Packaging Industry Consultant — writing about packaging and supply chain
12 February 2026
The UK Plastic Packaging Tax has been in force since 2022 and the rate has increased since then. Here's what it applies to and how to manage your liability.
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15 January 2026
E-commerce packaging is different from retail packaging in almost every way that matters. Here's what to get right if you're shipping direct to consumers.
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4 December 2025
Corrugated and solid board (cartonboard) are both paper-based packaging materials but they serve different applications. Here's how to choose.
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13 November 2025
A vague brief produces a generic quote. A good brief produces the right solution at the right price. Here's what to include.
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23 October 2025
Air pillows, paper fill, foam, tissue — there's no universal best choice for void fill. The right answer depends on your product, volume and sustainability priorities.
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9 October 2025
Minimum order quantities for printed packaging can be a real problem for smaller businesses. Here's how to approach the conversation with suppliers — and when to accept the constraint.
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11 September 2025
Artwork issues are the most common cause of packaging production delays. Most of them are avoidable. Here's what your print file needs to include.
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21 August 2025
Most businesses assume their packaging works until something breaks. Formal transit testing tells you before you have a damage claim problem.
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7 August 2025
Most packaging cost reduction programmes focus on the wrong things. Here's where the real savings usually are — and how to find them in your own operation.
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10 July 2025
Extended Producer Responsibility came into force in 2025. Here's what it means for your packaging costs and compliance obligations.
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23 June 2025
Boxes that passed quality checks are collapsing in the warehouse. Here's what's probably going wrong — and how to spec against it properly.
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5 June 2025
Stock boxes are cheaper upfront. Custom packaging costs more but often saves money overall. The right answer depends on your volumes and what you're actually optimising for.
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15 May 2025
Every packaging supplier claims to be sustainable now. Here's how to assess the claims and what actually moves the needle on your packaging's environmental footprint.
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24 April 2025
RRP requirements vary significantly between retailers. Getting them wrong means rejected stock or costly rework. Here's what to think through before you design.
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8 April 2025
B flute, C flute, BC double wall — corrugated board grading confuses most buyers. Here's what the codes mean and which grade to use for what.
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