s take a look at “12 Days of JohnsByrne Faves,” to discover more innovative, seasonal packaging solutions, and perhaps glean some insight into how and why we’ve become the holiday go-to premium packaging house for so many leading national and global brands.

1.  Overture/TikTok 2022 Advent Calendar

Given JohnsByrne’s extensive experience with holiday advent calendar-style packages and TikTok influencer kits, we were a natural for Overture – a leading promotional marketing agency – to entrust in executing the 2022 TikTok advent calendar.

The holiday effort was designed to generate buzz on the platform for influencers to create content around this novel unboxing experience all through December. Our team developed the concept as one large, outer structure to house 31 smaller straight tuck folding cartons in a puzzle-like embrace. The 31 products represented the most popular business segments on TikTok, including Health & Beauty, fashion, travel, tech, etc. And large it was: an impressive 26.1” wide x 14.3” tall x 3.1” deep.

We also handled the all-important fulfillment aspect, including tests in our assembly department to verify the time required to fold, pack and prep for shipping to meet deadlines with the fastest turnaround possible.

2. Lancôme 2022 Holiday Packaging

For the 2022 holidays, Lancôme wanted to highlight their commitment to sustainability in a line of 9 rigid boxes with sleeves and 18 folding cartons, all featuring a stunning flower pattern designed in France.

JohnsByrne translated the pattern into multi-level embossing with micro-etching on entirely recyclable stocks (FSC paperboard and chipboard, including inner trays), combined with matte and gloss coatings to add dimension and fine detail. Gold, silver and rose foil stamping was used for packaging as well as the paperboard trays.

The entire packaging line features a very detailed and dimensional rose pattern across a set of 9 rigid boxes with sleeves and 18 folding cartons. By using the paperboard tray instead of the traditional vac tray and foil stamping instead of metallized materials, the entire packages are recyclable.

3. Melaleuca 2022 Advent Calendar

Ranked as the largest online wellness shopping club in North America, Melaleuca offers over 400 products best known for clean ingredients and natural formulations in the Health & Beauty, wellness and home care categories. As longtime partners (for their Sei Bella brand, among others), Melaleuca naturally turned to JohnsByrne for their holiday advent calendar program.

Initially begun in 2020, creative and structural development was put on hold due to pandemic supply chain issues with the products featured in the calendar. In 2021, JohnsByrne resumed work on the project, selecting on a book-style unboxing experience to accommodate 25 different-sized products: a two-part straight tuck box with two APET vac-formed interior trays and a paperboard outer sleeve. Two years in the making, the final design was printed on 24pt stock using unique PMS colors, an overall gloss UV coating, a spot dull varnish and embossing throughout.

4. Maker’s Mark 2022 Holiday VAP Set

Sustainability (and deliciousness) are the hallmarks of the Maker’s Mark Holiday 2022 program, designed to house the famous red-wax-topped 750ml bottle of whiskey and branded mugs highlighting a Chai Hot Tati recipe for the holidays. Focusing on sustainability (as well as durability and on-press performance), JohnsByrne sourced a host of Kraft materials. The ultimate selection was chosen to achieve a stunning contrast between the brand’s vibrant signature red color (achieved by using multiple hits of the red over multiple hits of white) and the warm traditional feel of Kraft stock. The premium VAP package is also sustainable and uses 100% recycled material including PCW content and is fully recyclable.

5. Live Tinted Holiday Kits

Live Tinted is a clean, vegan, cruelty-free brand that began as a digital community focusing on diverse, inclusive beauty. The brand now produces a variety of color corrector cosmetics.

We began working with Live Tinted when they contacted us to refresh the brands current packaging and manage the production of their Holiday 2022 packaging programs. The brand embraced the holiday season with our reflective copper metallic folding cartons custom made for their limited-edition skincare and Huegloss trio gift sets.

