In a world where traditional packaging limitations have held back the full potential of product marketing, a solution has emerged to transform the game. Meet Immertia, a pioneering leader in the realm of Augmented Reality (AR) in packaging. Immertia’s groundbreaking platform, Displai, shatters these limitations by seamlessly integrating augmented reality with packaging, resulting in unforgettable brand experiences that deeply resonate with consumers.

Augmented Reality Unleashed:

Augmented reality (AR) is no longer a novelty; it’s a powerful tool that bridges the physical and digital worlds. As consumers increasingly seek unique, interactive experiences, Immertia and Displai offer businesses the perfect platform to provide just that. These technologies enable product packaging to become a canvas for creativity, transforming it into a gateway to immersive brand encounters.

Immertia: Elevating the Game:

Immertia simplifies the process of implementing AR and offers key features like enhanced engagement, an improved customer experience, differentiation from competitors, and valuable user insights. Immertia caters to a variety of industries, including product packaging, the alcohol industry, and wineries. It’s user-friendly, offering a mobile app for consumers to access AR experiences and a browser-based platform for businesses to manage their content.

Displai: Where Magic Happens:

Displai seamlessly integrates AR into regular products, creating captivating and interactive brand experiences. With its intuitive web platform, businesses can easily manage and customize augmented reality content. The possibilities are limitless, from brand storytelling to activation campaigns, promotions, and marketing integration. Displai ensures your product stands out, providing multilayered, immersive brand experiences with just a simple touch on consumers’ smartphones.

A Powerful Integration:

The collaboration between Displai and Immertia provides a powerful synergy that changes the way we perceive packaging. By combining the captivating visual displays of Displai with Immertia’s ability to enhance customer experiences and provide insights, businesses can create unforgettable connections with consumers. This powerful integration caters to a wide range of use cases, from product packaging to in-store displays, trade shows, and more.

Immersive Use Cases:

Imagine a world where your favourite cereal box transforms into an interactive game for your morning entertainment or a wine label transports you to the vineyards of Tuscany. These are the possibilities that Displai and Immertia bring to life:

• Product Packaging: Your product’s packaging becomes a portal to a world of information, engagement, and storytelling. Consumers can simply point their smartphones at the package, and the brand’s story unfolds before their eyes.
• Print Materials: Print materials like brochures, catalogues, and posters can come alive with interactive elements, providing a dynamic and engaging experience.
• In-Store Displays and Signage: Retail stores can use augmented reality signage to guide customers through the store, offer discounts, or even provide information about products right on the shelves.
• Trade Shows and Events: Augmented reality adds a whole new dimension to trade shows and events. Booths can showcase products with interactive demos, and attendees can unlock exclusive content.

GPA Global Partners with Immertia:

As a leader in the world of packaging innovation, we have recognized the transformative potential of Immertia and Displai. The integration of Displai and Immertia technology is set to disrupt the packaging industry, aligning with the preferences of a new generation of consumers. Augmented reality adoption is on the rise, and these technologies offer businesses the opportunity to provide unique and memorable experiences.

In a world where innovation knows no bounds, Immertia and Displai stand as a testament to the limitless potential of packaging. They don’t require special print packaging, QR codes, or technical expertise, making them accessible to all. The future of product packaging is now, and the possibilities are endless.

For inquiries about integrating AR into your packaging solution, contact Mike Marcinkowski, our head of R&D and Material Science, at mmarcinkowski@gpaglobal.net.

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SEATTLE, WA – APRIL 25, 2025 – GPA Global, a market leader in premium specialty packaging, gifting and supply chain solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jose Maria Rodriguez Meis as President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective April 21, 2025. Mr. Rodriguez Meis will report to Tom Wang, Founder and CEO of GPA Global.

Jose brings over two decades of international experience in the manufacturing sector. He joins GPA Global from International Paper, where he served as Vice President and General Manager of a sustainable packaging business in North America. Prior to that, he held various financial and managerial positions at ExxonMobil in Europe. Jose holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Oviedo and a Master of Finance from Afi Global Education.

This appointment is part of GPA Global’s long-term vision to accelerate in-region production and advance its sustainability initiatives. By producing goods within the same geographic regions where they will be sold, it aims to reduce transportation costs, diversify supply chains, and react more quickly to market demands.

The recently augmented leadership team, including new hires Abraham Georgiou as Global Supply Chain Director, Robert Lingham as Global Commercial Director, and Kurt Dienel as General Manager, France, will bring their expertise to optimize production processes, champion cutting-edge technology, and improve operational efficiency. These improvements will ensure that they can deliver high-quality products more reliably and sustainably, ultimately benefiting customers through faster delivery times, lower costs, and more responsive service. Additionally, these strategic hires are set to boost the company’s supply chain efficiency and commercial excellence, driving innovation and reliability in premium packaging and gifting for its customers.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Jose as our first Chief Operating Officer,” said Tom Wang, Founder and CEO, GPA Global. “With his proven track record and global leadership experience, Jose is uniquely qualified to expand our operations and ensure effective execution, ultimately better serving our customers.

“We are at a global tipping point, and the timing could not have been more perfect to bring an executive of Jose’s caliber to the team,” said Adam Melton, Founder and Executive Chairman, GPA Global. “Jose’s experience in operational and customer-centric performance, both in organic growth and through a robust mergers and acquisitions (M&A) platform, will help us scale rapidly and add significant value.”

GPA Global, headquartered in Seattle, WA, is a market leader in premium specialty packaging, gifting, and supply chain solutions, with foundational supersites and supply chains across three continents. Poised for rapid growth, GPA Global plans to expand its operations and align with global supply chain trends. The company is excited about the new appointments and its ambitious growth plans, anticipating continued success in premium packaging that benefits customers worldwide.

About GPA Global

GPA Global is a world leader in premium specialty packaging and supply chain solutions. With a steadfast commitment to protecting both people and the planet, we have been focused on the future since day one. Our innovative approach to engineering sustainable materials ensures cost-efficiency through automation, advanced supply chain architecture, and more. We invest in our clients, providing a myriad of capabilities and mixed materials to deliver seamless packaging solutions without limits.

Sustainability has become the new normal, evolving into in-region production as a critical final step in the sustainable journey. GPA Global invested early to build the talent and infrastructure necessary to oversee this migration. Today, GPA Global operates across three continents with 38 strategically positioned sites, delivering leading design and material innovation to our customers.

Co-founded by Tom Wang and Adam Melton in 2007, GPA Global is headquartered in North America and employs over 3,000 people globally.

Media Contact:

Name Leah Hesje

Title NA Marketing Manager

Tel: +1 647-200-7416

E: leah.hesje@gpaglobal.net

www.gpaglobal.net

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Jaclyn Bonnie International, a dominant player of 40 years servicing the Cosmetic and Beauty markets, is based in New York, NY, with offices in New Jersey and DongGuan China. A premium gift bag and packaging designer & manufacturer with expertise in premium, luxury and ultraluxury markets.

The deal expands our strength in North America for the Cosmetic and Beauty markets and enables them to offer new products and services in other verticals.

Tom Wang, Co-Founder and President of GPA says: “I am excited about the true global offering we can bring to our customers through the acquisition. Jaclyn Bonnie International is the second step, after Cosfibel, to expand our service in the Cosmetic and Beauty segment. Jaclyn has decades of experience supporting top-tier global companies in North America. They have an incredible team and experts both in the USA and Asia, bringing the highest premium solutions at the most competitive value.”

Adam Melton, Co-founder, and CEO of GPA, expands “Jaclyn has an incredible legacy and deep bench of talent. Their strong US and Asia teams are a perfect complement to GPA and help deliver value in this strategic commodity. This is another bolt-on for our platform as we scale for our global clients that need premium specialty packaging and gift designed locally and manufactured in region.”

With the acquisition of Jaclyn, GPA will retain the continuity of service to Jaclyn’s customers and job security for the employees. Peggy Hoy will stay in the business and accept a leadership position within GPA. Peggy commented: “This is a milestone moment for us all and a testimony to the hard work and dedication of our team. Being part of GPA Global will offer us a platform to expand our work with our existing business partners and to reach new customers. GPA is a company that is the first choice for global names and businesses because of their roots in sustainability, their innovative approach to packaging and their commitment to superior quality and value.”

About us: GPA Global is the global market leader in specialty packaging and gifts. We deliver meaningful brand experiences into the hands of consumers, with precision designed, sustainably sourced, and flawlessly produced product packaging. With a global reach and strong local focus, we create value across the supply chain, solving complex problems with innovative thinking, whatever the challenge, wherever our customers are in the world.

Our presence in the world has grown exponentially over the past few years. We’re now in 34 locations across three continents, with over two million square feet of warehousing and more than 3,000 employees. Co-founded by Tom Wang and Adam Melton, the company is headquartered in North America.

About Jaclyn: Jaclyn Bonnie International is a business with 40 years of industry experience and a dedicated team of soft goods and packaging experts. With design, innovation and development sites in NY, NJ and DongGuan China, Jaclyn has built its reputation on providing the highest quality bags, soft goods and gift with purchase for the Cosmetic & Beauty markets.

Media Enquiries: Please contact: Ella Kirk at ella.k@gpaglobal.net.

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Foli de México, led by its visionary founders Gabriel Ibarrola and Norman Klein, has garnered widespread acclaim for its innovative folding packaging designs that captivate consumers and elevate product value. With their expertise in folding packaging design and production across various industries, Foli has been very active in the spirits and chocolate industries. Working with brands such as Mars, Hershey’s, Ferrero, Perfetti Van Melle, Diageo and Pernod Ricard, Foli has established itself as one of the most acclaimed providers of luxury packaging and merchandising solutions.

Headquartered in Estado De Mexico, Foli de México boasts over 35 years of industry experience, a global network of service centres, and a diverse clientele of more than 300 international brands. Foli offers modern facilities and an installed capacity of more than 43,000 m2 equipped with the latest technology. Their world-class infrastructure and international certifications underscore their commitment to excellence, customer satisfaction and employee wellbeing.

GPA co-founders and CEOs, Adam Melton and Tom T Wang, express their enthusiasm about the combination and warmly welcome Gabriel Ibarrola and Norman Klein, the CEOs and founders of Foli de México, and the incredibly talented Foli team to the GPA family.

Tom Wang stated “I firmly believe that this partnership will bring numerous benefits to both our valued customers and stakeholders. With an expanded product portfolio, cutting-edge technology, and a broader range of services, we are better positioned to meet and exceed our customer expectations. Together, we will continue to deliver innovative and sustainable packaging solutions that drive success for our clients.”

Gabriel and Norman, share their excitement regarding the new partnership between GPA and their company, Foli.

Norman Klein expressed his excitement about joining forces with GPA Global, stating, “We are very excited and optimistic to join forces with GPA and start this new chapter. This agreement recognizes our hard work and success of the past 35 years and the result of our customer´s satisfaction with Foli as a trusted and reliable supplier. We are sure that our local experience and tenacity plus GPA’s strengths and expertise in luxury packaging will result in a one of a kind winning combination that will support our continued growth, diversification and further enhance our customer satisfaction.”

Gabriel Ibarrola added “We are pleased to establish this long-term partnership to join forces with GPA. We are aware that this alliance is due to the great work that our team has achieved to stand out in the sector all these years. Nowadays, we are constantly facing challenges, which is why we hope to bring new opportunities, as well as exponential and sustainable growth to Foli and its collaborators, leading to a better future.”

Adam Melton concluded, ” This is a monumental day for GPA as we are so proud to add the talented folks from Foli de México to the team.  This is a key piece of the global puzzle that we have been building and will support our in-region / near-shoring services and production capabilities.  The flagship facility and team that Gabriel and Norman have assembled in Mexico City holds the highest standards for quality, sustainability, and excellence to meet the demands of our enterprise clients.  They are a perfect alignment and hold the GPA core values at heart.  Special acknowledgement goes out to our CFO, Colin Gater, who has worked tirelessly to get this deal over the line.  Supported by the folks at Deloitte and the commitment by Gabriel and Norman to find solutions to every challenge.  Thank you. Very excited to bring this offering to the world.”

The addition of Foli de México to the Group, closely follows GPA’s recent acquisition of Jenco Productions in North America, which solidifies our presence in Latin America and reinforces nearshoring and onshoring manufacturing strategy wherever possible or required.

Our recent expansion efforts align with our commitment to assisting clients in reducing carbon emissions, optimizing supply chains for faster market access, and mitigating material supply risks, all while advancing their vision of a more sustainable and innovative packaging industry.

About Foli de México:

Foli de México is a leading Mexican company in the packaging and printing industry, boasting a team of over 600 experts. With a strong presence in the Mexican market, the company specializes in providing diverse packaging and print solutions, including hot stamping, displays, and eco-friendly options, to international brands. Founded in 1988 by Gabriel Ibarrola and Norman Klein, Foli de México continues to thrive under their visionary leadership.

