Eco friendly packaging is actually something we do by default. Or maybe we should say by intent. This is because our philosophy is to try to help the planet as much as possible. Our standard paper has 70-80% recycled post consumer waste! Plus we use soy and vegetable based inks, and recycled materials as part of our standard operating procedure. You may also notice you don’t see a lot of plastic cases on our site. That’s because we’ve specially sourced special plastic-free alternatives for packaging. Take a look at some of our eco-friendly options!
Our paper stock is by default, recycled paper. Perhaps we should say by intent, rather than by default. Our policy is to use paper that has a high recycled content (70-80% post consumer waste). This paper is tried an true, and we have created a huge number of titles over the years with it. it is perfect for high resolution images wanting crisp white paper. We can do 100% recycled but we usually find clients find it too soft due to the very high number of recycled fibers. Recycled paper is available with or without varnish.
Matte Uncoated paper is made by not varnishing paper or by printing on the back side of paper (C1S). The result is a soft feel and slightly fuzzier artwork than paper with varnish. If you want a super soft matte look and feel with crisp artwork, we would recommend a matte lamination which is often contrasted with spot glossy ink Matte Uncoated paper is perfect for titles that want a mildly soft look.
We can make eco friendly packaging with fiberboard paper stock. Fiberboard is reclaimed, end of chain material that is very fibrous so it naturally has an absorbent, nubby type of texture. The paper is left unbleached which is why it is brown in color. Printing on the brown fiberboard will mute colors and the ink will spread, so you want to choose your art carefully to work with this type of paper stock. One trick we use is a white ink under areas of artwork to help the colors pop, but it does take some special art preparation and sometimes experimentation on the press. This kind of paper is excellent for art with an organic look but it is not a great choice for photos or art that would be better printed on crisp white stock. Let’s show you what some of our clients have done using eco friendly fiberboard packaging:
We really shy away from plastic cases and can offer you all kinds of alternative plastic free options for your consideration. Fun examples include using paper stock to hold media, such as glued on sleeve pockets, swinging sleeves, or slipcases to bundle sets. Instead of a plastic tray, we might suggest a paper tray or foam tray. Hubs are an excellent way to hold discs and are available in cork or foam material. You might also consider a box to hold a variety of media. Take a look at some examples below….