6. Freixenet 2022 Advent Calendar

In August 2022, Freixenet Mionetto USA (one of the world’s largest sparkling wine companies) challenged JohnsByrne to produce a new advent calendar to feature 12 mini-bottles of their specially crafted beverages. Paramount concerns were for a cost-effective design that would allow product interchangeability and, of course, quick turnaround.

Of two client-provided designs prototyped, a Christmas tree-inspired shape was selected and refined to reduce overall size, ensure sustainability, and support the designers’ creative integrity. We also added the outer panel to prevent potential tampering at retail. The finished design uses an SBS sheet mounted to a single-face white Kraft B Flute and an internal corrugated insert to support the 12 bottles (187ml.) securely. Each door includes a half-moon thumb notch for ease of opening.

Our collaboration with Freixnet Mionetto resulted in an impactful, unique packaging design that makes a perfect holiday gift this season!

7. Urban Decay 2022 Holiday Kit

This year, Urban Decay’s holiday packaging is festive and edgy. The products are a collaboration with Urban Decay Cosmetics for their limited-edition holiday makeup set with Naked x Robin Eisenberg.

JohnsByrne partnered again with Urban Decay to produce their cosmic holiday packaging that’s out of this world. The folding cartons use FSC PCW paperboard stock featuring cold foil, gloss, spot glitter and dull coatings to sparkle and shine.

8. florence by mills Advent Calendar

The florence by mills brand is all about loving and expressing ourselves through skincare, makeup and hair products; clean, super easy and always fun. Searching for a domestic supplier for their 2022 “peace, love, and florence” advent calendar, the company partnered with JohnsByrne to reflect their clean, non-toxic brand attributes and uninhibited spirit.

Working closely with the florence by mills team, our structural engineers developed a fun, colorful and interactive 12-day advent calendar to house various skincare and cosmetic products plus a holiday ornament for the last day, all packed in individual cartons nested inside a keepsake box. FSC stock was used throughout to assure full recyclability and biodegradability. The enclosing keepsake box is designed to be repurposed and reusable.

9. Jim Beam Black 2022 Holiday VAP Set

From the immense success and positive feedback of the 2021 Holiday program, the Jim Beam Black 2022 Holiday kit was a structural return featuring new artwork. To continue elevating the Jim Beam Black brand, JBC recreated the look and feel of a leather finish utilizing soft touch and an overall emboss. The additional application of precise foil stamping created a distinct and luxurious contrast to that of the black background.

Our team of structural engineers refreshed the 2022 project by utilizing 28pt C1S SBS. The premium VAP exceeded our customers’ expectations to continue creating a memorable unboxing experience for consumers.

10. 2022 Amazon Beauty Box Advent Calendar

In 2022, Brandshare and JohnsByrne teamed up in a first collaboration to create a specialty advent calendar to support Brandshare’s clients at Amazon. The company partners with consumer goods manufacturers and retailers to provide novel eCommerce and event-based sampling programs to support digital marketing and consumer engagement initiatives. This project included structural engineering and design.

Not only was JohnsByrne asked to engineer a knockout presentation of 12 different health & beauty products and produce it on a tight deadline, but we were also tasked with hand assembly and fulfillment, a true end-to-end solution. The result: a paperboard carton with book fold cover, housing a 12-compartment vacform tray behind 12 perfectly sized compartment doors. The “12 Days of Premium Beauty” Box, in rich red with metallic gold foil embellishments throughout, even included a QR code on each interior door, creating a true interactive unboxing experience as recipients could explore each brand’s products upon opening.

11. Image Skincare Holiday Kit

Image Skincare is known for their clinical-grade skincare brand that’s powered by safe, proven ingredients and smart botanicals. Their 2022 holiday gift sets are bright and colorful.

JohnsByrne partnered with the brand for the elegant limited-edition packaging. The eco-friendly packaging was printed on FSC 10% PCW paperboard stock and features soft touch and reticulating coating along with a debossing pattern.