As Foli de México continues to flourish, the company remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering premium packaging and printing solutions that continue to exceed the expectations of their valued clientele. With a talented and dedicated team of experts, Foli de México is poised to further expand its reach and impact in the global packaging and printing landscape following this agreement.

For more information, visit www.foli.com.mx

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Smart packaging emerged from a fusion of minds driven by a shared vision to unlock the hidden potential of packaging. This magical moment saw the convergence of material science and electronics, shattering conventional thinking and bridging the gap between the physical and digital worlds.

Conductive ink is the secret sauce here—a special ink infused with conductive materials like silver or carbon. When applied to packaging, it creates a network of conductive pathways, transforming the packaging into a platform of interactivity.

Thanks to conductive ink, packaging can now become a smart conduit between brands and consumers. These conductive pathways enable seamless communication between the physical and digital realms, making it possible to integrate sensors, touch-sensitive elements, and data transmission capabilities. The marriage of materials science and electronics has unlocked a world of possibilities for packaging innovation.

Now, let’s introduce the star of the show—Smart Shelf technology, brought to you by GPA Global’s exclusive partnership with Touchcode, the pioneers of this cutting-edge solution. By leveraging conductive ink as a catalyst, Smart Shelf takes packaging to a whole new level of interactivity and intelligence. By embedding sensors and conductive ink into pallets and packaging materials, we unlock a myriad of capabilities that revolutionize inventory management, enhance customer engagement, and enable seamless product tracking.

Let’s dive into the exciting ways Smart Shelf technology is transforming the game:

Revolutionizing Inventory Management:

Smart Shelf technology allows businesses to give their inventory management practices a much-needed makeover. Imagine having state-of-the-art sensors embedded within shelves that track and report irregular pick rates and product movements in real-time. This means instant alerts for store security teams, keeping merchandise safe and thwarting potential theft. But that’s not all—Smart Shelf also enables live counting, monitoring pack location, and providing detailed reports on product movements and counts. This level of data granularity empowers businesses to optimize their inventory management strategies with surgical precision, minimizing stockouts and shrinkage while maximizing profitability.

Elevating Customer Engagement:

Conductive ink integrated into our packaging opens the door to captivating retail experiences for customers. With a simple touch on their smartphones or tablets, customers can unlock a world of product information, engaging videos, and a treasure trove of digital marketing materials. This immersive experience not only enhances customer satisfaction but also provides brands with a powerful platform to showcase their offerings and build stronger brand loyalty.

Ensuring Product Authentication and Security:

By integrating conductive ink into packaging, businesses gain robust solutions for product authentication and security. Smart Shelf technology enables the use of geo-tagging capabilities to track products precisely throughout the supply chain. This ensures products reach their intended destinations without compromise, reducing the risk of diversion and ensuring a seamless customer experience. Additionally, conductive ink can be utilized to implement unique authentication features like encrypted codes or hidden patterns, providing an extra layer of security against counterfeiting and safeguarding brand integrity.

GPA Global and Touchcode

At GPA Global, our collaboration with Touchcode is fuelled by a shared commitment to innovation and pushing boundaries. Together, we are empowering businesses to unleash the full potential of their packaging. By seamlessly integrating this transformative technology into our clients’ packaging solutions, we are taking their brand experiences to new heights, optimizing inventory management, and ensuring product authenticity.

Beyond Packaging. Thinking Big!

Packaging may be the last thing we do, but it holds the power to make a lasting impression on consumers. At GPA Global, we believe in thinking big and going beyond traditional packaging constraints. We understand that successful brands need captivating designs that leave an indelible mark. That’s why we invest in the capabilities necessary to deliver seamless packaging solutions without limits.

Our partnership with Touchcode and the integration of conductive ink and Smart Shelf technology exemplify our commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation. By embracing these transformative technologies, we go beyond packaging. We enable brands to elevate their customer engagement, optimize inventory management, and ensure product authenticity and security.

For inquiries about integrating Smart Shelf technology into your packaging solution, contact Mike Marcinkowski, our head of R&D and Material Science, at mmarcinkowski@gpaglobal.net.

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In response to this shift, companies across the globe are turning to recyclable materials.

• As part of the Global Commitment led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, over 500 organizations worldwide have committed to ambitious goals to increase the amount of reusable, recyclable, or compostable materials in their packaging.
• In America, every one of the 25 largest CPG companies has promised to minimize, reuse, and/or increase the recyclable content of their packaging. 80% of these companies have committed to 100% recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging by 2030.

With that being said, is it realistic to think recycled material and current recycling practices can keep up with these lofty commitments and the growing consumer demand?

Where’s the (Hopefully Recyclable) Bottleneck?

Recycling has been around for decades, so why have we just begun to place so much emphasis on recycled and recyclable materials?

The harsh reality is that recycling involves so many different pieces—government regulation, regional rules, company participation and effort, consumer understanding and action, and beyond. When you have that many pieces to the puzzle, a lot can go wrong.

In a perfect world, everyone would recycle, and we’d already be operating in a circular economy. We may all want the same thing, but we all have to align to achieve that “perfect world”—or anything close to it.

So, what are some of the biggest bottlenecks?

Consumer Confusion

There are so many aspects that lead to consumer confusion around recycling.

• Regional Rules: Many countries implement regional rules around recycling, and many residents don’t know exactly what they are. A 2021 global survey reveals that the top two leading barriers to recycling are (1) the lack of recycling programs and (2) not knowing how to participate in recycling programs.
• Material Variation: There’s an overarching disconnect between thought and action, and many consumers have a false sense of confidence surrounding individual material recyclability. In the US, 64% of people are confident they know what types of plastics can be recycled, yet 61% wrongly believe that plastics such as grocery bags and bubble wrap can go in their curbside recycling bins.
• Recycling vs. Composting: There are a lot of compostable materials out there that look like plastic. Many people who don’t have experience composting—or simply mistake the compostable material for plastic—end up throwing these into the recycling bin. If mixed with petroleum-based plastics, this can contaminate the recycling stream.
• Trust: Many people believe that even after they correctly recycle, facilities may not actually process the materials. When word got out that developed countries may be sending their recycled waste to be dumped in vulnerable, underdeveloped countries, many consumers began to feel they couldn’t trust the system anymore.

All of these considerations lend to a general disconnect and lack of effort. Many consumers think, “Is it worth it? Why even try?” While there are different ways to calculate a country’s overall recycling rate, you can see from this 2022 chart of 180 countries that rates are not very promising—with the UK at 34%, the US at 14%, Ireland at 42%, France at 32%, Mexico at 10%, Canada at 23%, China at 24%, and the highest, South Korea, at 67%. 

Unstable Supply

As you can see, recycled material is very unique, as consumers control the supply. This, by definition, is an unstable supply. Consumer recycling rates are slowly climbing (if at all) while the demand for recycled material is hiking up at full speed.

But the instability doesn’t end there. What about geopolitical trends?

• Import Restrictions: Recent import bans have slowed down recycling even further. Historically, the US used to send a lot of recyclables to China to be processed. But China’s 2018 ban on imported plastics put a stop to that, tempting developed countries to send even more recyclable waste to rot in underdeveloped countries.
• Rising Prices: Post-consumer recycled (PCR) material prices have been high, and experts predict they’re likely to stay high for (at least) the next couple of years. Slow supply increases and consistently strong demand are considered the “new normal” in the world of PCR material, yet demand continues to hold strong even with these higher prices.

These events are just a couple of examples of bumps in the recycling road—ones that have caused the price of recycled material to increase. We’ve seen the far-reaching effects of this in our own partners’ supply chains.

The Time Is Now

If we want this to work, every stakeholder must be intentional, honest, and aligned. Otherwise, there simply won’t be enough supply to keep up with consumer demands and global promises.

Recycling rates speak louder than words.

How can we all own our role in this recycling story?

• Government Responsibility: Countries with the highest recycling rates set out clear government policies and restrictions regarding waste management. South Korea’s waste management system, Jongnyangje, is a great example of this.
• Recycling Facility Responsibility: With so many regional rules, it’s the responsibility of recycling facilities to clearly outline what items they accept to reduce consumer confusion. Transparency is also hugely important. Where are the recyclables going? Are they actually being recycled and resold, or are they being exported to vulnerable countries and dumped?
• Brand Responsibility: Work with sustainable packaging experts to come up with the best bespoke solution for you. Hint hint, GPA Global is a whole company full of packaging experts. Specific solutions include reducing weight, increasing reusability, increasing recycled content, and beyond.
• Sustainable Packaging Expert Responsibility: We always work to fulfill our responsibility to guide our partners to the best sustainable packaging solution, using our knowledge and expertise regarding material engineering, package labeling, hybrid supply chain solutions, and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). We can help increase packaging reusability, recyclability, and recycled content. We can also provide guidance regarding labeling each packaging item to improve end-of-life recyclability.
• Individual Responsibility: At the end of the day, it’s up to us all, as consumers, to understand our area’s recycling rules, research alternative methods of disposal (if recycling is not the answer), and vote with our dollars to support brands and facilities who follow through with their recycling promises.

Always remember, there’s hope in alignment. The majority of the world is aligned in their desire to act more sustainably—now let’s transfer this alignment to the world and everyday action of recycling.

The post Can Recycling Keep Up With Consumer Demand? appeared first on GPA Global.

It’s no wonder that the race to find the most sustainable packaging option continues, and Swedish furniture mogul, IKEA, is running full speed. The company recently announced that it’s replacing all Styrofoam packaging with mushroom packaging—a compostable and biodegradable material.

In a world that’s not yet equipped to properly handle compostable packaging, we’d like to use this announcement as an opportunity to open the floor to a conversation about whether or not mushrooms are a viable solution. As IKEA’s Head of Sustainability states, the switch to mushroom packaging is a “small yet significant step towards reducing waste and conserving ecological balance.”

That might be true, but we hope it doesn’t serve as an excuse for other companies to follow suit and consequently miss other (potentially more practical) sustainable packaging solutions—especially before the verdict is in on mushroom packaging.

What is Mushroom Packaging?

Mushroom packaging is exactly what it sounds like—packaging made of mushrooms.

Once all the spaces are filled, the final product is heated to the point where active spores are killed, ceasing mold growth. This whole process takes less than a week, making mushroom packaging a hot commodity.

What Are the Claimed Benefits of Mushroom Packaging?

Mushroom packaging claims the following environmental benefits.

• Energy: It requires only 12% of the energy required to produce plastic packaging.
• Wildlife: Because it’s a natural material, it reduces adverse effects if/when land or sea animals accidentally ingest it.
• Carbon Emissions: It produces a mere 10% of the carbon emissions that emerge from plastic manufacturing.
• Decomposition: It can decompose in about 30 days. For reference, Styrofoam can take hundreds (even thousands) of years to break down in a landfill.

We emphasize the word can because composability is very dependent on the disposal method. Claiming that a material can decompose in 30 days does not mean that if you simply throw it in your garden, it will decompose within that time frame. It requires specific conditions to decompose, which is why home composting and industrial composting are the most effective disposal methods.

Remember that both of these methods require very specific conditions to ensure success—high temperatures, diverse microorganisms, and availability. At this point, many home compost heaps don’t exist under prime conditions and most industrial composting facilities actually refuse compostable packaging such as mycelium.

It’s difficult to determine how long it will (not can) take for something to decompose in less-than-ideal conditions—such as the conditions in a landfill or on the side of the road. With that being said, companies that manufacture this packaging claim that it’s completely circular, litter-friendly, and adds no environmental burden if it ends up in a landfill.

Is Mushroom Packaging Fit for Mass Production?

As a furniture giant like IKEA transitions to mushroom packaging (and countless other companies take note), it’s important to ask ourselves if this material is fit for mass production and use.

