Circular Thinking: Glass Jars & Cardboard Boxes

Circular Thinking: Glass Jars & Cardboard Boxes

When a company has been successfully built around environmentally and socially sustainable principles, circular thinking comes naturally. Every decision considers the full impact of production and processes. This means packaging materials that are made from recycled material and are widely recycled.

E-commerce Packaging for Sustainable Sea Salt

We were recently contacted by Joshua, who enquired about sustainable e-commerce packaging for the launch of Asilia Salt. This is a new business in the UK, however, Joshua’s family have been harvesting salt from the Indian Ocean since the 1950s. Therefore, this new enterprise is a sister company to Bagamoyo Sea Salt in Tanzania.

The Bagamoyo region of East Africa is blessed with many more hours of sunshine than we experience in the UK. The careful development of salt pans in the region enables solar evaporation to naturally separate the mineral-rich salt. It can then be hand-harvested, sun-dried, inspected and graded. The process is so natural, that the salt pans also operate as a rich and diverse habitat for wildlife.

The team at Bagamoyo Sea Salt have perfected this process over decades. Now living in London, Joshua is delighted to bring this premium product to foodies in the UK.

The Asilia Salt range includes natural salt pearls and, for adventurous chefs who love experimenting with flavour, there is more! Combining natural ingredients with the salt offers a fresh twist. How do Turmeric Ginger, Applewood Smoked and Coconut Lime take your fancy? The company also provides recipe inspiration to help incorporate these flavours into your cooking.

The Packaging Brief

Joshua is an expert in sea salt, however, e-commerce packaging was an area where he sought insight. He didn’t want off-the-shelf boxes, he wanted ideas and advice to inform decisions.

What were the packaging requirements?

Firstly, Asilia Salt is being sold in 100% recyclable glass jars. Therefore, a primary concern was protection. The packaging had to minimise the risk of breakages. Having said this, it was important that the packaging wasn’t excessive and no void fill would be required.

Secondly, the look and feel of the boxes were important. Joshua was conscious of making the right first impression. This is a premium product, so the quality of the packaging and print needed to match. However, the boxes also had to communicate the brand’s green credentials. With circular thinking in mind, Joshua favoured a minimalist style, printed with water-based inks, over full colour or high gloss finishes.

The main focus was the 3 Jar Salt bundles; Classic Trio and Chef’s Special. How could these be packaged in a way that optimised protection and presentation?

White Print Boxes with Inserts

We designed custom boxes with inserts and a simple white print that ties in with the sea salt product range. Joshua sent samples to test that everything arrives without damage and to get friends’ feedback on the quality and aesthetic.

We have to admit that, in a rare communication slip, we failed to warn Joshua of the delivery time for his order. This caused a temporary issue when we arrived in London, but everything was resolved.

“I have to say, Martin was really great on this project. I looked for packaging companies on Google and in most cases felt the customer experience was poor, but not at Aylesbury Box Company. They invited me over and we discussed what I wanted. Martin and Jan were so experienced and accommodating. They answered my questions, offered advice and came up with a solution. The service was above and beyond and the boxes offer everything I wanted. The quality and look are good and they are easy to handle.”

– Joshua Stanley, Asilia Salt

Get Packaging Advice

If you would like to discuss the options and get packaging advice, get in touch. Aylesbury Box Company takes pride in providing a personalised service. We listen to your requirements and design custom boxes that meet your expectations and budget. If you prioritise circular thinking, you can trust that we are committed to sustainable packaging solutions that avoid plastic, minimise waste and are fully recyclable.

Get in touch at enquiries@abcbox.co.uk or 01296 436888.