The decision to move packaging production from Asia to Europe is paying off
Estonian cardboard and corrugated packaging manufacturer AS Ecoprint has initiated a collaboration with renowned Swedish outdoor and camping equipment producer Primus to develop environmentally friendly and innovative product packaging. Previously, Primus sourced its packaging from Asia, but due to increasing supply chain issues and environmental concerns, they sought a new European partner.
“Negotiations began a year ago when Primus was looking for a European partner,” explained Siim Rostin, Sales Director at AS Ecoprint. “The main reasons for this undertaking were supply chain difficulties, which had stretched to about four months, and the unreasonably high cost of transportation services over the years. Additionally, communication with a nearby partner is quicker and easier, and Primus’ goal to reduce the environmental footprint of packaging production and transportation also played a role.”
“Primus liked the proposal that the new partner was willing to tailor-make packaging specifically to their needs, which is environmentally friendly, smart, and free of unnecessary bells and whistles. There is no need to create a new box for each product; in many cases, the packaging can be universal. Comparing it to another client’s assortment, for whom we undertook a similar project, we were able to optimize 50 packages into 20 with a new approach.”
Although the cooperation began a year ago, the first package was completed in September of this year. According to Rostin, this is a completely normal timeframe when starting a business with such a large and demanding client. A radical change for a client cannot happen in a hurry; all nuances and potential problems must be considered and taken into account. “It is entirely normal for the development of a new package from an idea to a working solution to take a year or even longer. In this case, the fact that we are inventing new solutions for packaging and considering the universality component – the ability to use one package for multiple products – contributes to the lengthy process. To be innovative and not follow standard practices, Ecoprint employs a packaging engineer who helps clients achieve the right material, appearance, and functionality in product packaging design.” The engineer also played a key role in creating Primus’ packaging, as the result was anything but standard.
Primus appreciates that Ecoprint is authorized to mark packaging with the FSC certificate. FSC is a forest certification system that ensures that the wood used to produce paper comes from responsibly managed forests. The certificate allows tracking the product supply chain from forest to end product. It should be noted that Ecoprint was the first Estonian printing house to acquire this certificate in 2005. Since Primus has a more environmentally conscious customer base, this label also positively impacts the Primus brand, demonstrating a conscious choice.
No one wants to pay for air transportation
For the packaging developed for Primus, the universality component was used – a single-sized package was developed for the client’s various products. “No one wants to pay for air transportation, so we needed to find a smart solution where the product would be fixed and protected in the package, but also as compact as possible. Since the product itself is heavy, the choice of material was simple – a strong corrugated cardboard base box to fix the product, as if it were sitting in a “mother’s lap,” laughs Rostin. In addition to the base box, a separate attractive cardboard sales box is included.
The client’s headquarters in Sweden gave a very warm welcome to the Estonian partner’s different approach, and the first products in the new packaging have already reached Amazon’s e-shop for sale. The fact that the products are intended for online sales was also known to Ecoprint at the beginning of the project, and this fact played a significant role in the entire development process.
Rostin notes that it is not known whether the same box-in-box solution will also reach retail, but since it is a double-secure solution and is suitable for sale both online and in stores, there are no obstacles from the packaging manufacturer. “Let’s say the outer beauty package of the packaging set gets damaged, it’s nothing, because the protection is double-layered and the product itself remains intact. The box-in-box solution may sometimes seem not the most environmentally friendly, and we discussed this issue thoroughly. We came to the understanding that the situation is much worse when the product is damaged and the customer has to return the goods to the seller, from where the goods are then sent to a discount sale or, even worse, for disposal. Primus’ return rate in the Amazon store has been modest over the years, and the goal is to maintain this result.”
The goal is to become the most environmentally friendly packaging manufacturer in the Baltic Sea region
According to Rostin, the transition to full cooperation is gradual. “Large manufacturers have a fairly large stock of packaging, especially if they have been supplied from Asia until now. In connection with this, we have set a goal that if the previous packaging of a product runs out, we will think of a new solution, keeping the same style as the finished solutions. When developing packaging, it is important that the solution is smart, high-quality, with the smallest possible footprint, and eye-catching. We must not forget the cost, ease of packaging, and speed. We try to base our developments on three well-sounding goals – nice looking, low costing & easy packing.”
At Ecoprint, a clear distinction is made between retail and online sales packaging. “We have made such a solution for one client that the product’s retail packaging has a very strong lock – so thieves cannot easily get the product out of the package in the store. If the package does not open easily, then there is a high probability that it will not be torn and dismantled. For online stores, the goal is the opposite – for the customer to be able to get the product with ease. At the same time, the package must remain intact in case there is a need to return the product to the seller. Such nuances are set at the beginning of the packaging development phase in cooperation with our engineers,” says Rostin.
He adds that it is very important, in addition to manufacturers and customers, to bring the topics of environmental impact and sustainability to end consumers. “Good packaging is simple, smart, and made from certified materials, and a single material + print is usually sufficient for smart packaging. Plastics, laminates, films, foils, etc. can be omitted. A conscious consumer separates different materials during waste sorting, so the use of monomaterials also simplifies the lives of consumers. Raising awareness in society is extremely important and must be done consistently by both the state and packaging manufacturers.”