Sustainable Packaging

Minimal Packaging

Custom minimal Packaging produced to your size and substrate, with printing and finishing handled in one run.

Minimum order
100 units
Production
3–5 business days
Construction
folding carton
Delivery
US, UK, Canada, Australia

No obligation

Ask for a quote

Name, email, phone and what you are packing. Attach artwork if you have it. We reply with a specification and a written price, usually within one business day.

The more detail you give, the more accurate the quote.

Drop files here or browse

PDF, AI, EPS, SVG, PNG, JPG, WEBP or ZIP. Up to 5 files, 10 MB each.

    We use your details to answer this request only. See our privacy policy for how data is handled.

    The environmental claim you can defend

    Recycled content, kerbside recyclability and certified compostability are three different claims requiring three different kinds of evidence. Brands get into trouble by treating them as one.

    Tell us which claim you intend to print on the pack and we will specify a material that supports it, or say plainly that it does not exist at your price point.

    What minimal packaging have to cope with

    Minimal Packaging hold a product with the secondary packaging stripped back to what the job actually requires. That is the starting point for the specification, because right-sizing beats lightweighting. A box cut to the product ships more units per pallet and cuts dimensional weight, and it does not increase damage the way thinner board does.

    In service they are used for brands reducing packaging weight and shipping volume, usually with a published target to meet.

    The substrate for minimal packaging

    The lightest board that holds the measured damage rate, established with a sample run rather than assumed.

    The options we would consider for this format are below; right-sizing beats lightweighting. A box cut to the product ships more units per pallet and cuts dimensional weight, and it does not increase damage the way thinner board does.

    • 12pt SBS paperboard
    • 14pt SBS paperboard
    • 16pt SBS paperboard
    • 18pt kraft board
    • recycled CCNB board

    Comparing the substrate options

    The honest trade-offs between the stocks we would consider for this format.

    MaterialCost vs conventionalRecovery route
    Recycled CCNB0–5% higherKerbside, widely accepted
    Virgin SBSBaselineKerbside, best print surface
    Kraft boardBaselineKerbside, natural finish
    Certified compostable20–40% higherIndustrial facilities only

    Printing minimal packaging

    One or two colours on uncoated stock. Restraint reads as intent here, where a full-bleed print undercuts the message.

    Offset lithography, Digital press, Flexography are all available for this format. Run length usually decides which is cheapest: digital removes the plate cost on short quantities, offset and flexo overtake it at volume.

    Sizing minimal packaging

    Right-sized to the product with the smallest workable clearance, which is where most of the material saving comes from.

    Send the contents rather than a box size. Minimal is read as thinner board, when almost all of the real saving comes from right-sizing the box rather than lightening it.

    Ordering minimal packaging

    Send the product dimensions, the quantity and your deadline. What comes back is a board grade, a structure, a print method, a lead time and a written price — not a number on its own.

    A dieline template follows, sized to your product. Prepress checks your artwork against it and issues a proof; nothing runs until you sign that off.

    Testing the fit first

    A plain structural sample is the cheapest way to find a fit problem — far cheaper than finding it across a full run.

    Sample costs are normally credited against the production order.

    Reference

    Minimal Packaging at a specification level

    ProductMinimal Packaging
    CategorySustainable Packaging
    ConstructionDie-cut, creased and seam-glued
    Board thickness12pt – 18pt depending on product weight
    Ships asFlat-packed, glued one seam
    Materials12pt SBS paperboard, 14pt SBS paperboard, 16pt SBS paperboard, 18pt kraft board
    PrintingOffset lithography, Digital press, Flexography
    FinishesGloss lamination, Matte lamination, Soft-touch lamination, Spot UV, Foil stamping
    Minimum orderMinimum order is 100 units on any format, and unit cost falls sharply as the quantity rises.
    Lead time3 to 5 business days after artwork approval
    ShippingAcross the US, UK, Canada and Australia

    Specification builder

    Specify Minimal Packaging in under a minute

    Set what you know, leave the rest. Everything here travels with your request, so nothing gets retyped.

