the reorganization of packaging production from Asia to Europe pays off

“Negotiations started a year ago when Primus was looking for a cooperation partner in Europe. The main reasons for the undertaking were delivery difficulties, which had dragged on for about four months, and also the price of the transport service has grown unreasonably high over the years. In addition, of course, communication with a nearby partner is faster and easier, and Primus’ goal to reduce the size of the environmental footprint created during packaging production and transportation also played a role,” introduces AS Ecoprint sales director Siim Rostin.

“Primus liked the suggestion that the new partner is ready to tailor-make a package that meets their needs, which is environmentally friendly, smart and does not contain unnecessary “lights and whistles”. It is not necessarily necessary to create a new box for each product, but the packaging can be universal in many cases. By comparing the assortment of another client with whom we undertook similar work, we were able to optimize 50 packages to 20 with the new approach.”

Despite the fact that the cooperation started a year ago, the first package was ready in September this year. According to Rostin, this is a completely normal time when starting a business with such a large and voluminous client. A radical change for the client cannot happen in a hurry, all the nuances and possible problems must be thought through and taken into account. “It is completely normal that it takes a year, and in some cases even longer, to develop a new package from an idea to a functional solution. In this case, the fact that we invent new solutions for packaging and take into account the universality component – the possibility of using one package for several products – plays its part in the long drawn-out process. In order to be innovative and not follow the path of standards, Ecoprindis has a packaging engineer who helps the customer arrive at the right material, appearance and functionality when designing product packaging.”

Primus likes that Ecoprint is allowed to label packaging with FSC certification. FSC is a wood supply chain certification that certifies that wood used for paper production comes from responsibly managed forests. The certificate allows you to follow the supply chain of the product from the forest to the final producer. It should be noted that Ecoprint was the first Estonian printing house to acquire this certificate in 2005. As Primus has an above-average environmentally conscious consumer base, this label also positively affects the Primus brand, thereby showing that an informed choice is made.

No one wants to pay for air transportation

The packaging developed for Primus used a universality component – ​​a package of one size was developed for different products for the client. “No one wants to pay for air transportation, so we had to find a smart solution to keep the product fixed and protected in the package, while being as compact as possible. Since the product itself is heavy, the choice of material was simple – a main box made of strong corrugated cardboard, which can be used to fix the product as if it were sitting in “mother’s lap”, Rostin laughs. In addition to the main box, an attractive cardboard sales box comes separately.

At the client’s head office in Sweden, the Estonian partner’s different approach received a very warm reception, and the first products in the new packaging have reached the Amazon e-shop today. The fact that the products are intended to be sold online was also known to Ecoprint in the initial phase of the project, and this fact played a big role in the entire development process.

Rostin states that it is not known whether the same box-in-box solution will reach retail, but since it is a double-safe solution. But since it is suitable for sale both online and in stores, there are no obstacles from the packaging manufacturer. “Let’s say that the outer beauty packaging of the packaging set gets damaged, it’s nothing, because the protection is double-layered and the product itself remains intact. A box-in-a-box solution can sometimes seem not the most environmentally friendly, and we discussed this topic 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 sent to a discounted sale or, even worse, to disposal. The return percentage of Primus goods in the Amazon department 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 countries

According to Rostin, the transition to full cooperation is gradual. “The large manufacturers have a very good stock of packaging, especially if they have been supplied from Asia so far. In connection with this, we have set the goal that if the current packaging of some products is about to run out, we will think of a new solution to replace it, keeping the same style as the completed solutions. When developing packaging, it is important that the solution is smart, high-quality, with the smallest possible footprint and striking. Don’t forget the cost, ease and speed of packaging. 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 packaging in retail and online sales. “We have made such a solution for one customer that the retail packaging of the product has a very strong lock – so thieves in the store can’t get the product from the packaging too easily. If the package does not open easily, there is a high probability that it will not be torn and demolished. However, in the case of online stores, it is the opposite, because the goal is for the customer to receive the product with ease and the packaging remains intact in case there is a need to return the product to the seller. Such nuances are established in the initial phase of package development in cooperation with our engineers,” says Rostin.

He adds that it is very important, in addition to producers and customers, to bring the issues of environmental impact and sustainability to end consumers. “Good packaging is simple, smart and made of certified materials, certainly as mono as possible, i.e. one type of material + printing is completely sufficient for smart packaging. Plastics, laminates, films, foils, etc. cannot be left out. A conscious consumer separates different materials from each other when sorting waste, so the use of monomaterials also simplifies the life of consumers. Raising awareness in society is extremely important and must be done consistently by both the state and the packaging manufacturers.”

Ecoprint is an environmentally conscious domestic company based on Estonian capital, which has had an environmentally friendly approach since its early years. We are constantly looking for ways and innovative solutions to reduce our ecological footprint and to educate and involve employees, customers and partners. Ecoprint has decided that their responsibility is not narrowly limited to their own activities, but is also involved in improving the life and environment of the community. Ecoprint’s desire is to become the most environmentally friendly packaging manufacturer in the Baltic Sea countries.