Category: Packaging Insights

Brown and white shipping boxes

How to Properly Reuse Boxes for Shipping

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Shipping costs increase when businesses need to purchase new packaging materials. At the same time, recycling systems handled over 33 million tons in 2024, demonstrating the significant amount of packaging removed from service each year. This total includes large volumes of corrugated shipping boxes that may still have a usable life. This waste drains your budget and accelerates environmental damage throughRead more
Different types of consumer packaging made by Great Northern Packaging

What Are the Best Materials for Consumer Packaging?

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Packaging does far more than contain a product — it simultaneously shapes durability, cost, sustainability and brand perception. The challenge for today's leading companies is finding solutions that protect their goods without driving up expenses or compromising the customer experience. That choice carries real-world consequences. Flimsy materials can expose products to moisture, crushing or impact damage, while poor sealing orRead more
Consumer packaging for BelGioioso and Crosse & Blackwell

What Is the Difference Between Consumer Packaging and Industrial Packaging?

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Consumer and industrial goods require different packaging for product integrity, safety, efficiency and marketing purposes. Since each type offers unique advantages, you must choose the correct one for the application at hand. What Is Consumer Packaging? Consumer packaging focuses on branding, aesthetics and convenience to communicate product information and attract buyers. Its primary purposes are to be engaging and increaseRead more
Product packaging examples from Great Northern Packaging

How Does Corrugated Packaging Compare to Other Materials in Strength and Sustainability?

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Consumer packaged goods companies need solutions that protect their products from the rigors of shipping and handling, align with their brand values and meet growing consumer demand for sustainability. Wise decision-making involves balancing strength, cost and environmental impact. This guide defines corrugated boxes and examines the strengths and sustainability profiles of frequently used materials to help you make an informedRead more
Shelf-ready packaging for Crunch Pak Dipperz

What Are the 5 Requirements for Shelf-Ready Packaging?

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Variety is the first thing you'll notice when walking into any big-box, mass-market retail store. Thousands of SKUs line the aisles, each competing for your attention. With roughly 70% of buying decisions made in-store, retail-ready packaging is crucial for connecting with consumers and securing shelf space. The most effective shelf-ready packaging solutions fulfill the industry's “five easies" — a set of criteria thatRead more
Understanding G7 Certification: Why It Matters for High-Quality Packaging

Understanding G7 Certification: Why Does It Matter for High-Quality Packaging?

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Did you know that even slight color inconsistencies in your packaging can weaken your brand’s presence on the shelf? Crisp, true colors are essential for making an impact. For companies managing multiple SKUs or seasonal product lines, achieving consistent color across every box, display and label is critical. That’s where G7 certification comes in. As a recognized global standard forRead more
good culture and brownie brittle club store packaging

What Are the Elements for Successful Club Store Packaging?

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Cost-conscious shoppers flock to warehouse and corporate clubs to save money by purchasing essential household goods in bulk quantities. In addition to low prices, these clubs entice buyers with an array of membership perks, big-ticket deals and the convenience of one-stop shopping. If your company sells goods to club stores, you face unique packaging challenges and considerations compared to workingRead more

Why Packaging Durability is Important for Home Improvement Products?

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Durable, resilient packaging is important for home improvement products, as it protects them from damage and excess moisture and enhances branding efforts. In the home improvement industry, product quality is everything. Sturdy packaging can help items remain in tip-top shape from transit to the shelves to customers' homes. Explore the top benefits of durable packaging, including improved customer experience, sustainabilityRead more

How to Choose the Right Packaging for Home Improvement Tools

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Home improvement tools help customers make their houses more comfortable, but what can companies do to highlight their product's benefits? Choosing suitable packaging makes home improvement products stand out and persuades shoppers to make a purchase. It also plays a crucial role in reflecting the product's quality and the brand's values. Learn the top factors to consider when choosing toolRead more
How Packaging Affects Consumer Choices in Home Improvement Stores

How Packaging Affects Consumer Choices in Home Improvement Stores

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Did you know that brands have seven seconds on average to make a good impression before a customer moves on to the next option? That's why packaging plays a part in consumer behavior, including home improvement store packaging. Packaging is about more than simply protecting a product — the design, color and materials used can greatly influence what shoppers decideRead more

What Is the Impact of Minimalist Packaging on Health and Beauty Products?

