Colourform Inspire challenges traditional packaging design with moulded fibre

Packaging Solutions Green Solutions

Colourform has launched a packaging collection which illustrates the limitless design possibilities of moulded fibre.

Colourform’s Topper, Kiss, Orb and Pebble concepts have been specifically created to challenge traditional approaches to packaging design across multiple luxury sectors including premium drinks, cosmetics, eyewear and jewellery and watches. The features demonstrated within Inspire are interchangeable whether it be a clasp, a particular texture or the use of fibre from James Cropper’s CupCycling facility.

Chris Schofield, head of design, Colourform, said: ‘Everything created for our customers in bespoke and therefore unique; imagination is the only limit. The Colourform Inspire collection illustrates the infinite directions and form which can be created depending on the brand character and values.’

Blending technological solutions and innovative design with a growing eco conscious consumer mindset, Colourform is a thermoformed, moulded fibre packaging solution, offering a full service direct to brands who want to offer a quality, unique and sustainable customer experience.

The Topper concept explores how drinks businesses could channel brand essence and heritage into primary packaging with stunning shelf appeal. Topper follows the success of the Maison Ruinart collaboration which saw a beautiful and functional redesign of the traditional champagne box come to life. The Second Skin replicated the richness, depth and finesse of the walls in the historic Ruinart chalk pit cellars in a mono-material form which was nine times lighter than the previous box. Topper further illustrates how moulded fibre could transform the traditional alcohol gift box.

Taking inspiration from the James Cropper group’s hallmark which captures the silhouette of the Cropper Pouter pigeon, the bottle topper emulates the graceful arc of the pigeon’s neck, bringing the heritage of the company brand to life to demonstrate what can be done for luxury brands.

Designed to provide protection and shelf appeal, bespoke solutions like this can replace traditional gift boxes, which are heavier, and difficult to recycle. Despite having multiple textures and colours these packaging solutions are mono-material and recyclable with paper.

The second inspirational duplex design is brave and bold, making mono-material cosmetics packaging a reality. Expressive and playful, the Kiss package takes the shape of lips with contrasting inner and outer colourways. It comes complete with colour cut through messaging, tilt-shift product presentation and a debossed brand marque reveal. The surface is soft and refined and can be created in any colours.

The vibrant Kiss concept is scalable in size, accommodating a lipstick or a pair of sunglasses for example; giving the cosmetics and eyewear markets real opportunity to ramp up sustainability credentials while amplifying bold shapes and colour.

The third design is all about reinventing the jewellery box. A truly innovative approach to packaging jewellery and watches, the Orb is a full form spherical paper package. The Orb demonstrates both performance and functionality with a hinged clasp opening and pinched catch closure.

Made entirely from moulded fibre, it boasts a contrasting internal and external texture. Like the Kiss concept, the Orb can be scaled to accommodate small pieces such and rings and charms to larger items like bracelets and watches.

Likewise, the Orb offers a second use as an attractive way to store and protect jewellery at home.

The final concept design illustrates the ability to create complex luxury packaging including all fulfilment, from the design stage, to embossing, printing and more. The Pebble sits in the health and wellbeing space designed with the luxury cosmetics and gifting market in mind.

It is created with a natural stone finish, layered colour and texture, wash cut rim detail and metallic finished contours. Multifaceted, the Pebble contains organic inclusions and is protected with James Cropper’s anti viral PaperGard application.

With a five part assembly, the Pebble has optional inserts which accommodate different products and an angular presentation surface which contributes to the unboxing experience consumers have come to expect. The fibre used has also been upcycled with James Cropper’s CupCycling, where post consumer waste coffee cups are given a second life.

Chris concluded, ‘Market- eading design and sustainability do not need to be mutually exclusive when it comes to packaging. Packaging now needs to be both environmentally friendly and beautiful: and it can be. We use renewable energy and natural wood fibres from sustainably managed forests and high quality upcycled fibres from our own world class reclaimed fibre plant. Brands can give new life to waste from a variety of sources including used coffee cups, through their packaging solution.’