Perfect Packaging by Bert-Co

Excerpt from: Sustainable Tips in the Folding Carton World

2010-01-12T14:05:00.000-08:00

Sustaining our planet’s resources has never been more important than it is today. That’s why Bert-Co is committed to using environmentally responsible materials and methods that reduce waste. We aim to find only the best, eco-friendly alternatives for all of your packaging and printing needs.

Use this reference guide before creating your next packaging project and do a little something for Mother Earth along the way.

Choosing Paper. Trees are by far the most renewable and biodegradable resource. Using paper/paperboard can help to minimize the use of heavy carbon emitters, such as steel and plastics, in packaging.

VIRGIN PAPER has a direct impact on the forest and also requires the most energy to manufacture, although it can be the most chemical free paper. getting paper from a sustainable source can ensure that the process is managed responsibly.

SOLID BLEACHED SULFATE (SBS) board is the most widely used paperboard. Although this paper does use chemicals in the process, it is recyclable and a better alternative to plastic.

FSC CERTIFIED PAPER comes from responsibly managed forests, ensuring processes and procedures were eco-friendly. When printers receive Chain-of-Custody certification, a logo is issued when that paperboard is used. Certification system tracks certified wood from the forest, through each stage of production and distribution, to a point of sale.

RECYCLED PAPER can be any blend of recycled paper fiber and may also contain virgin paper fiber. you may use the Recycle logo on any package that is recyclable and/or made with recycled materials. Using the logo is not regulated; however, the Federal Trade Commission does offer guidelines.

PRE-CONSUMER WASTE (or POST-INDUSTRIAL WASTE). This paper contains fibers that were recycled from waste at a mill, fabricator and/or printer. It has never been used by a consumer and often comes from trimmings from the manufacturing process or from unsold magazines and periodicals.

POST-CONSUMER WASTE (PCW). This paper contains fiber that has been circulated to and recycled by consumers. This type of paper is considered the most environmentally efficient because it has already completed at least one useful life before starting a new cycle.

On your package, you can place the recycling symbol and note the type of paper it was made from.

ExAMPLE: 100/30PCW (100% recycled, 30% is post-consumer waste)

Bert-Co & Paper. In 2007, Bert-Co became Forest Stewardship Certified (FSC) in both facilities, Los Angeles, CA, and Pulaski, TN. This means our clients will be able to use our certification number on their packages, letting their customers know they are doing their share in sustaining our planet’s resources.

Bert-Co stock majority of paper mentioned here. For a copy of this reference guide book, email promotions@bertco.com

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Sustainable Boxes

2009-08-10T13:44:00.000-07:00

There is so much information about sustainability, information that contradicts itself. How do you know which route to take when considering your packaging?

Bert-Co has a simple survey that will help you determine your route. Take our simple Sustainability and Packaging survey.

Bert-Co keeps up to date on all information sustainable when it comes to folding cartons.

Contact us for a brochure entitled: Sustainable Tips In A Folding Carton World
Send an email to promotions@bertco.com

Expanding Your Product's Possibilities with SmartPack

2009-08-03T11:21:00.000-07:00

Totally new at Bert-Co is the SmartPack machine with a finishing capability of applying product (pick and place) and combing substrates in-line and without the need of hand labor. This machine will work great with rigid windows on cartons which will help showcase your product.

Features of SmartPack:

Flexible
High-Speed
Cost Saving
Multi-Window

Whether your packaging challenge is to apply a lenticular, attaching CD/DVD tray in-line, or applying samples and sachets the SmartPack machine can do it better and faster.

Call us for the promotion. Here are some photos of what applications it can do in-line:

National Competition Winner: Hancock DVD Packaging

2009-07-27T14:03:00.000-07:00

The Printing Industries of America's national competition recognized Bert-Co for winning in the Die-Cuts, Pop-ups and Unique Folds category: Hancock DVD packaging.

This is just a regular slipcase that turns into a monster of a pop-up. Its very cool and unexpected.

2009-07-16T14:26:00.000-07:00

2009 Gold Ink Packaging Competition: Bert-Co Winners:
I Dream of Jeannie Collection set, Category Packaging Multimedia Gold
The Simpson SSN11 Krusty Head, Category, Packaging Multimedia Silver
StarGate Complete Box Set, Category Packaging Multimedia Bronze

Bert-Co Seeks the Printing Industrys Most Prestigious Award: The Benny

2009-07-15T16:45:00.001-07:00

Bert-Co Seeks the Printing IndustryÃÆÃÂ¢ÃÂ¢ÃâÃÂ¬ÃÂ¢ÃâÃÂ¢s Most Prestigious Award: The Benny

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Specialty Project: Jack Daniels packaging