12. Kiehl’s 2022 Advent Calendar

Given Kiehl’s near-cult-like following of dedicated customers, their Advent Calendar is naturally an extraordinary celebration with feature artists, products, and designs. This 2022 Advent Calendar by JohnsByrne for Kiehl’s was inspired by the previous calendar that was awarded the prestigious “Package of the Year” award at PPC’s annual North American Paperboard Packaging Competition and the gold award for sustainability.

The calendar provides a one-of-a-kind consumer holiday experience and is made of 100% recyclable materials to embody Kiehl’s sustainable packaging commitment and their “Future Made Better Journey.”

The design includes 24 Kiehl’s products in individual straight-tuck cartons for a snug, puzzle-like fit inside the outer hinged box. The enclosed box doubles as a shelf display, and the separate boxes offer a premium unboxing experience. This amazingly intricate Advent Calendar – made entirely of sustainable materials and without the plastics traditionally used in such packages and continues the tradition of Kiehl’s green holiday campaign.

For a deeper dive into why the world’s leading beauty, wellness, spirits, and other brands keep coming back to JohnsByrne for once-a-year holiday packaging spectaculars that genuinely elevate their products and brands, visit JohnsByrne.com.

The post ‘12 Days of JohnsByrne Faves’ Holiday Packaging appeared first on JohnsByrne.

Packaging that showcases both product and brand. Packaging that delights the consumer, enhancing brand love and loyalty. Packaging that transcends box, tray and label to become a truly memorable element of the product it contains, creating not just an unboxing experience but an introduction to something extraordinary.

Every great brand deserves nothing less, product after product. But how does any brand achieve that ideal time after time, always remaining fresh in consumers’ eyes yet true to its brand promise?

Achieving that ideal – consistently – requires a true collaboration of creative ingenuity and design/engineering insight, but constantly asking and re-asking a single, simple question: “How can we make this even better?” In pursuit of the answer, JohnsByrne would suggest five areas of exploration that should lead to your next best-in-class packaging project’s success.

1. Structural engineering/structural package design

The foundation of any premium packaging effort begins at the end, by designing “with the end in mind.” By that, we mean integrating a host of considerations for the finished packaging in a single, intentional design:

• Intended use
• Brand standards
• Sustainability
• Cost-efficiency
• Manufacturability
• Distribution
• Budget

To do so, of course, requires the kind of genuine client partnership that leads to an accurate understanding of each element listed. It also requires relevant expertise and experience “in the room” to create a novel packaging “recipe” from all these individual ingredients.

When that happens, the resultant structural package design will fulfill all needs for functionality (product protection, brand ID, etc.) and provide the most enjoyable possible “canvas” for design elements, even as it elevates the unboxing experience.

Download [eBook] Structural Packaging Designs

2. Graphic design/Use of color

Again, the key here is a highly collaborative process between the packaging house and the client. Such a process is essential, where a client’s creative vision pairs with a team of experienced designers who can elevate and clarify that vision.

Why? Because it is the fastest, most reliable path to premium packaging that tells not only a product story but the total brand experience behind it.

This approach also allows JohnsByrne’s Graphic Design teams to address fundamental packaging goals most efficiently, even as they strive for that “wow” factor. But, of course, those goals always include considerations such as:

• Sales channels – where consumers first interact with a product. The in-store and the on-shelf shopping experience is very different from the exploding direct-to-consumer (DTC) shopping interaction. Design must accommodate that difference.
• Product and brand differentiation within that sales environment.
• Multiple SKU differentiation within a given product line.
• Seasonal/limited edition/personalized packaging.

3. Multi-sensory design

Recognizing that consumers engage with more than their eyes when they shop (as well as when they first interact with a product in its package), integrating more than visual sensory input into the packaging to create unique, striking designs only makes sense. Including:

• Visual impact
• Tactile feedback
• Auditory cues
• Scent/Aromatic overtones

Multi-sensory designs offer new paths to unique consumer experiences, particularly when mixed/matched carefully to product attributes. Multi-sensory design is a powerful technique to create subtle, more holistic, satisfying unboxing experiences and product interactions.