• Evidence: It’s no secret that IKEA is one of the first powerhouses to switch to mushroom packaging, so we actually don’t know how well it will perform on a large scale. What we do know is that worldwide infrastructure already cannot handle the amount of compostable packaging that’s produced worldwide.
• Infrastructure: As a reminder, only about 15% of industrial composting facilities in the US accept some form of compostable packaging, and most of the 272 industrial composting facilities in the UK refuse this type of waste. Will mushroom packaging actually get composted? How long will it take to decompose in a landfill if it’s not properly composted? These are other factors that should be explored before beginning mass production.
• Durability: It’s important to note that mushroom packaging can only be used for packaging dry products—the material will lose its rigidity ​​when exposed to moisture. In environments below 85% relative humidity, mycelium tends to absorb low amounts of water (<6%). However, when conditions reach 100% relative humidity, mycelium’s water uptake can reach 20%, which is much higher than most other materials.
• Production: While there are many variables to consider during production, it’s undeniable that mushroom packaging is more time intensive and expensive to produce than other options such as low-grade molded pulp. We can produce molded pulp in around six hours at a low cost comparable to Styrofoam. Mushroom packaging, on the other hand, takes up to seven days to produce and can cost up to 10x as much.
• Scalability: Thus far, mycelium-based materials have achieved success in the realm of small commercial products. But the production of mycelium involves various complex, biological variables—long production cycles, contamination risk, and multi-step growing processes. Analysis shows that it’s difficult to consistently reproduce a specific material profile, which poses problems when thinking about scaling the production of mycelium. Leading producers such as EcoVative are now using genetic engineering to address some of these conditions, but it’s possible that the material is not quite ready for mass production yet.
• End-of-Life Handling: As mentioned above, the “big picture” success of this material depends heavily on end consumers’ commitment to keeping the packaging and their willingness and opportunity to properly dispose of the material once they’re done with it. When recycling rates continue to hover around 50%—and industrial recycling is generally much more accessible than industrial composting—can we truly expect proper end-of-life handling for mushroom packaging?

Instead of jumping into sustainable “solutions” for mass packaging production that have not been tried and tested on an appropriate scale, we believe in talking about—and prioritizing—solutions that are proven to deliver the intended benefits.

We do not intend to criticize IKEA’s decision to transition to mushroom packaging. We believe mushroom packaging is a step in the right direction. We’d actually like to commend and celebrate IKEA’s work in the world of sustainable packaging. After all, they’ve reduced their packaging volume by 50% over the last few years, and we believe that deserves to be a spotlight story and point of aspiration for those who view IKEA as a role model in the realm of sustainability.

As always, we believe that packaging requires a very individualized approach. While mushroom packaging could be an acceptable solution in an ideal world, we want everyone to be wary of using it as an excuse to follow big names like IKEA—instead of analyzing and discovering alternative solutions that might work better for your company and its consumers.

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The reality is that we all see the world differently – color is no exception.

When was the last time garish packaging turned you off a product? Or when the ubiquitous red of a Coca-Cola can gave you that visceral urge to take an ice-cold sip. Color dictates our buying habits all the time – and we almost never realise it.

According to one research piece[1], consumers will make a subconscious judgment about a product within 90 seconds of initially seeing it, and as much as 90% of that assessment is based on color alone. So, getting it right is key.

But color management isn’t a straightforward process. For Jamie Toms, our Managing Director in Europe, establishing clarity on color further upstream is essential. “Color should be both predictable and demonstrable early in the development cycle. This will empower brand owners to make the right material choices for their brand color.”

Variations in color amongst large packaging runs can be a major issue when those products are sitting next to each other on the shelf – potentially muddying your brand’s reputation.

How do we get it right?

“In the past, color management was a different game. When we used to work directly with artists such as Pink Floyd, it was protocol for the band to come to our factory themselves and approve the color sheet for their album cover artwork. Following that, we would then use the sample as a template for all future copies. The issue with that is over time samples fade, so you’re aiming at a target that’s moving further away by the day.”

Today, things have moved on from clients having to fly halfway across the globe to approve colors on the press – and thankfully the process has become far less time-consuming and less impactful on the environment. “Modern standards such as ISO 126747-2: 2013 have helped. We were one of the first in Europe implement it” says Jamie “and the first to become ISO certified in both Digital Proofing and Printing.

Jamie explains: “Our processes mean we can take a target color, measure it, and create a numerical value for that color. When that color is then printed either digitally or on a print output device, this numerical value can be used to measure and agree what acceptable and achievable variances are.Color management doesn’t end with the colour management team and in-house creative teams can’t be expected to hold responsibility here. It’s about having a partner who knows the pitfalls to be avoided and who will guide all the stakeholders through the process.

In an age where maintaining brand reputation is everything, it’s imperative that your packaging reflects your product and your brand – and understanding achievable colour expectations plays a major role.

Connect with Jamie on Linkedin or email him on jamie.t@gpaglobal.net if you enjoyed this article and want to get more background on managing colour.

[1] https://www.colorcom.com/research/why-color-matters

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When approaching the intricate subject of sustainability, it can be easy to feel immediately overwhelmed. As a sustainable packaging company with a hand in many different sectors, we understand this deeply.

Scope 3 emissions serve as a perfect example of the depth and complexity of sustainability. Realizing your footprint extends beyond your direct assets, actions, and ownership can be shocking for sustainable brands, suppliers, and consumers alike.

But we’re living proof that even just a few years of conscious collaboration—allowing experts to help you break down the subject into smaller, quantifiable pieces—can ignite inspiring progress. In the last five years, we’ve been able to grow exponentially as a brand while still quantifying and understanding our environmental impact more than ever before.

And to us, that’s what it’s all about. We know our sustainability journey will never be perfect, but as long as we’re making measurable progress—and helping others in the sustainable packaging space (and beyond) do the same—we can carry on in good conscience.

Why are we singling out Scope 3 emissions?

When it comes to reducing emissions, setting net zero goals, or achieving carbon neutrality—Scope 3 emissions should always be part of the conversation. In a way, you can even think of Scope 3 emissions as a way to sift through greenwashers. If an “eco-conscious” brand or business doesn’t acknowledge its Scope 3 emissions, you can bet that they’re not truly walking the walk.

You see, Scope 3 emissions result from activities and assets that are not owned or controlled by the reporting organization (for example, items purchased from third-party suppliers, emissions from business travel, accumulated waste in landfills, and the like). While the reporting company is not directly responsible for these emissions, they still indirectly impact the company’s value chain and make up a significant portion of overall emissions.

It’s tempting for companies to make net zero claims once they’ve squared away their Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, resolving that Scope 3 emissions are “someone else’s problem.”

And that’s the issue. To the planet, emissions are emissions no matter what scope they fall under. If we don’t all take responsibility for our direct and indirect contributions, we’ll have a hard time moving towards a better climate future.

To give you an idea of how expansive Scope 3 emissions are—as a global sustainable packaging company with over 500 suppliers, 77% of our 2021 emissions fall under Scope 3. Can you imagine if we claimed carbon neutrality while 77% of our total emissions were left unchecked? Now, can you imagine if other “sustainable packaging companies” or “sustainable brands” did the same?

Why is this particularly important in the packaging industry?

The packaging solutions industry holds a unique position.

True sustainable packaging solutions can serve as a catalyst in the journey towards a circular economy. Not only do we, as packaging solutions providers, have our own Scope 3 emissions—but we are Scope 3 emissions for hundreds of brands across multiple industries. Not to mention, global online shopping is at an all-time high, and so is the consumer demand for eco-conscious products and sustainable packaging.

With our toes in so many different pools, we have a responsibility to act in the best interest of the planet. At GPA Global, we take great pride in our client-centric model and understand that the environmental efforts we put forth reflect back on the clients that depend on us—and that’s not something we take lightly.

By prioritizing the reduction of our Scope 3 emissions, we’re able to better ensure that sustainability is built into our supply chain, such that our sustainability efforts are not empty claims. This way, we’re better able to act in the best interest of the planet, our clients, and their consumers—so we can help move everyone towards a circular economy.

Consider the whole package.

What can we do in the short term and long term to keep Scope 3 emissions in check?

We’ll be the first to admit that we don’t have all the answers, and our Scope 3 emissions are not “in check”. And we believe acknowledging that is the first step. From there, we encourage everyone to:

• Start conversations. Just like we’re doing right now, we encourage you to start conversations with yourself, your company, your stakeholders, and anyone else who will listen. We’ve found that, even if you’re in a transitional period like us, you can still provide useful ideas, evidence, and advice to inspire those around you.
• Quantify current emissions. 80% of our Scope 3 emissions are a result of purchased goods and services. We currently have data for around 20% of our Scope 3 emissions via our suppliers. This isn’t perfect, but it’s a great start.
• Set realistic and transparent goals. We’ve set a goal to understand 50% of our Scope 3 emissions from our suppliers by 2030. As a global sustainable packaging company with over 500 suppliers, we feel this goal is realistic, achievable, and most importantly—transparent.
• Come up with plans to achieve these goals. We’ve partnered with sustainability reporting platform, UL360, to collect our site’s sustainability data, and we’ve used their platform, Turbo Carbon, to record data for our supplier sites. These platforms will remain key in our goal to understand 50% of our Scope 3 emissions via our suppliers.

On top of this, Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) not only allow us to provide our clients and stakeholders with granular data on the footprint of our products and our progress towards circularity—but they also serve as a reminder to maintain a holistic outlook on sustainability.

At the end of the day, sustainability is a complex multilayered subject, and maintaining a 360-degree outlook while also breaking down and confronting specific areas of improvement—such as Scope 3 emissions—is paramount for progress. This journey is not, and never will be, someone else’s problem.

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We’ve held an EcoVadis certificate for several years, but our new rating places us within the top 1% of companies assessed by EcoVadis.

Our commitment to sustainability has been entrenched since day one; GPA Global started life as Green Packaging Asia. We make sure everyone involved in our manufacturing processes works to our sustainability standards.

The EcoVadis assessment examines a company’s sustainability strategy, concentrating on four primary areas: the environment, labour and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement.

GPA Global did well in each of the four areas, but especially in Labor & Human Rights and Sustainable Procurement.

Our Platinum Sustainability Rating was awarded in March 2022 and is valid for a year.

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At GPA Global, we take sustainability seriously. Since 2007, we have been pioneering innovative global packaging solutions that work for both people and planet, with the environment always being our top priority.

That is why we are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded the Valpak Packaging Certificate!

What’s Valpak Packaging Certificate?

The Valpak Packaging Compliance Scheme is the largest of its kind in the UK, and ensures that companies who handle large amounts of packaging comply with UK Packaging Waste Regulations.

We are proud to say that throughout 2021, GPA Global has met these regulations, maintaining our commitment to the environment.

What are Packaging Waste Regulations?

Packaging Waste Regulations were first introduced to the UK in 1997, as the first piece of legislation aimed at producer responsibility. These rules were put in place to help relevant producers reduce the amount of packaging waste created, reduce the amount of packaging waste in landfills, and increase the volume of packaging waste which is recycled and recovered.

GPA Global Packaging Solutions

As registered members of Valpak, we at GPA Global, ensure that we take full responsibility for our environmental impact by paying for the recovery and recycling of the packaging waste we produce that enters the UK waste stream.

But that’s not all – ever mindful of the constant need for improvement when it comes to sustainability, we also pay for Valpak’s ‘Data Insights’ service.

This service allows the experts at Valpak to collate and analyze all of our packaging data, ensuring that we do not leave a stone unturned when it comes to maximizing our protection of the environment.

This data and our yearly submission were vigorously checked by Environmental Compliance Officers, before being sent along to the Environment Agency.

Our Planet. Our Business.

We believe that taking environmental responsibility shouldn’t just end at meeting government standards for packaging.

GPA Global was founded in 2007 by Adam Melton and Tom Wang in an attempt to combat the worrying amounts of toxic waste generated by the packaging industry worldwide.

We envisaged a greener, more sustainable future for packaging, which would still provide users with premium quality products. Since then, we have consistently been at the forefront of the industry, pioneering innovative packaging solutions which prioritize sustainability without sacrificing on style or functionality.

Whether through sourcing the most eco-friendly materials, exploring renewable energy options or localizing our supply chains, we are always seeking new ways to champion sustainability.

Sustainable Luxury Packaging

Our Eco-Logic range of luxury packaging combined cutting-edge material science with our more traditional skill sets, resulting in a gorgeous line of completely biodegradable packaging. The use of molded pulp, soy-based inks, water-based glue and recyclable foils mean that the range’s eco credentials are second to none, while the elegant designs perfectly illustrate the fact that sustainable packaging solutions can also be sleek and stylish.

In 2021 we launched our Incept Sustainability training initiative, an innovative system which aimed to equip our staff with sustainability knowledge and training, while also surveying their opinions and queries.

We’ve been able to pinpoint areas where more attention is required, which has increased our ability to produce more eco friendly innovations as a result of a two-way dialogue.

We are determined to strike the perfect balance between people and planet, minimizing our impact on the environment while providing high quality products for consumers and funding community wellbeing.

And all that’s just for starters: you can find out more about our environmental targets here.

Sustainable Packaging & Innovations

As ever, sustainability remains the beating heart behind everything we do. We are thrilled to have received our Valpak Packaging Certificate for 2021, and you can bet that throughout 2022 we will continue to strive towards a greener, cleaner future for the packaging industry.

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Today, the average shopper is more likely to browse online from the comfort of their own home, which means – for companies big and small – carving out an online space has become the go-to method for generating revenue.

Myriad factors have contributed to the ubiquity of online shopping in the past two decades: access to faster internet and affordable devices, developments in online security and payment systems, and improved global supply chains to name just a few.