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The packaging you select plays a significant role in whether a shopper picks up your product. So, what makes minimalism an effective design choice? The concept of “less is more” is especially true in the health and beauty sector. Embracing this philosophy allows brands to create products that speak for themselves and resonate with customers' desires. Explore Health & BeautyRead more

What Role Does Packaging Play in Enhancing Brand Identity?

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Packaging and brand identity form a symbiotic relationship. Understanding how to use packaging to communicate with your customers can take your business to the next level. By incorporating key elements of your brand's unique personality into product packaging, you can resonate with new and existing customers, build trust and enhance loyalty. Discover how your business or company can create memorableRead more
Halloween packaging by Great Northern Packaging

Holiday Packaging Guide

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During the holiday season, most stores explode into festive colors, and we owe much of that to holiday packaging. Limited-edition packaging can add a fun, exclusive touch to your product and appeal to seasonal sentiments, like the joy of spending time with family or the excitement of special peppermint flavors. Read More...

A Guide to Packaging and Branding Alignment

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Packaging and branding are two essential facets of marketing that help businesses communicate their value to consumers. While these concepts are different and can't be used interchangeably, they complement each other to ensure businesses market their products effectively. Brand and consumer alignment ensures a company's brand identity resonates with its audience. It requires consistent public touchpoints that reflect the brand'sRead more

How Sustainable Is Corrugated Packaging?

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Corrugated packaging is a traditional material used to protect and transport products. We can attribute its widespread adoption and growing popularity to its environmental friendliness and ability to reduce carbon footprints. Using sustainable corrugated cardboard packaging can attract environmentally conscious consumers and improve your brand's reputation. Read More...

Understanding Eco-Friendly Packaging Certifications

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As more people and organizations become environmentally conscious, businesses seek ways to demonstrate to their consumers and other stakeholders that they are part of the positive change. One of the areas a company can focus on is its packaging — the first thing a customer sees when they buy an item or their goods are delivered. See Environmentally Friendly SolutionsRead more

What Role Does Packaging Play in Shipping and Logistics?

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Shipping has made it possible for companies to transport goods and products quickly and efficiently over long distances. In turn, packaging plays a major role in shipping and logistics by protecting products during transportation, ensuring they arrive safely at their destination. Various types of packaging designs exist for different products along with protective packaging materials to provide extra support andRead more

What Is Corrugated Packaging?

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Corrugated packaging is a layered material that creates affordable, lightweight, strong and eco-friendly packaging solutions. It's highly customizable, providing different types, styles and sizes of packaging to facilitate the shipping of various products. Corrugated packaging is actually the most commonly used material for packaging and transportation in North America. Read More...

What Are the Top Packaging Trends for 2024?

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Packaging has become so much more than delivering products safely to consumers. How you package your products, what materials you use and their appearance can contribute to your business' overall success in the long run. Companies are now using different types of packaging as marketing tools to increase brand awareness and form connections with their customers. Read More...
Custom Brownie Brittle boxes by Great Northern Packaging

Complete Guide to Packaging Food in Custom Boxes

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Packaging protects your products during transportation and storage while also playing a critical role in food safety. Therefore, it's vital to package food products correctly, following Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) standards to ensure they arrive at their destination in optimal condition and meet food safety requirements. Read More...
Custom packaging by Great Northern

What Are the Signs It’s Time to Upgrade Your Packaging?

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Your packaging does more than ensure your products reach customers intact. It changes how consumers see and relate to your brand. There is a definitive link between packaging and purchase behavior, and many businesses know how to capitalize on this link to boost their sales, cultivate brand loyalty and differentiate themselves from their competitors. Read More...
Shelf-ready product packaging

How to Make Products Stand Out on Shelves

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With so many products on the market, having unique product packaging will ensure your products stand out among the rest. Whether you sell fun food products or want to promote your beauty line, the best packaging designs are unique and help to enhance your product. Explore how you can use packaging to catch a customer's eye. Read More...
Consumer packaging for Medical Devices

What Are the Requirements for Medical Device Packaging?

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Medical devices are essential pieces of equipment necessary for completing surgeries and evaluating patient symptoms. There are strict regulations for these items, as they must be sterile and in top-functioning condition for medical professionals to use them safely. These requirements make proper packaging essential. View Our Medical Equipment Packaging Read More...
Commercial packaging boxes

How to Reduce Packaging Waste

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Sustainable packaging has much to offer everyone — including your consumers, your company and the planet. If your packaging is wasteful, you aren't doing anyone any favors. Still, reducing packaging waste can be challenging. After all, you need to protect your product and accommodate marketing materials. Fortunately, you now have extensive options for efficient, sustainable packaging. Let's take a lookRead more
Club store packaging for cottage cheese cups

How Is Club Store Packaging Different?