4. Finishes

On-brand, innovative decorative packaging has the power to sway consumers from ingrained buying habits, connecting on both intellectual and emotional levels to appreciate something new and try something different. The range of possible finishing materials and effects is as wide as each present’s creative possibilities, enabling an endless resource for unique package impact. They include:

• Visual/tactile press effects
• Combination coatings
• Tactile coatings
• Coating volume experimentation
• Embossing/Debossing
• Foil stamping
• Matte and Gloss

With that in mind, a vital caveat: unless the packaging provider maintains in-house technical capabilities to execute all these novel finishes, its use may challenge budgets and production timelines as the packaging will require outsourcing to specialty printers.

5. Sustainability

Today, “luxury sustainable packaging” is a design trend in full force. Why? Simply because manufacturers and distributors recognize clear consumer preference for sustainable practices from their brands. Sustainability is no longer a niche; it is a brand-centric design criterion for a wide range of products, from beauty & wellness to spirits and banking. According to McKinsey, in 2020, over 60% of consumers will go out of their way to recycle and purchase environmentally friendly products.

Moreover, evidence of attention to sustainable packaging addresses specific consumer expectations and offers a cascade of downstream dollars-and-common-sense economic benefits. Such evidence includes:

• Reduced/eliminated use of plastic
• Increased use of recycled/sustainable paperboard
• Environmentally friendly inks and coatings
• Environmentally friendly printing technologies
• Adherence to environmental/sustainability certifications

And the very practical, real-world benefits?

• Reduced cost per package across the entire production run
• Reduced cost for package fulfillment
• Improved logistics efficiency across the board
• Lower transportation costs

Replacing plastic trays with inspired paperboard engineering –then “doing more with less paper” – is second nature at JohnsByrne. Leveraging our expertise in sustainable package design while reimagining embossing, die-cutting, environmentally friendly coatings, and other creative effects on paper, we can maintain that luxury look and feel while giving clients and consumers the sustainable packaging they demand.

Finishes + Sustainability: Lancôme

To visualize how working at these five paths to premium packaging excellence intersects can deliver stunning results, consider a recent project for Lancôme’s L’Oréal brand.

For the 2022 holiday season, Lancôme wanted to feature a flower pattern design created in France on their holiday packaging consisting of rigid boxes and folding cartons, all fully recyclable in keeping with their commitment to sustainability.

We translated the pattern into multi-level embossing with micro etching and matte and gloss coatings to add dimension and fine detail. Gold, silver and rose gold foil was used for the exterior packaging as well as the inner paperboard trays. FSC paperboard and chipboard, along with the paperboard inner trays, made the entire package recyclable.

The JohnsByrne Difference

Only JohnsByrne combines deep in-house ingenuity/talent, all relevant technological/engineering capabilities and tenacious client service in one location for single-source accountability. Not to mention ISO 9000 quality in practice end-to-end.

That means an entire company relentlessly focused on providing innovative solutions and options and providing every client with the advantage of speed-to-market.

That includes the clear advantage of “institutional memory:” once discovered, a solution created for one client can be used for subsequent projects. It also allows our structural engineering and creative teams to offer genuine enhancements to clients’ artwork/design ideas, including alternative solutions they hadn’t even considered.

Combined with one of the industry’s most advanced, technologically superior pressrooms, JohnsByrne’s teamwork, talent, commitment and passion are the real power behind our ability to expand the envelope and reimagine package design with all five of these critical packaging considerations dynamically integrated.

To learn more, visit our innovation consult page to inquire how JohnsByrne can assist with your packaging project.

The post Five ways to elevate your brand with premium packaging appeared first on JohnsByrne.

Walk down any Health & Beauty products aisle and you recognize it right away: few product categories are as dependent on innovative, premium package design to help attract and retain consumers and their brand love. From haircare and skincare to cosmetic packaging and more, a clear expression of brand promise and attitude is a crucial differentiator in driving trial and repeat purchases.