In more recent years, the spread of COVID-19 – which saw lockdowns taking place around the world – has been a significant factor. It’s thought that the pandemic contributed $219 billion to the US ecommerce market in 2020 and 2021.

As with any other market, eCommerce is one that needs to grow and adapt to changing times and in response to evolving consumer demands. One area where we’ve seen huge developments is in packaging – if you’re a business running an eCommerce site, read on to learn about some of the latest trends.

SIOC (“ships in own container”)

One of the biggest trends in eCommerce packaging right now is SIOC, pack formats that allow a product to be shipped in its own container.

These durable, specially designed packs enclose and seal around an item securely, ensuring security during transit. They remove the need for any tertiary packaging and are often slimline enough to be posted directly through a mailbox.

The benefits of this approach are far-reaching, as a pack that “ships in its own container” offers the following:

• No additional prep by the fulfilment company
• Less packaging
• Minimal damage and defects
• A more cost-effective process

With a SIOC pack, you can reduce warehouse space, shipping costs and packaging costs, and free up vital hours for your fulfilment staff. Another key benefit is an improved consumer experience – SIOC packs are lightweight and easy to handle, and mean there’s no more rooting around in oversized boxes to get to your product!

A SIOC pack can come in many different varieties offering a host of different applications.

At GPA Global, we’ve developed a wide range of SIOC formats including:

• RELF (roll end lock front)
• Clamshell
• Drawer
• Lid & base

We’ve developed these SIOC pack formats to suit the needs of all kinds of eCommerce products, including electronics and wines & spirits.

Sustainability & ecommerce packaging

Ask almost any brand right now and they’ll tell you their consumers are far more eco-conscious than they used to be – in one US consumer survey from 2020, 84% of respondents said they expected products and packages to be “easy to recycle and made with recycled content”.

While plenty of traditional eCommerce packaging materials are fit for recycling, there’s still a lot of waste that goes on when prepping products for fulfilment. If you’re looking to improve on sustainability when it comes to your eCommerce packaging, there are various approaches you can try.

SIOC (“ships in own container”) packaging is a great way to cut back on packaging materials, warehouse space and shipping costs. Another good format to work with is padded/flexible bag, as this offers huge savings on space and fuel.

You can also cut back on waste and pollution by experimenting with newly developed, eco-friendly materials, particularly those which are tailor-made for recycling or – better yet – fully biodegradable. Some new packaging materials even dissolve in water!

Here at GPA Global, we aim to work with materials that provide an eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastic products. Some of our favourites include:

• Molded pulp
• Crinkle paper shred
• Paper pad
• Corrugate
• Paper foam

One of our favourite innovations in recent years has been Eco-Logic, a range of biodegradable molded pulp containers specially designed to package luxury cosmetics items.

You can learn more by reading this article: A guide to sustainable packaging trends for 2022.

Custom inserts, SIOC packs & security during transit

Custom inserts can be added to ecommerce packs – and, in particular SIOC packs – to enhance security during transit. There have been countless innovations within this area in recent years, but the basic idea is to craft a fitment perfectly customized to the size of the product and ideally made from a sustainable material.

Inserts can be made from a variety of materials, including paperboard, layers of shaped corrugate, molded pulp and paper foam. The most eco-conscious brands will probably want to consider mono-material packs, in which the same material has been used for the exterior packaging and the insert, allowing for it to be disposed of within the same recycling stream.

Enhanced packaging design

Along with other technologies, print has advanced hugely in recent years, making sophisticated techniques accessible for companies of all sizes. Now, the average ecommerce site can afford to use print techniques to inject color, fun and flair into their packaging.

There may even be the potential to craft a secondary use for your pack, encouraging the end user to hold onto it for longer than they usually would. This is a great way to encourage brand loyalty from consumers who are troubled by the “throwaway” culture surrounding ecommerce packaging.

At GPA Global, we can provide simple, functional SIOC packaging with full color print and custom finishes on the interior. This gives our clients the opportunity to use otherwise “dead space” within their packs, helping to build a sense of their brand even before the consumer opens the product.

Digital packaging

“Digital packaging” is a catch-all term for e-commerce packaging that incorporates intelligent digital features such as printed electronics and QR codes. These kinds of features can be used to:

• Enhance security
• Enable easier fulfilment
• Improve product tracking

Perhaps the biggest benefit of digital packaging is that it can curate a superior user experience. Now that the average consumer has a smartphone in their pocket, digital packaging allows for enhanced interaction with the product, whether by scanning a QR code to access the product website or using augmented reality to bring a label to life.

Partner with GPA Global for custom ecommerce packaging

If you’re looking to enhance and streamline your brand’s ecommerce packaging, get in touch with GPA Global to find out what we can offer. We are a truly international business, with facilities, warehouses and offices across North America, Europe and East Asia, and we have expertise across every major sector.

Our sophisticated eCommerce packaging solutions are tailor-made to reduce costs, save time and space, and deliver an enhanced experience for the end user that will have them returning to your website time and time again.

Contact us today to learn more.

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As the world opens up again, we are thrilled to announce that we have a very exciting event in our calendars: PCD 2022.

PCD (Packing of Perfumes, Cosmetics & Design), is one of three trade shows which will take place during Paris Packaging Week, alongside PLD (Packaging of Premium and Luxury Drinks) and ADF (Aerosol and Dispensing Forum). This exciting event provides the biggest brands in cosmetics and fragrance with the opportunity to discover new and innovative packaging solutions for their products, develop networks and business connections, and discuss the future of luxury packaging with experts in the field.

Our team will be in attendance at the event, which will take place at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles on the 29th and 30th June. If you are planning to attend, be sure to come and visit us at stand E64.

We will be exhibiting examples from a variety of our cosmetic ranges, such as our stylish collaboration with fashion label Kith. For this we created a statement branded make-up case, beautifully designed to house ‘The Generational Beauty Kit’ , an exclusive collection of iconic Esteé Lauder make-up products.

GPA has particular expertise in creating luxury packaging for cosmetic companies, as highlighted by our collaboration with popular beauty brand Bourjois. At the request of their parent company, Coty, we created a luxurious yet understated gift box which would house all 18 colors of the Bourjois Velvet Ink range. Gorgeously finished with a red design, gold embellishments and a jewelry-box feel, this product perfectly demonstrates our capabilities when it comes to creating chic and premium packaging.

We will also be showcasing our eco-logic range, a carefully designed collection of packaging which can boast true sustainability, without sacrificing on style.

At GPA, we are committed to creating environmentally friendly solutions which compliment the exquisite designs of our products, and have developed expertise in working with innovative new materials. The use of such materials, including moulded pulp, soybean ink and aluminum transfer papers, truly makes our eco-logic range the biodegradable luxury packaging of the future.

2022 has been a busy year for the GPA Global Team, and it just keeps getting better. We can’t wait for June – see you at stand E64!

The post We’re exhibiting at PCD Paris this June appeared first on GPA Global.

In the past few years, we’ve made huge steps forward with our sustainability mission – just recently, we launched Eco-Logic, a range of fully biodegradable luxury pack formats for the cosmetics sector.

Now, we’re proud to present another eco-friendly packaging innovation, this time from the laminate film experts at Nobelus. The new product in our offering is EcoElement CLS, a biodegradable film that ticks every box for functionality and sustainability. Read on to learn more.

What is EcoElement CLS?

EcoElement CLS is a bio-based thermal laminate film made with sustainably sourced wood pulp. Unlike traditional plastic films, EcoElement CLS is fully biodegradable and suitable for home composting.

Features:

• 1.4 Mil thickness
• Matte and gloss finishes
• Adheres to most substrates
• PEFC Certified wood pulp
• ISO 14001 Certified
• BPI Certified

What applications does EcoElement CLS have?

This sustainable laminate film can be used across a variety of packaging formats and styles, including:

• Folded carton
• Secondary cosmetics packaging
• Wines & spirits packaging
• Luxury packaging
• Electronics packaging
• Consumer goods packaging
• Flexible packaging

What GPA Global can offer

We know that for many of our clients, sustainability is a number one concern. That’s why we’ve partnered with Nobelus to become an official beta test site for this exciting new product.

Our team has been busy testing out the varied applications offered by EcoElement, and we’re now ready to make it available to our eco-conscious clients. This versatile laminate film is an excellent alternative to traditional plastic materials and can be used in countless ways, from wrapping card stock to creating window effects on pulp parts.

Whether you’re crafting a simple folding carton, a flexible pouch or a luxurious secondary pack, EcoElement is the material you’ve been waiting for.

To find out more, get in touch with the GPA Global team today.

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The certificate, which is signed by Vice President for Product Development and Manufacturing Jaime Sanchez Solana, reads: “In recognition of a record of ongoing support & great packaging design. Thank you for making your company an extension of ours and for helping us bring wellness to the world.”

Therabody is a wellness tech company based in California that was founded by Dr Jason Wersland in 2009. Their signature device is the Theragun, a massager that reaches deep into muscle tissue to deliver enhanced therapeutic effects; other devices include wave rollers and pneumatic compression systems.

In 2021, the GPA team manufactured a large quantity of Therabody’s packaging, producing gift boxes, pouches, EVA cases and POP displays. As always, we delivered turnkey solutions which incorporated all of the following:

• Concept design
• Development
• Sampling
• Testing
• Manufacturing

Thank you to everybody on the GPA team for their hard work in 2021 – and thanks also to Therabody for being such an excellent client!

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Unfortunately, there’s often a gap between the promises that companies make to their consumers, and the manufacturing processes they utilize behind closed doors – in other words, not all products and services are as sustainable as they seem.

The good news is, governments around the world are beginning to close the loopholes that allow for this “greenwashing”. In the UK, the government is implementing Climate-related Financial Disclosures from April, which will hold businesses more accountable when it comes to sustainability. In the US, lawmakers in California have introduced ground-breaking legislation about product labeling, which will prevent manufacturers from making deceptive or misleading claims about the recyclability of their products.

In other words, 2022 is going to be a massive year for sustainability across all sectors.

For packaging manufacturers, this means big changes – and big opportunities – are on the horizon. If you’re keen to get ahead of the curve, take a look at the packaging solutions that we think we will be huge in the coming year.

Reusable packaging

The concept of a reusable pack is not a new one, but in 2022 we’ll start seeing it everywhere.

In the in-store environment, businesses can offer consumers the opportunity to buy reusable glass, aluminum or plastic containers which can be filled with the product of their choice and topped up whenever needed. Ecommerce brands, meanwhile, should focus on providing refills in reduced packaging – an area where flexible packaging (see section below) can really come into its own – and offering free returns so that empty packaging can be sent back.

This approach is already proving successful for cosmetics brands like MAC, La Mer, Kiehl’s, UpCircle and The Body Shop, who are offering a range of refillable products in bottles, tubs, lipsticks and palettes. In 2022, it will be interesting to see how the same approach is used by brands within other sectors.

Better plastics & plastics recycling

It’s a misconception that all plastic packaging is equally damaging to the environment and should be banned from use. In fact, there are many contexts where a plastic container may be the more sustainable choice when compared to a non-plastic container, once you factor in manufacturing costs, recyclability and functional aspects like food safety and shelf-life.

In other words, we don’t expect 2022 to be the year that we see an end to plastics. Instead, we’ll see manufacturers using far fewer virgin plastics and more recycled plastics, and in general moving away from plastic varieties that are associated with the most pollution and waste.

The Good Plastics Company is already making waves with its recycled and recyclable plastic sheets, while engineering pioneers around the world are finding innovative ways to breathe new life into old plastics – in Nzambi Matee’s case by creating incredibly durable building materials.

For consumers looking to reduce their use of plastics, top tips include:

• Buying plastics that are wholly or partially manufactured from recycled content
• Avoiding dark colored plastics, which are generally harder to recycle
• Avoiding plastic wraps, bags and films wherever possible

Plastic alternatives

In addition to finding better ways to use and recycle plastics, 2022 will also be a year in which plastic alternatives surge in popularity – and, perhaps, even become the norm.

Sustainable packaging materials that can be used in place of plastic include those which are biodegradable, compostable and even dissolvable – read about starch-based packing peanuts if you don’t believe us! Another good route is to use materials that are easier to recycle and have a longer lifespan than recyclable plastics. Of course in both cases, manufacturers have a responsibility to look at the overall life-cycle of the material to determine which is best suited to the job.

For rigid bottles, tubs and containers, tin and aluminum are two excellent alternatives to traditional plastics, as they are durable, food-safe and can be easily recycled many times over without loss of quality. Lightweight, shaped and flexible packaging, meanwhile, can be recreated with bioplastics, which are made using renewable biomass sources like vegetable oils and corn starch.