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Before a product hits the shelves of a club store like Costco, Sam's Club or BJ's Wholesale Club, it goes through a unique journey. Club stores have specific packaging requirements, and their customers are shopping in a distinct environment. Packaging designers must keep these factors in mind as they prepare to work with club stores. Let's explore what you needRead more

Packaging Trends of 2023

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Packaging that communicates your brand’s image, mission and products or services comes in various shapes and sizes. You’re already offering your target audience exactly what they need — now, you need to grab their attention through trending marketing strategies. Your product packaging choices can speak to your audience, making a lasting impression and promoting your brand through visual appeal. TheRead more
Retail display of crackers

How Can Digital Printing Add Value to Retailers?

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Retailers are always looking for new ways in which they can differentiate themselves from their competition and draw more shoppers to their store. Digital printing provides retailers with new opportunities to interact with shoppers, be that through retail customization, local and channel promotions, or market segmentation. The use of digital printing on packaging also offers opportunities for you to helpRead more
Red shopping card in a canned food aisle

4 Ways Digital Printing Can Add Value to Your Brand

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Standing out on a crowded shelf has never been more important, or more difficult. As competition increases, so must your brand’s marketing strategy and ability to grab the shopper’s attention. Being able to stop the shopper at the shelf and convert them into a sale is made even more challenging by the depth of our shoppers’ omni-channel experience. With messagingRead more
Recyclable Packaging

Millennials Impact on Sustainable Packaging

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It’s no secret that shoppers are more environmentally aware now than ever before, and the millennial generation is helping drive this trend. In fact, one of the main factors affecting the Millennials purchasing decisions is packaging, especially when it comes to the food and beverages they consume daily. Findings from the EcoFocus Worlwide 2019 U.S. Trends Survey suggest that millennialsRead more
Recycling logo

Why Is Paper a More Sustainable Packaging Solution Than Plastic?

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Sustainable packaging has become increasingly important as consumers become more aware of its impact on the environment. According to a report done by GlobalWebIndex, 42% of U.S. and UK consumers say products that use sustainable materials are important when it comes to their daily purchases. Environmentally aware consumers are more willing to support companies that share the same concern asRead more
Custom digitally printed packaging for retail

What Are the Benefits of Multiple Print Versions Packaging?

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The retail landscape is changing rapidly and a main contributor to this is customer preference. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers are more willing to try new buying channels, brands, and product varieties than ever before. An advantage of this trend is that it offers new market opportunities and opens the door for new product variations and product packaging. However, thisRead more
Custom packaging for frozen food

What to Consider For Your Frozen and Refrigerated Package

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When it comes to packaging for frozen and refrigerated products, there are different qualities that need to be taken into account compared to retail packaging. The most important aspect is preserving the quality of the product, and if a package is not strong enough to withstand freezer and refrigeration environments, you risk the product spoiling. You also need to haveRead more
Shelf-ready retail packaging

The Rise of Shelf-Ready Packaging

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Shelf-ready packages are used on retail shelves more than ever. Retailers like shelf-ready packaging because it reduces labor costs. CPGs also benefit from this packaging solution because it helps brands stand out on shelf and the packaging displays the product the way it should be displayed, resulting in a better experience for the customer. Create Your Shelf-Ready Packaging Read More...

What Makes Great Northern Different?

Consultative

We provide valuable packaging expertise for our customers to optimize the supply chain and stand out in the retail environment.

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Creative

Work with our award-winning design team to create impressive packaging that protects your products and makes your brand stand out.

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Cost-Effective

Our solution-focused engineering teams develop functional packaging that helps our customers achieve their ROI targets.

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Reliable

We keep our projects on track for success by staying within budget and meeting deadlines so you know when your packaging will be ready.

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Responsive

We're always available to discuss timelines, project specifications and more - reach out today to talk to our team about your packaging needs.

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Quality

All of our work is completed in-house, allowing us to ensure the highest quality for everything we manufacture.

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Great Expectations

Great Expectations is more than a tagline, it is an attitude. At Great Northern, customer challenges are met by an undying spirit to doing what others can’t or won’t. It’s in our DNA. And it is what our customers have come to expect with Great Northern.

How can we exceed your expectations?

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