When you think of branding legends, McDonald’s and Coca-Cola undoubtedly come to mind. These giants have mastered the art of packaging, transforming it from product protection to a brand-building billboard. Their unique and instantly recognizable designs—like the cheerful Happy Meal box or Coca-Cola’s iconic red and white cartons—are more than packaging. They tell a story.
How can you incorporate these leading company best practices into your packaging to build your brand? It all begins with a great design team.
1. Collaborate to Design Creative Folding Cartons
Teamwork is the cornerstone of successful design. Working closely with a knowledgeable paperboard design team will ensure your carton is aesthetically pleasing and meets functional demands. A great designer evaluates the manufacturing process and how end-users perceive and use your product and packaging.
"Design is an integral part of the packaging iteration process. Intelligent design provides 3 functions. First, it is most important that the product is protected when it gets to the customer for a good consumer experience. Secondly, a smart design not only protects the product but provides eye catching experience for the customer which can help with velocity on the retail shelves. Thirdly, we always need to consider how the product will be packed to make sure the carton functions properly on operating lines. This also plays in to end use when the consumer places the carton in their pantry. We carefully consider how to design the package to perform not only on production lines, but also for the end consumer as well.”
2. Customize for Eye-Catching Paperboard Packaging
To stand out on the shelf, think outside the box—literally! Customizing folding cartons with unique shapes, sizes, and finishes can transform your product into a showstopper. Eye-catching packages grab attention and leave a lasting impression. By experimenting with creative designs, you can turn every package into a billboard for your brand, making your product the one to remember.
"We used a collaborative approach with the customer to understand all components that were needed to help this carton perform to expectations. This customer had one pack size that was being used in different retailers with different shelf requirements. Understanding the machinery needs and the customer's expectations, we were able to design a carton that could be filled on production lines but would also orient properly at several retailers using a series of perforations and graphic panels to achieve a unified carton. This reduced the need for multiple box designs and ultimately reduced the complexity for our customer."
3. Adopt Sustainability to Forge Strong Connections
Today’s consumers are increasingly eco-conscious, and many organizations want their packaging to reflect that. Embracing sustainable materials and practices helps the planet and builds trust with a growing market. Imagine your packaging telling a story of environmental responsibility that resonates with your audience and enhances your brand image.
“Environmental responsibility is an important topic in our industry. We believe that we are all stewards of our environment and have made great efforts to help reduce our environmental impact as well as our customer's. We carefully source our materials based on our customer needs to help reduce CO2 impact in the products we produce for them. We do this by partnering with paperboard mills that meet our sustainability objectives and are able to provide this as a service to our customers. We also invest within our company in renewable energy sources. This focus is on sustainable sources not only helps us reduce our environmental impact immediately, but also helps set up for a sustainable future."
Tell Your Brand Story with Folding Carton Packaging
Using packaging strategically, you can communicate your brand’s history, values, and mission. Over time, this connection will build brand loyalty and create experiences that leave a lasting impact on users.
Imagine your packaging protecting your product and engaging your audience on a deeper level with every glance.
By collaborating with an expert design team and embracing customization, sustainability, and storytelling, your packaging can become a powerful tool for your brand’s success.
Malnove is a leading innovator in the packaging industry, dedicated to providing high-quality folding carton solutions that meet the diverse needs of businesses across various sectors. With a commitment to excellence and sustainability, we offer advanced design and manufacturing capabilities that ensure our clients’ products are protected, compliant, and visually compelling.
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