FLEX/design - Work -

Work

Plastic-free transparency

Thinking outside the plastic box

We partnered with Kaemingk to transition their ornament packaging from plastic to renewable cardboard. Beyond visibility and protection, the design serves as durable storage at home, successfully elevating the seasonal category with a sophisticated, sustainable alternative.

Client

Kaemingk B.V.

Services

Idea development

Structural packaging design

In-house prototyping

Awards

Context

Scalable sustainability

Christmas ornaments have long relied on plastic tubes for visibility and protection. However, with retailers and consumers now prioritizing sustainability, the industry needs a new standard. We saw an opportunity to modernize this stagnant category by creating a renewable solution. This works across high-volume lines with only a marginal cost increase!

Towards renewable materials

While plastic is not inherently worse in every application, cardboard offers a renewable material choice with a well-established and widely accessible recycling stream. By shifting the packaging to cardboard, the project supports the transition towards renewable materials.

Transition

Towards renewable materials

Transition

Towards renewable materials

Transition

Towards renewable materials

Transition

Towards renewable materials

Concept

In search for transparent cardboard

The concept was to translate the key benefits of plastic packaging, visibility and protection, into a cardboard-based solution. Rather than mimicking plastic tubes, we designed a structural system that leverages cardboard's inherent strength and formability. The construction prevents movement during transport and handling without requiring additional materials or plastic windows, while keeping all ornaments fully visible on shelf and providing a durable storage solution for the home.

Giving ornaments the spotlight

The slot system holds each ornament at its widest point, following the natural geometry of the balls. In cylindrical packaging, the slots trace the spiral pattern of the ornaments. In rectangular boxes, they grip at the maximum diameter. This means the slots can be as large as possible for visibility while still guaranteeing secure hold - no movement, no damage, maximum shelf presence.

The slot system holds each ornament at its widest point, following the natural geometry of the balls. In cylindrical packaging, the slots trace the spiral pattern of the ornaments. In rectangular boxes, they grip at the maximum diameter. This means the slots can be as large as possible for visibility while still guaranteeing secure hold - no movement, no damage, maximum shelf presence.

The slot system holds each ornament at its widest point, following the natural geometry of the balls. In cylindrical packaging, the slots trace the spiral pattern of the ornaments. In rectangular boxes, they grip at the maximum diameter. This means the slots can be as large as possible for visibility while still guaranteeing secure hold - no movement, no damage, maximum shelf presence.

Accelerate

Speeding to the shelf

Speed to market was critical for a portfolio of this scale. Our in-house cut plotter allowed us to prototype and iterate structural solutions rapidly, testing different slot configurations and hold points without tooling delays. We also produced technical drawings for the full range quickly, enabling Kaemingk to roll out the new packaging system across their entire line without extended development cycles. The combination of rapid prototyping capability and efficient technical documentation meant we could deliver a complete, production-ready solution that worked commercially.