Regulatory requirements select for a robust, secure, child-resistant package, and state-dependent rules around product leaving dispensaries, package opaqueness, etc., have tended to lean toward overpackaging out of an abundance of caution, and reliance on often multi-material plastics for functional or child resistant purposes.
But as the industry matures, that’s changing. One example is Oregrown Industries, a vertically integrated Oregon cannabis grower, processer, packager, and brand owner that’s keeping the robustness and child resistant, but adding sustainable packaging measures in clever ways. The packaging in question here centers around the company’s cannabis extracts and its vape offerings in what are called vape pods and 510 vape cartridges.
“Historically, we’ve been handcuffed by regulation,” says Riley Ruano, marketing director at Oregrown. “We’ve recently been in a transitional phase to where we are taking as many of the necessary steps toward sustainability as we can, but there’s only so much you can do—everything has to be either childproof or leave in a childproof exit bag. In the past, that meant a plastic pop-top here, a jar and a pop-top there. There was just so much plastic. More recently, we started transitioning away from that into paper boxes. But then we were still using things like foam and transparent plastic for a window. We’ve steadily taken steps away from all those things to get to where we’re at now.”
Where they are now is in fully recyclable paperboard packaging from a Shenzhen packaging materials supplier whose name is XD Packaging.
“Specifically for the vape pods and the 510 vape cartridges, they have an off-the-shelf childproof box that we were able to customize,” Ruano says. “Part of their production is they use wind energy, they use recyclable paperboard, and then we can also opt in to use the FSC paper tracking which essentially certifies that the paperboard is produced responsibly.”
Customization doesn’t extend to changes to the carton’s structure since the structure accomplishes the child resistant requirement. Customization might jeopardize the integrity of the child resistant capability. But look, feel, and print are all fair game. Oregrown went with a soft-touch paperboard carton with debossed logos on the side, and an all-black interior and spot UV printing for important info, like social medias. Consumers can expect both a tactile and visual experience with this packaging.
“XD Packaging is great to work with. They’re really knowledgeable when it comes to their whole process and what they’re capable of doing,” Ruano concludes.
Custom pre-roll packaging boxes are used for packaging pre-rolled joints. They are made from cardboard, and have a small opening at the top for a joint to be inserted. They also have a flap that can be opened up, and then closed to keep the joint in place.
The cannabis industry is in pursuit of environmental sustainability. There is a need to develop cannabis packaging materials that are plant-based, recyclable, or reusable. Economic circularity can provide the industry with maximum packaging sustainability. XD Packaging is a sustainable packaging company promoting a circular economy. What is the Difference Between Sustainability and Circularity in Cannabis
Compliant packaging and labeling can get tricky in a highly regulated industry like cannabis.
All cannabis packaging, whether made from hemp or other materials, should provide the following features, according to The National Cannabis Packaging and Labeling Standards Committee:
The cannabis market is expanding rapidly. About one third of US residents live in a state with access to recreational cannabis, and 37 states allow medical cannabis. In Canada and Mexico, marijuana is legal for medical and recreational uses nationwide while other nations are following suit. The cannabis requires a custom printing and packaging solution that can move at the speed of this emerging market.
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