Presented at the Luxe Pack trade show in Monaco, the "Grace Box" combines strength and lightness, offering, according to Procos, a "perfect fit". "incomparable experience at every opening."

"Carefully designed, this eco-friendly box pushes the boundaries of sustainability. Made from eco-friendly materials, it's a testament to our commitment to the planet."says Leander Kritikos, CEO of Procos.

Three versions are available: a lacquered version with magnetic closure, a single-material version without magnet in two colors, and two constructions (construction 1: box + lid; construction 2: grooved box + lid).

According to Procos, the "Grace Box" represents a major breakthrough in sustainable packaging, responding to the growing demand for environmentally friendly alternatives. Procos has harnessed its creativity to develop this innovative, patented concept over the past few months, addressing concerns linked to the planet's environmental challenges.

At the heart of the "Grace Box" is an innovative composition mainly derived from ultra-condensed recycled brown cardboard. This guarantees that the new box is entirely recyclable and reusable, depending on the finish, considerably reducing plastic waste and its harmful impact on the environment.

The main features of the Grace Box are as follows:

1. Environmental awareness: the "Grace Box" sets new standards in terms of eco-responsibility, being lighter than a grey board (-10 % approx.) and a wooden box (-30 to 40%). By choosing the Grace Box, Procos customers are actively helping to reduce CO2 emissions.

2. Cost-efficiency: the Grace Box is approximately 10 to 15 % less expensive than conventional grey cardboard boxes of the same thickness. This economic aspect enables brands to make sustainable choices without compromising profitability.

3. Reliability redefined: with its exceptional durability, the "Grace Box" effectively resists deformation, ensuring that precious products are perfectly protected throughout their journey.

"The Grace Box embodies our vision to stimulate positive change in the packaging industry. By introducing this environmentally friendly solution, Procos aspires to revolutionize the way companies approach their packaging needs, contributing to a greener, more sustainable world."says Leander Kritikos.

The "Grace Box" comes at a critical time when companies around the world are actively seeking environmentally-friendly alternatives to reduce their ecological footprint. With its combination of durability, cost-effectiveness and reliability, this new lightweight box is destined to make a significant impact from retail to online sales, as well as watchmaking, jewelry, cosmetics and many other sectors.

Positive Plastics offers a unique kit of various resins and plastic compounds that enable products to transition towards sustainability and circularity. Roctool engineering focuses on the " heat & cool "In this way, we can improve the quality and processing of recycled plastics.

Positive Plastics aims to give designers, engineers and product managers a more positive vision of plastics. Since the launch of its first kit at Fakuma 2021, Positive Plastics has offered an updated version every year, with ever more innovative resins. These plastics are suitable for injection molding in the manufacture of luxury products such as packaging, consumer electronics, household appliances, sporting goods, automotive accessories and more.

Roctool and Positive Plastics sign four-hands kit 

The Positive Plastics team, which is constantly striving to offer new circular solutions, was delighted with Roctool's initiative to create a combined kit for the new edition.

Mathieu Boulanger, CEO of Roctool, said: "I love Positive Plastics' projects. This kit is a great tool for any designer looking to create more sustainable products. But I firmly believe that the material is not the only parameter to consider. It's up to us to see how we can improve the perceived quality of these materials. How can we improve the look and feel of recycled materials without surface decoration? We lacked this perspective. So I proposed to Positive Plastics that we collaborate and explore this avenue."

Markus Paloheimo, co-founder of Positive Plastics, and the Roctool team have designed a new device to showcase the different qualities, textures and mechanical properties.

The Pernoud Group modified the mold and Oerlikon Balzers supplied the hot runners.

The Positive Surfaces kit features 100 % post-consumer, mechanically recycled materials: PP, PET, ABS, PC/ABS and ABS with glass fiber.

"We're delighted to provide designers with additional know-how and tools to create aesthetically pleasing, circular products.says Efrat Friedland, co-founder of Positive Plastics. Roctool molding technology has proven its worth. It enables the creation of advanced surfaces, ranging from matt to high-gloss finishes. In addition to the aesthetic benefits, brands also have the opportunity to eliminate secondary operations and thus reduce production costs. The induction process improves the whole process, eliminating defects, improving flow and, depending on resin quality, reducing cycle time. This is a real opportunity to highlight recyclates and encourage their adoption by consumers."

The official launch of the Positive Surfaces and Positive Plastics kits is currently taking place at the Fakuma trade show, which runs from October 17 to 21 in Friedrichshafen, Germany. They will be presented on the stands of Sabic, Mocom, Poracom and Group Pernoud.

Positive Plastics will be sending out a free kit to one hundred brands and design agencies, as it has done with previous kits, to encourage the creation of new products.

The latest kits will soon be available for purchase online.

_{Photos : © Daniel Schvarcz}

At Luxe Pack Monaco, Stoelzle Masnières presented its exclusive water-based interior lacquering technique. 

With interior lacquering, the company sets a new standard in glass bottle decoration, emphasizing aesthetics, durability and innovation in the perfume industry.

According to the company, this lacquering is the only solution for decorating the inside of water-based bottles available on the market today.

"This revolutionary approach distinguishes us as the only supplier of water-based interior lacquering on the market, marking a remarkable breakthrough in glass bottle decoration. Thanks to this innovative process, we enhance the bottle's interior, giving it a distinctive look".says Stoelzle Masnières.

An innovative process

• Interior transformation: interior lacquering redefines bottle aesthetics by focusing on the inner surface, offering a unique perspective on product presentation. 
• Intensification of shape, depth and thickness: this technique enables precise control of the bottle's shape, depth and thickness, offering a distinct visual and tactile experience.
• Hydro-based solution: interior lacquering is a water-based interior spray solution, in line with environmentally-friendly industry practices.

The inner lacquer covers the inside of the bottle. This guarantees complete coverage, taking into account the specific volume of the bottle and the density of the glass. Despite direct contact with the juice inside, the unique formulation of the lacquer prevents perfume transfer, even with alcohol-containing products, eliminating the need for an internal pouch.

The formulation of the lacquer is meticulously elaborated by Stoelzle Masnières, enabling it to be customized to meet specific customer needs. In addition to being water-based, the lacquer is free from CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction), SVHC (substances of very high concern) and migrating pigments, guaranteeing product integrity. This commitment to quality is in line with Stoelzle's ecological principles and complies with California Proposition 65 safety standards.

Interior lacquering offers great design flexibility thanks to a range of tones from translucent to opaque. Ongoing research and development efforts are aimed at further expanding the color palette, while guaranteeing the precision of each shade. Further development is required for specific shades.

This technique adapts to different shapes and sizes, making it a versatile addition to bottle decoration. It harmonizes well with other decoration methods, such as screen printing, hot stamping, digital printing and embossing, generally applied externally.

At Luxe Pack Monaco, low-impact packaging solutions were in the spotlight at Albéa Cosmetics & Fragrance. Among the products presented was the Breizhstick range.

The first Breizhstick guided stick, launched a year ago, is now part of a :

• Breizhstick Tilty, designed with a bevelled shape for precise application,
• The new Breizhstick Blunt, with a flat shape for classic application.

Both sticks are mainly made of PP. Only the cupules contain a mixture of PE and PP, two recyclable materials that enhance the stick's functionality.

"With the Breizhstick family, we are expanding our range of ready-to-recycle solutions while meeting our commitment to reduce the carbon footprint of our packaging. Cosmetics and dermo-cosmetics brands now have a choice of two designs that are both desirable and responsible", says Aline Roland, Marketing Director, Albéa Cosmetics & Fragrance.

The Breizhstick family is manufactured at Albéa Plouhinec, France.