    • 100-unit minimum
    • 3–5 day production
    • Free dieline
    • No obligation
    Approximation only — proportions, colour family and finish character. Not a colour proof, and the panel shown is a placeholder, not your artwork.
    Packaging type
    Box style
    Quantity
    Colour
    Material
    Printing
    Finish

    Drop files or browse

    Up to 5 files, 10 MB each.

      Prices start from $0.30 per piece for large-volume orders. Final pricing depends on size, material, printing, finishes, and quantity.

      What you get

      What you get with this format

      The dimensions that matter

      Right-sized to the product with the smallest workable clearance, which is where most of the material saving comes from.

      What tends to go wrong

      Material is cut so far that damage rates rise, and replacing damaged orders costs more carbon and more money than the packaging ever saved.

      Where it has to work

      Specified for brands reducing packaging weight and shipping volume, usually with a published target to meet.

      What decides the job

      Right-sizing beats lightweighting. A box cut to the product ships more units per pallet and cuts dimensional weight, and it does not increase damage the way thinner board does.

      This format sits in our sustainable packaging range, alongside 5 other made-to-order formats.

      Answers

      Ordering minimal packaging: the usual questions

      Specification, minimums and lead times for minimal packaging.

      How far can I reduce the board before it becomes a problem?

      Further on size than on thickness. Right-sizing the box cuts material, dimensional weight and pallet space without raising damage, whereas thinning the board raises damage quite quickly. We would suggest a sample run at the lighter spec before committing a full order.

      Is recycled board weaker than virgin board?

      Slightly, at the same caliper — recycled fibres are shorter, so the board is a little less stiff and takes on moisture a little faster. Stepping up one caliper generally restores the performance while keeping the recycled claim intact.

      Can you certify the recycled content?

      We can state the recycled content of the board and supply the mill documentation behind it. We do not issue certifications ourselves, and we would rather give you the underlying evidence than a claim you cannot substantiate.

      Do minimal packaging arrive flat or assembled?

      Flat and glued along one seam, so they pop open on your packing line. That keeps freight cost down considerably compared with a pre-assembled structure.

      Can you hold the specification for repeat orders?

      Yes. Once a first run is approved we hold the board, structure, dimensions, print method and finishes against your account, so a reorder references the same specification exactly rather than being re-derived. It also means a reorder can be priced against a larger quantity without re-opening the specification.

      Do you offer recycled or recyclable options?

      Recycled grades are available across most of the substrates we run for folding cartons. Recycled content, kerbside recyclability and certified compostability are three different claims though, so tell us which one you intend to print.

      What file format should I send artwork in?

      A print-ready PDF or a vector file, with fonts outlined and any raster images at 300 dpi at final size. We supply the dieline to design onto, and prepress checks bleed, safe area and crease clearance before issuing a proof. If you are printing on an uncoated or kraft stock, approve a printed sample rather than a digital proof — the substrate pulls colour down noticeably.

      What is the minimum order for minimal packaging?

      A flat 100 units on any format. Most folding cartons in this range are quoted from 100 units upward because unit cost falls sharply above that, but the minimum exists so you can validate a structure first.

      How long do minimal packaging take to produce?

      3 to 5 business days after artwork approval, plus freight. Folding carton runs with applied finishes can take longer because each finish is a separate pass, and we confirm a firm date in writing with the quote.

      What do minimal packaging cost?

      Prices start from $0.30 per piece for large-volume orders. For this format the biggest levers are quantity, print route, board grade and how many finishing passes are involved. We quote each element separately so you can see where the money is going. Finishing passes are the lever buyers most often underestimate: each one is a separate run through the line.

      Can I see a sample first?

      Yes. We can send a plain unprinted sample so you can check the fit and structure, or a printed prototype for colour and finish. Sample costs are normally credited against the production order. A plain sample answers fit and structure; a printed one answers colour. On minimal packaging it is usually fit that is worth checking first.

      Can you match packaging we already use?

      Send the current specification or a physical sample and we will quote to match it rather than proposing an alternative you would then have to re-approve internally. A physical sample tells us more than a specification sheet — board caliper and coating are usually described loosely and measured exactly.

      Next step

      Get a price for Minimal Packaging

      Send the dimensions and quantity you need. We reply with a full specification and a written price, usually within one business day.