At GPA, one of our favorite plastic alternatives is molded pulp. This is a material made from recycled paper or natural fibers blended with water and pressed into molds. The benefits of molded pulp are that it’s fully compostable and biodegradable, uses renewable “tree-free” sources, and achieves a smooth, lightweight and easily customizable finish.

High-recycled content packaging

In the next few years, we’re going to see governments around the world taking action to encourage the use of recycled materials. In the UK from April 2022, plastic packaging imported to or produced in the UK will be subject to a new tax based on its content of recycled material – anything less than 30% means the manufacturer will have to pay up.

We’ll also continue to see a big push towards recycled paper products. These have applications across primary, secondary and tertiary packaging – from the shower-friendly paper bottles pioneered by L’Oréal to recycled corrugated boxes and paper void fill.

Flexible packaging

Flexible packaging is packaging that eschews the rigid structure of boxes, bottles and tubs in favor of bag and pouch formats. The sustainability benefits of flexible packaging are less to do with the materials used – which include paper, aluminum and plastic – and more to do with 1) shelf-life, and 2) material, warehousing and transit costs.

A piece of flexible packaging like a resealable pouch is ideal for food products, as it allows for easy and food-safe storage. Moreover, it’s lightweight, uses less plastic and is cheaper to produce than rigid packaging, and takes up very little space in storage and during transit. This results in reduced transportation costs, a smaller carbon footprint and less pollution overall.

An area where we can expect to see flexible packaging really shine is where it overlaps with reusable packaging. Many cosmetics companies are already utilizing flexible pouches to enable the refill of rigid bottles and tubs.

Minimalism

“Minimalism” may have had its heyday as an interior design concept in the 1990s and early 2000s, but right now it’s starting to come into its own within packaging.

This “less is more” approach will see packaging stripped back to its essentials – not simply because a functional aesthetic is in vogue, but because the modern, eco-conscious consumer is drawn to packaging that doesn’t reek of needless waste. In other words? It’s OK to keep things simple!

A particularly austere and eco-friendly approach is offered by the mono-material pack i.e. one that is made almost entirely from one material. Over at GPA Cannabis, our team has developed a mono-material, paperboard sliding tray with a paper rather than plastic insert, allowing the entire pack to be disposed of in the paper recycling bin once finished. We manufactured something similar for RAIN’s Botanical Mist Pen, using soy inks to ensure enhanced sustainability.

Zero-waste packaging

At the most extreme end of the sustainable packaging spectrum is no packaging at all – but, in practice, what does this really look like?

Boldly eco-conscious brands like Lush have made huge steps forward with packaging-free beauty products. Today, their range includes classic staples like solid soap and bath bombs, as well as innovations like solid shampoo and massage bars – but we can expect them to expand the range further in 2022 to eliminate packaging wherever possible.

A similar approach has been embraced by certain grocery chains, including The Clean Kilo (Birmingham, UK) and Precycle (Brooklyn, US). With this style of shopping, fresh and dried produce is stored “loose” and packaging-free, and can be taken away in desired quantities by the shopper using a reusable container brought from home, or purchased in-store.

While we applaud any business tactic that successfully reduces waste, there’s no denying that this is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and it simply won’t work for a lot of businesses. In particular, it’s a system that can only function within the physical retail environment, which means this style of shopping excludes those people unable to shop in person.

Beyond that, the plastic wraps and containers used on products like fresh food are often there for a reason – to prolong freshness, offer a longer shelf-life and reduce food wastage. In short, cutting out all packaging isn’t always the best way to do your bit for the environment, which is why brands need to approach this topic with care and consideration.

Partner with GPA Global to achieve your sustainability goals

If you’re a brand looking to get ahead of the curve with sustainability, we can help. We were founded on sustainable principles and have years of experience working with renewable and recyclable materials.

To learn more about how we apply our sustainable approach to crafting exceptional packaging, check out our portfolio. Otherwise, get in touch with our team and we’ll talk you through the GPA ethos – you’ll find our contact details here.

The post A guide to sustainable packaging trends for 2022 appeared first on GPA Global.

Here at GPA, we’re always looking for ways to operate more sustainably, and to help our clients achieve their sustainability goals. For our latest project, we’ve created a new range of biodegradable packaging made from molded pulp to demonstrate our capabilities within the luxury cosmetics sector.

This is Eco-Logic, from GPA Global.

Butterfly

The first pack in our range is Butterfly, a container box designed to store multiple cosmetics items.

We used wet-press technology to craft the moulded pulp insert for this telescoping pack. In brief, this means that we applied wet pulp to heated moulds, where it was pressed and dried, resulting in superior dimensional accuracy and an exceptionally smooth finish that evokes the look and feel of thermoformed plastic. Unlike thermoformed plastic, however, this material is 100% compostable.

We wrapped the exterior of our Butterfly pack in black paper, embellished with a pink and gold floral design. Further embellishments include gold foil piping around the edges of the lid and a pattern of spot UV butterflies, which continues onto the base of the pack.

All inks used on this pack are sustainably made from soybeans. Compared to traditional petroleum-based ink, soy-based ink is accepted as more environmentally friendly. The adhesives are all white glue, which is water-based, and all foils are recyclable.

Upon lifting the lid, the user is presented with the complex inner fitment, which is topped with a layer of gold card and can hold a variety of cosmetic products. On the inner face of the lid, we added aluminum transfer paper embellished with the same butterfly pattern as the exterior. Unlike regular silver cards, this transfer paper isn’t coated in a polypropylene film, which means it remains 100% biodegradable.

This eco-friendly cosmetics packaging is the ideal solution for gift sets, influencer kits, and limited-edition product launches.

Leaf

The second pack in our new range is Leaf. Based on a shoebox design that is similar to Butterfly, this elegant pack was crafted using the same wet-press moulded pulp technique and utilizes soy inks, water-based white glue, and recyclable foils.

We wrapped the exterior in FSC-certified paper printed with a stylish, modern botanical design, and once again added subtle embellishments with gold foil. The base of the box is grey with a subtle spot UV leaf pattern.

Inside we inserted the molded pulp fitment, which has been fashioned to hold a small selection of cosmetics products and topped with matte grey card. As with Butterfly, we added biodegradable aluminum transfer paper to the inner face of the lid.

This is another example of pulp packaging that has countless applications with cosmetics.

Peacock

Our third pack, Peacock, has a different style to the first two, although it is also been constructed from wet-press molded pulp and utilizes eco-friendly materials like water-based white glue and recyclable foils. We crafted this as a standing box with a hinged door that opens to reveal three fitments.

The most distinctive aspect of this pack – aside from the striking purple Peacock design on the front – is that it is coated in a deep blue, suede-like material delicately embossed with various patterns. We continued this material onto the interior of the pack, using it to coat the molded pulp fitments that hold the cosmetics.

This ingenious material was sourced from Winter & Company and is called Suedel® Luxe Recycled. Not only is it fully biodegradable, but it also offers an efficient solution to the problem of material wastage in cotton production. Winter & Company collects, cleans, and processes cotton waste before applying it to a recycled paper base, thereby helping to “close the loop”.

For luxury cosmetics brands seeking a heightened textural aspect for their packaging, this material is a fantastic option.

Get in touch with us to learn more

If you’re a brand in the luxury sector – whether you work within cosmetics, spirits, or jewellery – GPA  is here to help you bring your most ambitious briefs to life.

Our team has over two decades experience within the luxury sector and has bagged some of the biggest industry awards – including Luxury Supplier of the Year at the Luxury Packaging Awards.

If you have a project that requires our expertise, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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We’re pleased to announce that GPA Global has acquired California-based print and packaging company Southern California Graphics (SCG).

SCG was founded in 1974 and has grown to establish itself as one of the finest commercial printers in North America. They have been recognized as top in class at the annual PIASC Print Excellence Awards, as well as named the Best Commercial Printer for Los Angeles in 2016.

Southern California Graphics‘ CEO Tim Toomey will stay on to continue developing the company’s growth strategy. “Joining GPA will create new and exciting opportunities in the world of packaging, further expanding on SCG’s large format capabilities, as well as logistics and distribution,” says Toomey. “Together, we will be well-positioned to serve all aspects of our clients’ marketing needs as one complete solution. Packaging and digital services are the two fastest-growing markets in the printing industry today, and we expect to grow together in both of these areas to meet our customers’ evolving needs and goals.”

For GPA Global, this move represents the third acquisition of a US manufacturing business, and the sixth acquisition to date. The new site will significantly expand GPA’s West Coast offering and contribute to its growth globally.

In the words of GPA’s CEO, Adam Melton, “GPA is very excited to announce the acquisition of 100% interest in Southern California Graphics. The incredibly talented team fits neatly into our service offering and adds large-format and commercial print manufacturing capabilities. It’s part of our strategy to help clients with the global supply chain migration back to North America and Europe.”

For more updates on this acquisition, make sure you follow GPA on social media!

Contact us for more information about our packaging solutions for your requirements.

The post Southern California Graphics (SCG) are the latest addition to the GPA Global team appeared first on GPA Global.

For Sofie, one-third of the Incept Sustainability founding team, influencing how corporate sustainability works in organizations today and tomorrow, is the driving force behind their innovative training tool – a tool that combines E-learning with employee surveying and idea collation.

For GPA, innovation has been key to our sustainable development. So it was only fitting that our entire team had access to the most innovative sustainability training out there.

We spoke to Sofie about how Incept has changed the game when it comes to sustainability training; offering the corporate world the training it not only wants, but needs.

Thanks for speaking to us Sofie! So tell me, how did Incept Sustainability come into being and why did you develop an E-learning tool?

“It’s great to speak to you! So, the journey started back in 2018. At the time I was interning at a start-up in Stockholm. The company started a team-building exercise where employees were invited to present internally on a topic that interested them.
 
Being passionate about sustainability, I took no time getting to work on my presentation.
 
The reaction was as encouraging as it was shocking.
 
I was amazed that the sustainability angle had hardly been explored in a company full of potential – but I guess, when you’re in the sustainability bubble, it’s very hard to see outside of it.  
 
Nonetheless, a lot of discussion was sparked afterwards, with input coming from such varied places within the company – allowing me to see nuances I hadn’t before.
 
I knew that the gaps in people’s knowledge was a real red flag – feeling compelled to do something, I contacted Katherine and our journey began. Shortly after, Alexa came on board and Incept Sustainability was born.

In the beginning, we had intended to run the tool exclusively as a training program – a training program that sought to provide respondents with direct impetus to operate more sustainably.”  

“For instance, instead of testing people solely on what they know about Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the questions we pose delve deeper – exploring how motivated respondents are to work with SDGs, while also allowing them to discuss what obstacles are preventing their organization from fully embracing them into their sustainability strategies.

It was just before the first pilot that Alexa said: “why don’t we study the answers from activity questions afterwards? I think there might be a lot to learn” – and she was right. From this, we started to actively combine the training and the surveying, creating an unprecedented type of training!
 
With a pool of feedback, we could then provide an analytics service, allowing companies to build a two-way communication around sustainability.”

I think that’s what makes the Incept process so unique, tell me more about the process after the training is completed.

“Typically E-learning is a linear process, one which is generally limited to several hours. And when it’s done, its done, without you being able to comprehensively gauge how effective the training was.
 
With Incept you can take training further off the back of all the feedback and ideas, while also being able to benchmark yourselves through our analytics.

Essentially meaning you can pinpoint exactly where more attention needs to be directed.”

That’s so important! For GPA, it was a must that every member of our team had access to this same, ground-breaking training. So, considering the current environmental crisis we’re living through, how important is it that every employee gets access to the same training?

“I think it’s essential. But it goes beyond training of course because without action, training is pointless. 
 
You see it so often – large organizations with a Corporate Social Responsibility team, of let’s say, five or six people, max! That team is then dealing with a huge task. 
 
So, sustainability really must be part of everyone’s job – it’s a universal issue, so the response must be also. 
 
That’s also why continued training is so important, training that not just informs, but engages.”

Absolutely! I think that’s such an important sentiment. Especially as eyes are very much focused on the corporate world, in terms of driving change. Do you think it’s essential then that companies embed sustainability into every aspect of their operations?

“What we need to see is large-scale corporate change, and fast. But this can only be achieved if sustainability is embraced by all.”

“When 50% of all change projects fail, it’s essential sustainability change projects don’t, because we simply can’t afford to let them.”

I couldn’t agree more. So what’s the end goal for Incept Sustainability? And what impact would you like it to have long term?

“On the most basic level, I just want to have engaged as many people as possible. But as a tool, we don’t want to stop where we are.
 
While getting feedback is essential, it’s vital that companies act on that feedback. So long-term, we would ideally want to be supporting the organizations we work with on their journey. So that it’s as easy as possible for them to follow-up on the challenges and opportunities raised through the feedback while continuing to provide additional training and guidance to further their sustainable development.”