Of course, the trick is creating equally compelling consumer unboxing experiences for wildly different brands. As a leader in Health & Beauty premium and sustainable package design, JohnsByrne works in partnership with customers to elevate their brands, creating that ineffable connection between consumer and brand, regardless of venue – on the shelf, in-store, and online.

Why would you need to start with a health & beauty packaging consultation before heading into design?

Health and beauty packaging has changed in the past ten years to meet the changing demands of the customer market:

• Increased e-commerce shopping. What does this mean to manufacturers? The customers’ experience with the packaging acts like the shelf and store experience. The first impression of premium packaging cements the impression the customer will have of the brand.
• Unboxing videos. The rise of popularity with unboxing videos on social media is great exposure for any brand. Think of unboxing as a free testimony and advertisement. However, not every packaging design will get multiple unboxing videos or the shares brands want.
• Sustainability demand. Studies have shown that customers are willing to pay more for sustainable packaging. And, reviews for ecommerce health & beauty purchases often reflect the customers’ experience with the packaging. Comments such as “excessive” or “unnecessary” packaging can be found within reviews which previously would only pertain to the product itself.

Meeting sustainability pledges does not mean a brand has to sacrifice premium packaging. Regardless of design criteria and embellishments, JohnsByrne can deliver expertly crafted, sustainable solutions for your health & beauty brand. Our focus on sustainability aligns with your packaging goals, including:

• Packaging derived from FSC-certified sources and post-consumer waste materials
• State-of-the-art printing technologies and practices which minimize energy and water use in production
• Minimizing repetitive overnight deliveries – and the pollution they generate – with remote virtual proofing of press forms.
• Designs, embossing and finishes using sustainable and environmentally-friendly materials

Look at a very recent approach to premium packaging that highlights the benefits of JohnsByrne innovation and achieving the relationship brands wants with their customers.

Tata Harper

Tata Harper, based in Vermont, was one of the first on the market to focus on all-natural yet very clinical formulas with no artificial additives. They’re all unique blends of natural ingredients from the Tata Harper farm; hence, its beauty brand is aligned around what it calls “Farm to Face.”

Its goal was to develop packaging that reflected quality, luxury and sustainability, in perfect alignment with that brand promise and their specially designed containers. And since we’re talking “green” here, it started with this special green color, “Tata Harper Green.” Tata Harper was a pioneer in luxury natural skincare, and everything about the brand aligns with her vision.

JohnsByrne has partnered with Tata Harper since 2019. Our collaborative relationship has included:

• Updating the structural design of their packaging to streamline and reduce the overall packaging footprint.
• Supporting sustainable paperboard requirements.
• Initiating a supply program.
• Designing premium packaging enhancements (embossing, soft touch, spot gloss) for 30+ line-item cartons and promotional packaging.

Its story is told on every box, in Tata Harper Green with a signature yellow logo and an embossed number in a yellow circle signifying the number of all-natural ingredients contained within. And like those ingredients, our package design is very simple, clean and beautiful.

At JohnsByrne, our G7-certified printing color management team leverages all the required measures to guarantee all-important color consistency across branded packaging. These include color consistency, color balance and G7 grey scale within a color bar. In addition, for those envisioning a novel packaging color, that same color management team can provide a host of options, including innovative coatings, tactile treatments and custom inks.

When it comes to Health & Beauty Packaging and JohnsByrne, beauty is more than skin-deep. It’s born of design innovation, palpably superior quality, and a process that maintains essential control over costs, schedules, supply chains and deadlines. At JohnsByrne, manufacturing efficiencies are legion. Our modern pressroom, for example, houses four-, six- and eight-unit G7-certified presses, as well as our 15-unit press which offers limitless possibilities for design and manufacturing efficiencies.

Want more reasons why the world’s leading haircare, skincare and beauty brands (among others) have come to depend on us to create luxury packaging solutions that genuinely elevate their products and brands? We’re happy to send you samples of our work in this category.

The post Health & Beauty Meet Premium & Sustainability appeared first on JohnsByrne.