The customer demand
After years of using thermoform packaging, Westland grower Koppert Cress has switched to a unique ultra-thin transparent custom injection moulded packaging in collaboration with SFA Packaging from Middelharnis. For their cressen (freshly sprouted plants from 100% natural, aromatic plants), Koppert Cress is constantly looking for natural innovative ingredients that chefs use to intensify the taste, aroma and presentation of their dishes. These plants offer a freshness and intensity in flavour and fragrance only found in young plantlets. This together calls for innovative packaging that on the one hand showcases the young plant optimally and on the other hand offers maximum protection against external influences.
The solution
When a new outer box had to be designed for the blue trays in which the cresses are presented, the idea arose to develop a packaging in which these blue trays would fit exactly and which would maximise the visibility of the cresses from outside. This was quite a challenging task as the size of the blue containers was already fixed, as was the size of the outer box in which twelve containers had to fit. At SFA Packaging, we love a challenge and innovation is one of our core values. So we had to come up with something special and we succeeded. For example, the side of the packaging is open so that the edge of the blue tray can stick out. The top is slanted, so you have a roof tile construction, so to speak, for the sealing edge. After the design was ready, 3D models were made so that they could actually be tested on the packaging line.
