Championing Circular Packaging Design
You might be dreaming of a white Christmas, however, our vision is for a greener world. Unfortunately, we’ve all seen and experienced more devastating consequences of climate change in recent years. Severe flooding, hurricanes, typhoons and other extreme weather events are occurring more frequently. While we can’t control the weather, we can take action to […]
Is Cardboard Packaging a Wise Choice?
It’s an exciting time in the packaging industry. That’s because environmental concerns are driving a wave of innovations. We’re seeing a significant shift away from plastic packaging and some exciting new products that are making this possible. However, sometimes the old ways are the best. So, we want to highlight why cardboard remains a wise […]
What Makes Good E-commerce Packaging?
As we hit the peak season for online retailers, we’re exploring the latest insight on e-commerce packaging. Now, when you want to know what makes good e-commerce packaging, you have to ask the customers. So, what’s important to them? Key Overview of E-commerce Packaging The latest Macfarlane Packaging Unboxing Survey* has been published. It reveals […]
Scary Waste Facts for Halloween
Ghosts and ghouls might give you the shivers but for us, there’s something a lot scarier. We’re talking about product and packaging waste facts. Unfortunately, this isn’t a figment of our imagination. There are shocking stats and evidence that highlight the scope of the problem. However, some groups and organisations are battling to turn things […]
How Effective Are Single Use Plastic Bans?
In a bid to change habits and reduce environmental damage, the British Government has banned several single-use plastic items in recent years. The most recent enforcements were introduced in October 2023 and included plastic cutlery, drinking straws and polystyrene food containers. In response to these measures producers and retailers were forced to source alternatives that […]
How to Get the Most Out of a Box
A cardboard shipping carton or retail box is often a single-use item, but this needn’t be the case. In this article, we explore packaging components that can help you get the most out of a box. Encouraging You to Reuse & Recycle Boxes It may seem contrary that we, a cardboard packaging manufacturer, would encourage […]
Packaging Designed for Recyclability
Do you add a recycling icon to your packaging and feel that you have ticked the sustainability box or is your packaging designed for recyclability? In this article, we explore the difference. Minimising Packaging Waste The majority of customers and producers are aware of the negative environmental impact of packaging waste. In response, considerable efforts […]
Compostable Bags for Recycling Coffee
When the barista in your favourite independent café makes you the perfect coffee, it can give you the boost you need to get through the day. But did you know that the waste coffee grounds can revitalise your garden as much as your mind? We recently delivered compostable bags to Aylesbury Town Council for its […]
Sustainable Shoes & Boxes
Did you know that the average British woman is said to own 34 pairs of shoes? Despite this, the footwear market forecast shows this is a growth area. Interestingly, UK consumers are showing greater interest in sustainable shoe brands and shoe boxes. In the Market for Sustainable Shoes Once our feet stop growing, a well-made […]
Consumers Say No to Greenwashing
Environmentally conscious shoppers are on the lookout for products that help them make sustainable choices. For this reason, they favour brands with green credentials and take time to look for recognisable symbols on packaging. However, in a bid to win customers, some companies are making claims that lack substance. This is referred to as greenwashing. […]
Packaging Reuse for Second Hand September
Second Hand September is an ideal occasion to consider the options for buying second hand, reusing what you have or donating. These sustainable actions provide cost savings and promote creative thinking. What is Second Hand September? Second Hand September was launched by Oxfam in 2019 to encourage shoppers to make choices that are kinder to […]
EPR for Packaging Delayed
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). This was coming into force as one of many measures to encourage net zero practices. However, at the end of July, the Government announced that EPR packaging is being deferred for a year. Why is this and what does it mean for UK businesses? What is EPR for Packaging? At the […]
Ditch or Switch Plastic Packaging
July is Plastic Free Month! The perfect time to make long-term changes, as an individual, a business or a community, to ditch or switch plastic packaging. Small Changes to Reduce Plastic Packaging Waste Can small changes have an impact? You may believe that the scale of the issue is too big for your changes to […]
Recycling Champions
Over half of UK household waste is reused, recycled or composted at the many recycling centres across the country. As a cardboard packaging manufacturer, we rely on residents flattening their used boxes and placing them in the recycling bin. Once collected, cardboard is one of the easiest materials to recycle. We can then make it […]
Does Cardboard Cause Deforestation?
At the start of this year, we gathered feedback from customers about our products, services and eco-credentials. One respondent raised concerns about cardboard boxes not being sustainable, as they contributed to deforestation. This individual will not be alone in thinking this, so, we wanted to address the point. Is Cardboard an Eco-friendly Packaging Material? Cardboard […]
Is Plastic Packaging is Recycled?
