The Party Délice tomato shaker has been nominated for the European Carton Excellence Award 2020. The Belgian company, Den Berk Délice, produces this cardboard packaging. Remmert Dekker Packaging designed it. "We started the design process with an idea. We wanted to replace the existing tomato shaker with a version made wholly from cardboard. It had to have the same look and characteristics," says Nina Pavlova, a packing designer at Remmert Dekker. This company is based in the Netherlands.
"Easy to recycle"
"It was quite challenging to design this shaker. We wanted to retain the plastic shaker's tapered shape. This shape enhances the container's look. Its construction was quite challenging too. The taper had to be combined with the automatic bottom sealer. That requires considerable folding technique."
"We were also extra attentive to the product's visibility. The holes in the packaging are large enough to see the product. But, they're small enough to prevent the product falling out. So, we didn't have to use any window material. The packaging is made entirely of cardboard and is, therefore, easy to recycle," explains Nina.
Den Berk Délice
"We'd been looking for new packaging forms for a while. Retailers want to reduce plastic use. We wanted packaging that resembled an existing product. It had to be easy for retailers to switch," says Den Berk Délice's Loes van der Velden.
"Our range already contained a cardboard shaker. But we wanted something new and surprising. Remmert Dekker came up with this packaging, and we were immediately enthusiastic. We printed it according to our house style. This packaging is now in Okay, a Belgian supermarket."
On the go
The packing was designed for the retail channel. It's perfect for 'on the go'. The packaging is easy to carry and resealable. "The Party Délice brand focuses on having a good time together. Not only is the packaging colorful. It also contains tomatoes of five to seven different colors," says Loes. "We're not surprised that they nominated this packaging for the award. It's very original and cheerful. We have other cardboard buckets and shakers. But, it's only right that this packaging was nominated."
Cardboard vs. plastic
"Den Berk Délice has been committed to making its packaging sustainable for years. We want to reduce plastic usage. Along with Coöperatie Hoogstraten, we researched various packaging materials' sustainability. We didn't want to blindly use cardboard, for instance. We did, however, want to substantiate why certain materials are better."
"It's still too early to say more about these results. But, we're surprised with what we've seen up to now. Cardboard packaging has caught on, especially during the corona crisis. Packaged products are popular from a hygiene perspective. That includes cardboard packaging," continues Van der Velden.
Making the fruit and vegetable aisle more appealing
"Our competitor, Looye's, packaging also stands a good chance to win. It's great that more fruit and vegetable packaging has been nominated. People are increasingly investing in fruit and vegetable packaging. That ensures than this aisle is becoming more appealing. Health is important now. I think fruit and vegetables should be highlighted more."
New packaging warehouse
Den Berk Délice has started building a new packaging warehouse. It will be operational by March 2021. "We've almost reached the current packing warehouse's capacity. That's the main reason we're relocating. The new warehouse will be at Coöperatie Hoogstraten. It won't be near our greenhouses. That reduces the risk of tomato virus," concludes Loes.
Click here to vote for the Den Berk Délice packaging.
For more information:
Loes van der Velden
Den Berk Délice
10 Berkelaar
BE 2330, Merkplas, Belgium
Tel: +32 (0) 144 07 240
Email: loes@denberk.be
Website: www.denberk-delice.com
Edwin van der Sande
Remmert Dekker Packaging
159 Knollendammer Street
1531 BD, Wormer, NL
Mob: +31 (0) 621 107 660
Email: e.vandersande@remmertdekker.nl
Website: www.remmertdekker.nl