Contact GPA Global today

If sustainability is as pressing an issue for you, as it is for us, get in touch to find out about our sustainable packaging solutions

The post Incept Sustainability training: keeping our team engaged appeared first on GPA Global.

If you’ve been keeping up with the GPA story you’ll know that they have a commitment to supporting sustainable charity initiatives across the world. You might also know that they’ve spent the past few years collaborating with Captivating International on an exciting charity project in China.

The project was set up to provide poor families in Qinghai Province with their own greenhouses. In certain rural villages within this part of China many families scrape together a living by growing their own produce – but most struggle to make any profit, on average bringing in less than 6,000CNY (around 900USD) each year.

This limited income makes it hard for families to afford basic necessities and healthcare. Parents here also struggle to send their children to school, preventing them from getting a good education and attaining higher-paying jobs.

The Greenhouse Project is managed by Captivating’s Bason Lhamo and is partnered with SHAMTSE. This Qinghai-based charity works with the poorest villages in the region, all of which sit at an altitude of more than 3,000 metres, making living conditions for the families there even more challenging.

Not only does a greenhouse enable a family to cultivate fresh produce for their own table, it’s also a fantastic way of bringing in extra income. Our hope is that, as the project continues, parents will be able to save up money and send their children to school, keeping them in education for longer than they would otherwise be able to afford.

In addition to receiving a greenhouse, families are trained on how to grow quality vegetables, and taught about pesticide-free pest control and growing organic produce for the market.

Beyond that, the Greenhouse Project is just a fantastic way of bringing communities and families together. We hear that local kids get involved in the building, helping their parents to lay the bricks for their own greenhouse!

GPA Global history with the Greenhouse Project

GPA partnership with Captivating first started in 2013 when we supported the charity’s second annual Kidz With Heart Mini Olympics. Two years later, the Greenhouse Project commenced, with funding from GPA. We have continued to fund 50% of the project since 2015, matching donations to ensure that as many families can benefit from the initiative.

The following is a rundown of how many people have benefitted from the project each year since it began:

• 2015: 43 families and an estimated 86 children
• 2016: 84 families and an estimated 168 children
• 2017: 159 families and an estimated 318 children
• 2018: 130 families and an estimated 260 children

This year, funding for a further 111 families and 222 children has been secured, although the greenhouses themselves are yet to be constructed.

In total, 527 families and over 1,000 children have benefitted from the Greenhouse Project, allowing them to live better and more financially secure lives.

The trickle down effect is that 1,000 children growing up in Qinghai will have improved access to education, and later on, higher paying jobs. As these children become parents themselves they will have the capability to support their families and send their own children to school – and it’s all thanks to a simple greenhouse.

An update on the project from January 2019

Since the GPA Global team committed to funding the project in 2015 we’ve been receiving regular updates on its progress.

Families who have received their greenhouses have already begun to report excellent results. The crops yielded from these greenhouses have netted participating families profits of 4,000-5,000CNY per year (600-750USD). The project has particularly led to improvement in the lives of single mothers, and parents struggling to send their children to school.

With each year that the project continues, we are learning more and more about how to implement these greenhouses efficiently and on budget – in short, things are only getting better!

The Captivating International story

Captivating International is a Hong Kong-based charity committed to helping children and families who have become trapped in poverty, or found their lives negatively impacted by injustice.

Started by Andrew and Julie Colquhoun in 2006, the charity initially focused on poverty and inequality in China, but soon expanded to cover Kenya, Nepal and the Philippines.

Captivating’s three focus areas are:

1. Educating girls
2. Ending poverty
3. Stopping human trafficking

We’re delighted to have been given the opportunity to work with such a fantastic charity, and to have supported a project that is already having a tangible effect upon the lives of hundreds of men, women and children.

Visit the Captivating International website to find out more about the vital work they do.

How to get involved!

We are tremendously proud of the success of the Greenhouse Project, and we will continue to fund the initiative for as long as it benefits families in need – but we need your help to do so.

For every donation you make to the Greenhouse Project, GPA will donate the same amount. It’s our goal to fund 200 more Greenhouses, and the only way we can do that is with the help of people just like you!

Those who fund an entire greenhouse by donating just 500 USD, will receive a full implementation report on how their greenhouse was constructed, and updates on how the recipient families have benefitted.

The post The Greenhouse Project: our campaign has provided a lifeline for 84 families in China appeared first on GPA Global.

California-based brand Heavy Hitters is celebrating its 25^th anniversary by releasing HVY Grand, the world’s first liquid trichome cannabis tincture. Promising a full-body high and flavor profile of legendary Acapulco Gold strain, it was important that the packaging had as much impact as the product itself.

HVY Grand is designed for the cannabis connoisseur, as such the packaging was designed to appeal to high-end tastes. The GPA Global packaging team was able to bring their unique experience and understanding of cannabis primary packaging and combine it with the expertise of years manufacturing spirits packaging for the world’s most famous spirits brands.

“Combining cannabis industry knowledge with GPA’s track record working with luxury brands in sectors including liquor and perfume, resulted in a knockout limited edition gift box for HVY Grand. The packaging sets a new benchmark in the marketing of high-end cannabis products.” Said Jesse Dixon, of GPA Cannabis

The GPA team worked hand-in-hand with the HVY team to elevate the packaging standard to meet the discerning customer’s expectations. With unboxing an essential part of the user experience, a tactile, black, soft-touch paper with UV print and laser foil was selected for the outer box. Fastened by magnets to keep the outer cover closed when standing on shelf, the box itself will be displayed long after the tincture has been finished.

The inside cover features some of Erik Christiansen (@EricNugshots)’s incredible magnified cannabis trichome imagery.

The elegant, 90 per cent opaque, super flint glass bottle sits securely in a custom cut-out. The dark glass was selected for both elegance and to reduce the impact of UV light on the tincture. The bottle is finished with a striking rainbow foil HVY logo. The child-resistant lid is custom silver-plated with an embossed logo.

A soda lime Rocks Glass in black transparent painting and a stainless-steel Jigger with matte black painted finish and laser-cut Heavy Hitters logo complete the set.

The set has been given a limited initial distribution in California and is expected to become a must-have for dedicated cannabis enthusiasts.

Contact us for more information about our cannabis packaging solutions.

The post GPA’s packaging is helping companies in the Cannabis market break the mould appeared first on GPA Global.

Here at GPA Luxury, we have a long history of working with Irish Distillers brands – and in particular brands like Redbreast, which are the focus of this new video series, Grain to Glass. Each episode examines a different aspect of the whiskey manufacturing process – from farming right through to sustainable luxury packaging – putting specific focus on sustainability.

In Irish Distillers own words, “the story of our whiskeys is one of craft, care, excellence and a respect for the world around us”.

In our episode, Linda talks through the GPA approach to crafting premium packaging without compromising on sustainable ideals. As she explains, luxury packaging for whiskey was once all about the elaborate details – but now the discerning consumer is more interested in whether it ticks those all-important boxes for eco-friendliness.

As Linda explains in the video, we’ve adapted our approach to meet this new demand and “the techniques we employ, whether it’s using cutting-edge paper technology or ethically-sourced wood, have already had a huge impact on our sustainability journey, helping reduce plastic use and protect our forests.”

Watch the video for the full story – and don’t forget to share on social media!

The post Our bespoke, luxury packaging is the perfect fit for Irish Distillers premium whisky appeared first on GPA Global.

The Midlands Enterprise Awards have returned for the fourth time, and have named GPA Global the Best Luxury Brand Packaging Provider for 2021!

Hosted by SME News, these awards are designed to be a “a thorough, robust representation of the ‘crème de la crème’ of business throughout the Midlands”. This year, the judges sought to reward the work of businesses that have thrived during the pandemic.

In a year of unprecedented challenges, our team has worked incredibly hard to keep moving forward, and we’re delighted that our achievements have been recognised with this industry award.

Thank you to everyone at SME – and rest assured there are plenty of exciting new developments from us on the horizon.

To keep on top of our latest news, make sure you’re following us on social media!

The post Best Luxury Packaging Provider 2021! appeared first on GPA Global.

Another Captivating program we have funded is Pigs for Poverty, also based in Qinghai. This project helps families – and particularly single mothers – to set up as pig farmers, giving them the resources and skills they need to make money rearing and selling piglets. The program has been running for several years and has already helped hundreds of families across the region.

What Pigs for Poverty offers

When taken care of properly, a healthy sow can produce two litters of piglets each year (on average, 18 in total). After a month, the piglets can be weaned and sold at market, raising around RMB400 ($60) each. With two sows, this equates to RMB14,400 ($2,000).

Even factoring in expenses such as vaccinations, food, vet visits, and breeding costs, it is expected that a family will profit by RMB10,000 per year ($1,500). This extra income (on top of income from other work carried out through the year) will move a family above the poverty line, increasing their disposable income and helping them consume a healthier and more nutritious diet. Additionally, children are more likely to stay in school.

Families who participate are given two quality, disease-resistant sows and the knowledge of how to save money, keep to a budget, and invest in their business. Additionally, they are taught:

• How to feed their pigs to maximize growth
• How to care for a breeding sow to maximize piglet production
• How to keep their pigs disease-free
• How to get the best market rate for their pigs

Running a pig business is a great way for women to increase their status and income. It removes the need for single mothers to go into the city for work, letting them stay at home in their village and work while taking care of their children.

An update from 2019

In 2019, Captivating managed to help a total of 200 families as part of Pigs for Poverty. Each family received two breeding pigs and training in pig husbandry and small business budgeting.

One single mother who benefited from the program in 2019 is 48-year-old Baiyuhua. Baiyuhua lives in a village in remote Qinghai and is solely responsible for the financial support and care of her three children. The family earns money from farming, however, their annual income is largely dependent on the quality of each harvest – most farming families only earn RMB3,000-5,000 ($460-770) in a year.

With Baiyuhua’s health declining, she can no longer perform much of the heavy work that farming requires. Additionally, she has been forced to choose between sending her children to school to receive an education and keeping them at home to work and bring in much-needed income.

But having joined the Pigs for Poverty program earlier this year, things look set to change for Baiyuhua and her family. With her two breeding sows, she has the opportunity to bring in profits of RMB10,000 per year ($1,500). She is now far more optimistic about her future and the educational prospects for her children.

“It’s a good thing to know that you are helping single mothers to support pig breeding businesses,” says Baiyuhua. “I am very lucky to have your support. Although I am not good at doing business, I think I can raise pigs. It is not heavy work, and I can take care of my family. Thank you!”

Click HERE to read more about Baiyuhua, and see some photos of her new breeding sows!

How you can help

If you’d like to help people like Baiyuhua support their families and send their children to school, visit the Captivating International website today and make a donation.

The post Pigs for Poverty: a life changing initiative for farmers in Qinghai, China appeared first on GPA Global.

We’re excited to announce that our parent company, GPA Global, has acquired a packaging manufacturing site in Poland.

Based just outside Warsaw, the facility, which was previously owned by ASG Print, has an area of 8,000 square meters and comes kitted out with all the latest generation equipment, as well as a skilled and experienced workforce.

ASG Print is a European company that specializes in high-quality folding cartons and rigid boxes, as well as other paper and board products – all of which GPA will continue to manufacture through this facility. The site is set up to offer turnkey packaging solutions, which means the team will be handling everything from design and development to logistics.

GPA will also take on three technical sales offices in the UK, France, and the Netherlands allowing us to provide superior service and support to our customers. The focus will be on innovation and helping our clients achieve their sustainability goals and commitments.

GPA Global CEO Adam Melton has praised the talent and experience of the ASG team and hinted about the future of GPA in Europe: “As global supply chains are migrating closer to where products are consumed, having manufacturing in Poland is of strategic importance for GPA Global and we intend to continue to expand our presence in the region.”

GPA President Tom Wang also spoke about the acquisition: “As a group, we have a long history of servicing Home Entertainment customers in the North American market. We are honored and proud to have been the production partner for some of the most significant releases in the industry and we are excited to welcome ASG to be part of our group. With our combined strength and capabilities, we look forward to expanding our global offering to our combined customer base.”

Meanwhile, Jamie Toms, Managing Director of ASG Print, had the following to say:

“After 20 years working with ASG Print, I am delighted to announce that the ASG Print team will be joining GPA Global. GPA will provide longevity and financial stability to ASG through continued investment, while we will continue to deliver “best in class” integrated supply chain solutions for European print packaging customers. This, in combination with GPA Global China’s sourcing solutions, is a truly unique offering to both existing and new customers.”

Stay tuned for more updates!

The post We welcome ASG Print Manufacturing to GPA Global appeared first on GPA Global.

One hundred and fifty runners will take part in the 3km family fun run. Money raised will be used by the charity to support underprivileged children and families in Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan.

