More Panel Per Package

To comply with the new FDA-mandate for over the counter (OTC) labeling requirements, Diamond Packaging is providing more panel and pull-tab options at the same price per package.

Effective April 2002, a new labeling mandate by the Food and Drug Administration, titled “Drug Facts”, requires companies to standardize presentation of information regarding active ingredients, purpose, uses, warnings, directions and other data to enhance consumer information on drug benefits, risks and proper usage.

The new regulation will cause packaging modifications in brand identity elements, logos or an increased label size, in turn, affecting the size of the carton.

In anticipation of the need for texts and additional graphics, Diamond Packaging has launched Design Relief^™ cartons that feature extended panels and pull-tabs to facilitate added space for product information, without increasing the size or altering box configuration or increasing cost.

One Design Relief^™ model furnishes a foldout panel fastened to the carton's exterior, providing room for brand identity and preserving billboard space.

The second design incorporates a pull-tab panel that is functional for printing drug information or promotional content such as coupons.

The Design Relief^™ model is suitable for non-prescription drugs as well as drug-cosmetic products, such as sunscreens — products that will be affected by the new FDA regulation.

Sweet Smell of Success

Stora Enso is enjoying the sweet smell of success as it conquers the Nordic chocolate box market with its Performa CTMP (chemi thermal mechanical pulp) board for packaging.

Since launching the board a year ago, the Finnish-based company started targeting the chocolate producing market in the Nordic region. Stora Enso has already won contracts to provide Performa packaging for the largest chocolateers in the industry, including Marabou of Sweden, Fazer of Finland, Freja of Norway and Denmark's Anthon Berg.

Most recently, Iceland's leading confectioner, Noi Sirius, also switched to Performa.

“It was a challenge to change the packaging solution, as we wanted to ensure that our products retain their image of high quality. The package must be able to keep the chocolate's odor and taste properties within our quality standards,” R&D director for Noi Sirius, Runar Ingibjartsson. “We tested the packaging material ourselves, and on the basis of the recommendations of the test panel we chose the Performa board.”

Performa CTMP is constructed out of multilayer boards, with CTMP at the center and the outer layers consisting of chemical pulp. The board is reportedly taint and odor free. The Performa CTMP line consists of three types of boards, these include Performa Natura, built for packaging odor and taste sensitive products, Performa White, which has a bright white surface designed for high-end printing, and the Performa Cream, coated on one side with cream and suitable for odor and taste sensitive products.

Think Out of the Cup

Top brands, like Coca-Cola and Disney, are thinking beyond packaging to promote their products and are now using board-based cups as an advertising medium.

“The use of paper cups to present new films or to launch new fast food menus has increased considerably over the past two to three years,” says technical marketing manager at Stora Enso Packaging Boards, Paivi Suutari.

Stora Enso is aggressively marketing its 170 to 350-gr. cup, Ensocup, which is triple layered bleached sulphate pulp board that can be PE coated or claycoated and is recyclable.

“The cup is actually the only packaging product in fast food not thrown away immediately and can carry complex print,” points out Adrian Pratt, marketing manager, Benders.