When we separate waste and dispose of plastic packaging in recycling bins, we expect it will be collected and recycled into new plastic products. Is this the case? UK Plastic Recycling Rates The British Plastics Federation publishes data* on plastic recovery and recycling rates. As a result, we know there is positive news; investment in […]
Improved Drinks Packaging for Global Brand
When shipping globally, drinks packaging has to be sufficiently robust to ensure your products arrive undamaged. How did we improve the boxes to help bring healthy hydration to more customers? Healthy Hydration Staying hydrated is vital for a healthy, energised body, so let us introduce one of our packaging customers; Get More Vits. This independent […]
Recycling Myths Busted
There is a lot of conflicting information about recycling. Misinformation prevents some people from bothering to separate recyclables and general waste, so it’s time to bust some myths. Recycle Week 2022 Since its launch in 2004, Recycle Week has built awareness of and a commitment to improved waste management in households and businesses. This year […]
How to Reduce Packaging Waste
Zero Waste Week This week is Zero Waste Week, an opportunity to consider what happens when we dispose of packaging waste and other rubbish. We explore if there are alternative options to reduce the volume of rubbish being sent to landfill. Where does the Litter Go? During the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the refuge collectors went […]
Is Plastic Recycling the Answer?
It is difficult to avoid plastic when shopping. Even with the best intentions, there are many products stocked or delivered in plastic packaging. The great news is that packaging labels inform us of which plastics can be recycled. This means we can do our bit to put them in the correct bin and ensure they […]
What is a Circular Economy?
Terms like ‘Circular Economy’ and ‘Regenerative Production’ come up in conversations around sustainability. They inform product and packaging design, business planning and marketing messages, but what do they mean? Following on from our article about environmental claims, brands need to have a collective understanding of eco terms to avoid greenwashing. To aid understanding, the Ellen […]
Tackling the Blemish of Waste in Beauty Packaging & Products
The beauty industry is known to produce high volumes of packaging, amounting to around 120 billion units per year. Much of this is not recycled. Many beauty brands are keen to ditch the reputation for excessive packaging, single-use materials and an on-trend throw-away culture. Companies including Buff Natural Bodycare and All Earth Mineral Cosmetics have […]
Boxes of Sweet Treats
Your sweet tooth kicks in. You hunt through the cupboards in the hope of uncovering a hidden snack, no joy. You weigh up whether it is worth driving to the shops. If only a box of treats could be delivered to your door… This scenario inspired a new business venture. Pick & Mix London started […]
Keep Cup with the Latest Trend
GQ and Vogue are talking about it and celebrities are doing it, so get on board with the refill movement. As restrictions lift, more of us are returning to the office. The route of your commute may not have altered, but habits have changed. We’ve become used to packing a mask and bottle of hand […]
All Eyes on Cosmetic Packaging
The beauty industry has long relied on plastic packaging. All of those little pots, tubes and containers create considerable packaging waste, but things are changing. A greater understanding of the environmental impact and shift in consumer habits has prompted fresh thinking. Leading brands are now making it easier for us to recycle empty cosmetic packaging […]
Packaging ‘Villain’ is Changing its Ways
In the world of sustainable packaging, there is something worse than single-use plastic bottles. Although they are a serious cause for concern and they are having a negative environmental impact, plastic bottles can be recycled. This is not always the case for packaging that is formed from multiple materials. Described by The Recycling Association as […]
Wish you Were Here?
Through most of the lockdown period, the UK has experienced unseasonably good weather. If you have a garden or can get out for local walks, it is delightful. Still, many people pine for a day at the seaside. There is nothing like water stretching to the horizon, sand between your toes and a little dip […]
Paper Recycling Award Winners
To preserve and protect natural resources we need two major opportunities. Firstly, the tools to raise awareness around the globe. Secondly, innovation to improve processes, so that waste is minimised. Back in 2000, there was a European Declaration on paper recycling. It stated that by 2020, 74% of all paper products would be recycled. With […]
How to Have a Greener Christmas; Reducing Packaging Waste
Over the Christmas period, we generate 30% more waste than at any other time of the year. With a fresh approach, it is possible to reduce waste and boost recycling rates. This article provides some small changes that can help you to have a greener Christmas, without missing out on the festive fun. How to […]
How can we Encourage Consumers to Recycle Packaging?
Anyone involved in marketing is well-aware of how product packaging, colours and imagery, price and position on the shelf can influence buyer behaviour. Subtle tweaks to a message or a change in font can be all it takes to make your product more desirable. We’ve been considering how psychology could be applied in a similar […]