“The Shenzhen Santa Run took place for the first time in 2018, and we’re delighted to help bring the event back this year. Captivating does fantastic work helping improve education, end poverty, and stop human trafficking in some of the poorest regions of China and East Asia. We are very proud to have worked with them as a charity partner since 2013.” Adam Melton of GPA.

Captivating works alongside grassroots Chinese charities in remote locations to help improve the quality of life of residents, particularly young women and girls. Their initiatives, which include Pigs for Poverty and My First Job, focus on education and training. The schemes empower women, helping them to establish an income and a more stable future for themselves and their families.

GPA, which has an innovation center and manufacturing team based in Shenzhen, has a long relationship with the charity and recently sponsored a charity auction and gala event. The money raised at the event will enable 90 women to be trained as assistant chefs and professional tailors, 450 underprivileged students will receive financial support for their senior schooling, 57 girls will have a personal sponsor and 1,000 primary school students will have access to a volunteer teacher throughout the school year.

“We are so thankful for GPA’s support. Their partnership makes a huge difference to our events and consequently to our ability to support families in most need.

“The Santa Run is great fun for everyone involved, and we are very grateful to have permission to hold it again.” Andrew Colquhoun, Captivating International

For more information about the ru,n visit Captivating’s website.

The post We’re proud sponsors of Captivating International’s charity Santa Run appeared first on GPA Global.

Even within healthcare, we’ve seen a huge shift towards the digital – a trend made possible by the greater availability of fast, reliable broadband, and precipitated by the unique challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

Today, healthcare providers are able to capitalize on this trend with at-home medical tests that can be ordered online, delivered directly to the consumer, and processed in a lab space, all without the need for face-to-face interaction.

A growing home medical test kits market

The coronavirus pandemic has introduced a new market for healthcare & pharmaceutical companies incorporating masks, hand sanitizers, and – most significantly – at-home tests. Current forecasts predict that the COVID-19 sample collection kits market alone will reach $16.56 billion by 2028.

We’ll also continue to see growth within the blood testing market, which was valued at $73.9 billion in 2020 and is set to expand at a fast rate within the next seven years. Overall, the infectious disease diagnostic market looks set to balloon to a worth of over $40 billion by 2027.

But it’s not just healthcare services that can profit – companies that specialize in genealogy products are also enjoying healthy expansion, and have already been valued at over $12 billion.

Supply chain delays

If you’re a company that specializes in at home test kits, you may have encountered delays in the supply chain – recently, the CDC warned of shortages of rapid COVID-19 tests. The reason for this is simple: demand for reliable at-home test kits for COVID-19 has exploded, leaving manufacturers with a backlog of orders they simply don’t have the time or resources to fill.

The good news is, other manufacturers are stepping in to fill the gap. Here at GPA Global, we have begun designing and manufacturing our own range of collection devices for medical test kits, which have been carefully developed and rigorously tested to ensure suitability across every relevant sector and application.

If you’re a company working with home test kits – whether for COVID-19, STDs or genealogy mapping – you could benefit from our comprehensive service.

GPA Global’s turnkey manufacturing solutions for medical devices

Our team brings decades of combined expertise within the packaging sector to the new challenge of manufacturing legally compliant, industry-certified collection devices. We understand the complexities of producing kit and devices within the healthcare & pharmaceuticals sector, and can guarantee compliance with all regulations.

Beyond manufacturing, our standard offering also incorporates the design and production of packaging materials and documentation, as well as global logistics. With sophisticated production sites around the globe, we’re able to offer regional supply chain solutions, reducing costs – both financial and environmental – for brands situated in Asia and North America.

What’s included in our home medical test kits

Engineering of collection devices

Our approach to the engineering of our collection devices is methodical and comprehensive. We begin by addressing regulatory aspects, to ensure that the product is fully compliant with local legislation.

The next step is design. What are the needs of this particular client? How should the device perform and how do we make it easy and safe for the end user? With a product brief finalized, we use rigorous testing and risk management techniques to ensure that the collection kit checks the boxes for functionality, usability and reliability and that any potential problems are safely mitigated.

Injection molding techniques

We use advanced injection molding techniques to manufacture our medical-grade collection kits and devices. Within healthcare & pharmaceuticals, injection molding is a highly effective approach, as it offers the following:

• Cost-efficiency
• High level of accuracy
• Durability
• Resistance to contamination

Once manufactured, our devices are sterilized to ensure safety and efficacy.

Stabilization fluid

An essential component of collection devices for at-home blood or saliva tests is stabilization fluid. We manufacture the stabilization fluid, and carry out the process of injecting it into the collection device, which is then securely sealed.

Design and production of packaging materials and documentation

When it comes to at-home medical test kits, the packaging and documentation are just as important as the device itself. This is because home test kits rely on two things:

1. Correct collection of the sample
2. Safe delivery to the lab environment

We print instruction booklets and other accompanying material to aid the end user in collecting their sample correctly and safely. We also print additional inserts that allow the user to package up and post their sample without risking contamination, leakage or breakage.

Some of the packaging and documentation materials we can supply include:

• Bio bags to hold the sample
• Return mailer boxes to post the sample back
• Stickers for sample bottles
• Postage labels
• Absorbent pads

Serialization

Serialization is the process of assigning a unique number to a product which corresponds to information about its origin, batch number and expiration date.

Within healthcare & pharmaceuticals, serialization is the best way to guard against counterfeiting. It’s also an essential practice when manufacturing at-home medical test kits, as it allows each individual test to be traced.

This is an aspect of our collection of devices that we take very seriously, always ensuring it is part of our turnkey offering.

ISO 14385 and FDA approval

All our medical collection devices meet the International Standard for Quality Management Systems for Medical Devices, as set out in ISO 13485:2016. We also ensure that all our devices are approved and authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when they are being manufactured and distributed within the United States.

Kitting and fulfilment

The final part of the process is kitting and fulfilment globally. Our team will assemble the varied components of your testing kit and distribute it wherever it needs to be.

Case studies

Client 1

We produced a saliva collection kit to enable DNA testing for a leading genealogy websites. In addition to the saliva collection device and stabilization fluid, we also manufactured the following:

• Winged kit box
• Kit box tray and claim code label
• Blister pack sub-assembly
• Return mailer box and label
• Bio bag
• Absorbent pad
• IFU and IFU activation code label

Client 2

We produced a saliva collection kit to test for COVID-19 for a patient-centric genomics company that is based in California. The SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test kits we manufactured are authorized by the FDA and allow for simple, painless and non-invasive sample collection, reducing the risk of mistakes by the end user.

Client 3

This client is a biotechnology company based in Georgia that specializes in developing innovative new methods for blood and plasma collection and testing. We manufactured a blood plasma collection kit, complete with a finger-prick device and secure pouch for sending the sample back to the lab.

Contact GPA Global today

If you’re a company working with any kind of at-home medical device, get in touch with the GPA Global team to find out about our healthcare packaging.

The post We’ve created game-changing collection devices for home medical tests appeared first on GPA Global.

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We’re pleased to announce that we have just been awarded Best End-to-end Packaging Solutions Company USA for 2021.

Organized by Acquisition International, the Business Excellence Awards have been running for eight years and were set up to honor the hard work of companies of all sizes from across the globe. This year, the awards have specifically recognized companies that have shown “perseverance and determination” throughout the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

As always, we’re proud to have received recognition for our hard work, and we’d like to thank everyone in our North American team who has made 2021 such a success – in spite of the many hurdles! Keep an eye on our social media for more of these exciting updates.

Contact GPA Global if you would like to work with an award-winning packaging team!

The post We Won a Business Excellence – Acquisition International! appeared first on GPA Global.

From our early days, turnkey solutions have been at the heart of our offering – we don’t just manufacture your product, we design, engineer, test, manufacture, handle warehousing, and organize shipping to locations around the world.

GPA Global has a creative HQ in Shenzhen, China with over 400 professional staff as well as our US HQ in Bellevue, Washington.  We have manufacturing capabilities on both coasts able to offer packaging solutions and supply chain management based entirely within North America.

For US brands seeking a more cost-effective and sustainable approach to manufacturing and logistics, partnering with GPA Global is a game-changer.

What are supply chain solutions?
The supply chain is the chain of actions involved in bringing a product to market. It incorporates:

• Design, engineering, development
• Material science and a design for manufacturability
• Testing
• Manufacturing
• Storage of the product in a warehouse
• Distribution to the retail distribution center or direct to consumer

Most companies that offer supply chain solutions only specify in one or two points along the supply chain.  GPA is experienced across every aspect of the supply chain, and are well-equipped to take on the responsibility for overseeing all of these aspects, right until the product is delivered into the retail space and made available to the consumer.

For brand owners, outsourcing the management of their supply chain is a great way to keep a very lean overhead and focus on making the best possible product for the market, while outsourcing everything else to GPA.

What are the benefits of a regional supply chain?

According to McKinsey 2019, the typical consumer company’s supply chain creates much greater social and environmental costs than its own operations. Supply chain impacts account for more than 80% of greenhouse gas emissions and more than 90% of the impact on air, land, water, biodiversity and geological resources.

A local or a regional supply chain manufactures everything within the geographic region where the products are sold, or ships products in bulk (to reduce freight costs) into the geographic region to postpone the packaging process to the last mile specific to the retailer or on-line sales channel.

This postponement model helps reduce logistics costs, aids speed to market, reduces inventory exposure, lowers payment terms and frees up cash-flow, and is good for the environment as it drives down carbon emissions.  GPA is laser focused to help our clients build a more sustainable packaging supply chain and drive costs down.

Which regional supply chain solutions are offered by GPA Global in the US?

The GPA team offers a range of regional supply chain solutions to brands based in the United States. We manage and oversee transportation, design & manufacturing of the packaging, warehousing, and JIT pack-out & fulfilment. In short, we can oversee the entire development of your packaging supply chain.

What kinds of facilities does GPA Global run in the US?

We have multiple manufacturing facilities, offices and warehouses across the US and in Mexico, all of which have contributed to our expanding supply chain capabilities.

Across our facilities we can offer the following:

• Design, engineering, testing, prototyping
• Production across mixed materials
• Logistics support & value-add fulfillment

Our state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities include but not limited to:

• Offset & flexographic printing
• In-line foil transfer
• Liquid ink technologies
• Hot foil stamping
• Embossing & debossing
• Fluted corrugated litho lamination
• Die-cutting
• Windowing
• Gluing
• Plastic thermoforming
• Automation support

Our North American facilities have a particular specialism in folding carton packaging, however we’re equipped to offer a wide range of packaging styles, suited to every sector, from food and beverage through to electronics.

Chatsworth, California
This facility is based in the heart of Los Angeles and very close to the Long Beach port of entry, giving GPA a highly strategic location to service the West Coast.  We have the latest printing technology for folding cartons as well as commercial printing needs.

Mansfield, Massachusetts
GPA acquired the 103-year-old printing legacy HUB Folding Box factory in Mansfield, Massachusetts, just south of Boston. This 300,000-square-foot, 10-acre facility has operated as a family business for three generations, and now has the support of GPA Global as a parent company. It’s home to the latest in print technologies and folding carton equipment.

HUB boasts highly qualified service departments, including a creative studio, mechanical packaging and engineering, and custom tool making.

Las Vegas, Nevada
We are currently in the process of opening a brand new North American site, based in Las Vegas. This will be a state-of-the-art facility, specializing in two eco-friendly materials: wet and dry press paper pulp, and bio-resin. From here we’ll be able to manufacture a range of sustainable packs and packaging components, including trays, jars, bottles, bags, films and utensils.

What are the benefits of partnering with GPA Global?

Go green
GPA Global has made a commitment to cutting back on waste, pollution and emissions, and finding innovative new ways to manufacture exceptional packaging that pushes the industry forward for sustainability.

Our regional bases within North America and our comprehensive supply chain capabilities allow us to reduce the environmental costs traditionally associated with manufacturing and transporting materials.

Avoid shipping disruptions
In recent months, shipping disruptions have created huge problems for manufacturers who source raw materials and goods from China and other east Asian countries. A regional supply chain that operates within one area doesn’t have to factor in the potential delays associated with transporting goods across thousands of miles of ocean.

Keep costs down
Transportation costs can be sky-high when shipping overseas. By sourcing locally you can cut costs without cutting corners.

Sustainability is at the heart of GPA Global’s US supply chain solutions

Sustainability is central to our packaging solutions, which is why we’re always looking for ways to improve our eco-credentials. Providing a local supply chain and reducing transportation emissions is a key facet of our commitment to sustainability, however we consider all elements of the process, including space utilization, materials management and recyclability.

In the past few years we’ve partnered with big-name brands to manufacture innovative sustainable packaging along these lines.

Our recent work for Jameson Irish Whiskey and RAIN involved crafting mono-material packaging from recycled paper and soy inks – the resulting packs are not only highly functional, but incredibly easy to recycle.

New innovations from GPA Global

Exciting developments are currently in the pipeline at GPA Global. At our new facility in Nevada we’ll be taking our sustainability mission even further by manufacturing products from paper pulp and bio-resin. The ultimate aim is to cut back on – and even eliminate – the use of the plastics in our packaging.

Our paper pulp products are made from sustainable wood fibers, recycled fibers, and sugarcane and bamboo waste fibers, while our bio-resins are 100% compostable. And because we can add a variety of colors and finishes to these products, our clients can rest assured that there won’t be any loss of quality or aesthetic appeal.

Contact our team to learn more.

The post Our US regional supply chains are giving companies a practical and sustainable edge appeared first on GPA Global.

What is sustainable packaging?

For global brands, the hottest buzzword of the moment is “sustainability”. Regardless of what sector you work in, it’s likely that your recent strategy meetings have focused on how you can revamp your business processes to be more eco-friendly.

The post Keeping it green: understanding sustainable packaging and what goes into it appeared first on GPA Global.

An eco-friendly approach is also reflected in consumer shopping habits. Increasingly, people are looking to buy from brands that use sustainable and recyclable materials to create their products and packaging. In the US, nearly 54% of consumers consider a product’s impact on the world when making a purchase.

With consumer demand for eco-friendly options increasing, brands from every sector are starting to make sustainability a key priority. Many products and packs are now made from recycled and recyclable materials, using processes that reduce the manufacturer’s carbon footprint.

Even within the cosmetics sector, an area notorious for its “wasteful” packaging, we’ve seen some excellent strides forward – but many of us are still struggling to dispose of our used makeup in an eco-friendly way. If you’d like to know how to rescue your old lipsticks and eyeshadow palettes from landfill, read on for some simple tips.

Tips for recycling and reusing your makeup packs

Check local recycling guidelines

Recycling guidelines vary depending on where you live. You should be able to find out what you’re able to recycle by checking the website for the local council, municipality, or government authority in your region.

For different regions, there will be third party resources you can use to figure out what to recycle, and where you can recycle it. One excellent site in the US is Earth911 – enter the type of waste and your zip code to find a recycling plant or scheme nearby.

Separate out different components

Depending on local restrictions, you may not be able to recycle certain types of pack components. For instance, squeezable tubes, makeup brushes, and soap pumps don’t tend to be recyclable. However, the cardboard container or the plastic bottle those components came with may be perfect for recycling.

Use TerraCycle

Even if your local area has fantastic recycling provisions, there will always be some items that simply can’t go to a normal recycling plant. The good news is, there are other types of recycling scheme that you can use for items that would otherwise go to landfill.

TerraCycle is a global recycling scheme that has a presence in 21 different countries. The company is partnered with municipalities, manufacturing plants, and brands around the world and is dedicated to recycling items that are traditionally thought of as impossible to recycle.

One of their schemes is the Zero Waste Box. The idea is that the consumer buys a selection of boxes within a certain waste stream (e.g. beauty products). The boxes are delivered and the consumer gradually fills them up with unrecyclable cosmetics waste – when the boxes are full, they can be shipped back to TerraCycle using pre-paid postage. The items inside will be specially broken down and recycled by TerraCycle.

Countries involved with TerraCycle include the US, Canada, the UK, France, Australia, China, and Japan.

Find brands that offer refills or in-store recycling schemes

An alternative to recycling your beauty packaging is buying from brands or stores that allow you to reuse containers by refilling the product.

Brands that offer refills on creams, cleansers, lipsticks, eyeshadows, and other beauty and skincare products include:

• Fenty Beauty
• Charlotte Tilbury
• Dermalogica
• M.A.C
• REN

There are also plenty of brands that offer in-store recycling, where you can bring in your empty containers – often in exchange for products or store points.

Some brands, including Kiehl’s and Maybelline, are partnered with TerraCycle and in certain regions have recycling tubs in their stores where you can drop off your empties. The American department store Nordstrom has also partnered with TerraCycle to offer an in-store recycling scheme.

Other brands run their own recycling schemes. M.A.C runs the “Back to M.A.C” scheme in some locations, giving customers the opportunity to receive a free lipstick in exchange for six empty packaging containers being returned to the store. Lush also offers incentives for returning used containers.

Shop with brands creating sustainable and recyclable packs

When it comes to reducing cosmetics waste, the best thing you can do is shop with brands who specifically manufacture sustainably sourced and easy-to-recycle packaging. To achieve this, many brands are now partnering with experienced packaging manufacturers like GPA Global. Read on to find out more.

GPA Global and sustainable cosmetics packaging

If you’ve been following GPA Global since the early days you’ll know that sustainability is in our DNA. Having started life as Green Packaging Asia, we’ve held on tight to our green roots over the years, and today we’re one of the leading global providers of eco-friendly packaging solutions.

Sustainable materials

At GPA Global we love to push innovative new methods and materials. We use eco-friendly alternatives to plastic, such as sugarcane bagasse, bamboo, tin, and papers. We’ve also developed our own material, GreenBlister, a type of trapped blister packaging which is made from recycled and recyclable paperboard and plastic.

Fully recyclable packs

Creating a fully recyclable pack isn’t just about the base material – it’s also about the printing and embellishments. Some of the fully recyclable packs we’ve crafted in the past have featured soy inks, and have been created using recycled materials to create even less waste.

Reusable packs

We also reduce waste by creating packs with more than one use, or packs that are so beautifully constructed as to be a keepsake. This approach has been embraced by the team in our luxury department, where there is more capacity and budget to create truly exceptional packs.

One fantastic example is the pack we manufactured for the KITH x Estée Lauder Generational Beauty Kit. Our team crafted a clear, acrylic case to hold the makeup – with the fitment removed, it doubles as a stylish clutch purse.

International locations

As a global company, we’re able to manufacture and distribute from multiple locations, meaning we can reduce the polluting effects associated with international fulfilment and shipping.

A careful approach

When we create our sustainable packs, we’re careful to weigh up the materials and processes involved to ensure the best outcome for both the client and the environment. That means we don’t automatically opt for the material which, on paper, seems to be the eco-friendliest.

While some materials may be less polluting than plastics in the long-term, in the short-term the extensive manufacturing processes may lead to an increased carbon footprint.

To find out more about our green expertise, or to brief us about a packaging project, get in touch today. We have a skilled team working across the globe with expertise in almost every sector.

The post Getting rid of your cosmetics packaging: a guide to recycling your make-up appeared first on GPA Global.

In recent years, sustainability requirements for companies like ours have expanded massively. It’s now more important than ever to make a commitment to practices and procedures that protect workers and the environment.

The post Our Gold EcoVadis Rating 2020 is another essential milestone in our sustainability journey appeared first on GPA Global.

Award-winning Packaging Industry Innovators, Merge to form an even greater global supply chain solutions provider.

Stronger Together. GPA Global (NYC, NY) and Hub Folding Box (Mansfield, MA); Award-winning Packaging Industry Innovators,  Merge to form an even greater global supply chain solutions provider.

GPA Global, a leader in custom luxury brand packaging, sustainable packaging, and display solutions, acquired Hub Folding Box,  with over 102 years leading the market in innovation with one of the most technologically advanced facilities in North America.

Leadership will include; Adam Melton and Tom Wang GPA co-founders, Tony DiRico will remain CEO of Hub Folding Box and become a GPA Global Board Member, Jack DiRico will remain as Executive VP, both become shareholders in GPA Global.

Adam Melton and Tom Wang, co-founders of GPA noted, “GPA has always focused on sustainability and environmental considerations are at the heart of the GPA ethos, we’re pleased to be partnering with a company that has made a commitment to sustainability. As part of the GPA Global family, Hub will be a crucial addition to our US domestic offering while bringing that best-in-class manufacturing experience & know-how to achieve the highest possible quality and the most competitive pricing to meet the ever-changing needs of global brands.”

“GPA has always focused on sustainability and environmental considerations are at the heart of the GPA ethos…” – Adam Melton & Tom Wang

Hub Folding Box, a prestigious 102-year-old, third-generation printing and packaging powerhouse, will further expand GPA’s global manufacturing and establish North America as the cornerstone our global offerings.

Historically, Hub has been responsible for some of the most significant innovations in retail packaging, developing new formats that transformed the way consumers interacted with products. In the early 1900s, it was the first company to utilize cellophane windows in food packaging, invented the 6-pack bottle carrier, and pioneered the VAP pack in the wine & Spirits industry. Recent innovations include Liquid Ink Technologies – an alternative to expensive foils; and the Lock-Box, a unique, injection-molded pack that is tamper-resistant.

“Today, we have become a global powerhouse that provides global supply chain solutions to our customers.”   -Tony DiRico

Tony DiRico, CEO of Hub said, “We are extremely excited to be part of the GPA Global family.  It was important to our family that we found the right partner that wanted to build on our 102 plus years of success and innovation in a sustainable way. We wanted to ensure that our long-standing customer relationships would remain intact and importantly that our most cherished assets, our employees,  would be part of the next generation of Hub!

The post Packaging guru’s HUB Folding Box have joined the GPA Global family! appeared first on GPA Global.

We’ve been sponsoring Sunshine Academy’s Benefit Fair since 2014.

Sunshine Academy is a Chinese NGO based in Bao’an, Shenzhen. It was established in 2007 to provide opportunities for orphaned children living in government-run Social Welfare Centers. The Academy’s mission is to help educate, socialize and nurture vulnerable children living within these Centers, to ensure they go on to have fulfilled and productive lives.

Sunshine Academy programs include schooling, home-based activities, and outdoors adventures. Caregivers also run a Sunset Hours program where they provide an evening routine within a safe home environment, complete with snacks, bathing and bedtime. Additionally, Sunshine Academy runs a Vocational Education School for older students, and has recently employed a Special Education and autism expert to work with special needs children.

The aim is for Sunshine children to go on to public school, and ultimately be connected with a “forever family”.

The Annual Benefit Fair Fundraiser

Since 2008 Sunshine Academy has been hosting a Benefit Fair to raise funds. They encourage local companies and families to participate and donate, and channel income made from the sale of food, drink and activities into their various programs.

All administrative costs associated with the Benefit Fair are underwritten by Sunshine Academy’s founders, Emily and Brad Bauer. This ensures that 100% of donations are channeled directly into the charity programs. Over the years, funds raised through the event have allowed Sunshine to grow and grow. Having started out with just three employees working in two Centers, the Sunshine team now consists of eight staff members working across 12 Centers.

Since 2014, GPA Global has been involved with this amazing cause, supporting them with considerable financial donations, but the GPA team rolls up their sleeves and participates in so many activities directly related to this cause.

This year the Benefit Fair will be held on November 2nd from 10am to 3pm at the

Buena Vista Concordia International School (BCIS) in Bao’an, Shenzhen. Fixtures include an international food court, bazaar, kids’ carnival, talent show, lucky draw and silent auction, making it the ideal place for a fun family outing.

Having attended this fantastic event several years in a row, and seen the excellent work that Sunshine Academy does, our team would like to encourage other individuals, families and companies to get involved too.

The post Our work with Chinese NGO Sunshine Academy is making a world of difference appeared first on GPA Global.

You can look–and you can touch! The latest trend in the packaging world appeals to customers’ fingertip touch sense of touch rather than sight alone. A recent article on Packaging Word points out that while the visual appeal is important, it leaves the other four senses in the dark.

Despite marketers’ best creative efforts, options for developing original and enticing visual marketing strategies are dwindling. The top marketing teams in the industry are refreshing their strategy by using packaging that invites touch.

Touchable packaging helps your customers have a positive emotional reaction to your product. In order to gather information about the world around them, humans use their five senses: sight, sound, taste, smell and touch. When packaging entices customers through real or suggested sensory elements, marketers have the opportunity to appeal to customers from an additional angle.

Using tactile elements, instead of verbal or visual elements alone, can give you another avenue to develop your personal brand. Adding a unique touch element is a powerful way to distinguish your brand from competitors.

With advancements in digital printing, it is easier than ever to add tactile elements to your packaging that will make your brand more appealing!

Touchable packaging helps your customers have a positive emotional reaction to your product. In order to gather information about the world around them, humans use their five senses: sight, sound, taste, smell and touch. When packaging entices customers through real or suggested sensory elements, marketers have the opportunity to appeal to customers from an additional angle.

Using tactile elements, instead of verbal or visual elements alone, can give you another avenue to develop your personal brand. Adding a unique touch element is a powerful way to distinguish your brand from competitors.

With advancements in digital printing, it is easier than ever to add tactile elements to your packaging that will make your brand more appealing!

Find out more about our packaging solutions.

The post Our tangible packaging range is a sensory treat that can make all the difference appeared first on GPA Global.