2009-06-23T13:42:00.000-07:00

This fun new job consists of multi rigid boxes with lid plugs. Here are printing specs that our amazing team made possible:

Wrap Stock: 100# Met Pet
Prints: 2 Opaque whites then 2 hits of black, 2 match yellow = 6 colors
Coatings: Gloss and dull UV varnish
Finishing: Single level embossing, including lid plugs. Wraps are mounted to 80pt. plain chip board

Bert-Co packaging wins at Foil Stamping and Embossing Association

2009-05-18T15:42:00.000-07:00

Another great win for Bert-Co and our clients. At this year's FSEA packaging competition, Bert-Co won in the following categories:

Folding Cartons
Futurama Into the Wild Green Yonder: Best Use of Ink with Foil
The Year Without Santa Clause: Most Difficult Application of Foil stamping/Embossing

Self Promo
Bert-Co Holiday Portfolio and Gift

Congratulations to all our Award Winners!!

2009-04-16T13:34:00.000-07:00

Bert-Co has won 23 awards from Printing Industries' annual Print Excellence Awards Competition! Among these awards, Bert-Co received the Judges Award, a first for Bert-Co, for the I Dream of Jeannie Collection set (see previous blog in March).

Here are the "Best of Category" winners:

Bert-Co Holiday Pop-Up Portfolio - Cards Category and Foil Stamping/Embossing Category
Hancock DVD POP-Up Sleeve - Die-cuts and Pop-Ups Category
Sex in the City Collection Pillow Rigid Case - Specialty Inks and Coatings Category
Clone Wars DVD Sleeve - Special Finishing Techniques Category
Blanton's Bourbon Carton with Rigid Window - Cartons Category
I Dream of Jeannie Collection (they just loved this one) - Specialty Printing Miscellaneous
That 70's Show Collection Rigid Case - They-Said-It-Couldn't-Be-Done-Category

This competition joins small print shops with medium and large companies. Bert-Co is a "large printer" and therefore can only compete with similar companies. However the awards above are from Best of all the firms, while the awards below are Best or winners compared to similar sized print shops. Another thing about this competition is that all entries are exclusive to Southern California printers. The winners from above will automatically be entered into a national competition happening in May (PIA GATF).

Excellence Award winners:

Open Season 2 DVD Sleeve - Embossing category
This Christmas DVD Sleeve - Specialty Inks and Coatings
Legend of Sasquatch DVD Sleeve - Special Finishing Techniques
Bert-Co Pop-Up Portfolio - Environmentally Sound Materials
Alfred Hitchcock DVD Collection Set - They-Said-It-Couldn't-Be-Done Category
John Paul Mitchell Holiday Collections cartons - Cartons
Bert-Co Sustainability Campaign materials - Self Promotion and Promotional Campaigns B2B Categories

Merit Awards:

The Year Without A Santa Claus DVD Sleeve - Foil Stamp/Embossing Category
Legend of Sasquatch DVD Sleeve - Die-Cuts/Pop-Up Category
Afro Samuari Sleeve - Specialty Inks and Coatings Category
Borba HD-Illuminating - Cartons Category

I Dream of Jeannie Collector's packaging

2009-03-30T17:44:00.000-07:00

This is another Team Innovation project for which we also project managed the graphic design aspect of the package. The bottle is a two piece rigid set up style, open from the bottom enabling the slide out of Bert-Co's Caddy-Pak (DVD filing system to minimize disc space in a package). It is inclusive with collectors cards.

The outer plastic carton is printed as well as the plastic inserts to really play off of the graphic design. The "sand and beach" image printed on the plastic insert while the characters where printed on the outer plastic carton.

Sasquatch Packaging with "fur"

2009-03-30T10:01:00.000-07:00

This is a fun project where our specialty projects team, Team Innovation, was put up to the challenge to create a DVD packaging sleeve and incorporate a "fur" material into the concept.

The creative concept involved several "fur" options to consider, and plastic swirly eyes along with several comps. Once the materials were chosen, the package comps went through a series of test. The end product is a this basic sleeve, with a die-cut shape to have the inserted fur shown through. It looks and feels great

Futurama Packaging: Into the Wild Green Yonder

2009-02-04T09:55:00.000-08:00

This is a tray-less DVD package with slip case. The cool thing about this package is the use of 8 different colors and the glossy affect on the embossing. Glossy against dull coatings always makes a package happen.

More info:

Stock: 18pt. Rainbow holographic foil
Prints: 4 colors plus two hits of opaque white and two hits of PMS yellow
Special coating: offline silkscreen UV
Finishing: sculpture embossing

Bert-Co Packaging : Afro Samurai for XBox 360

2009-01-28T09:40:00.000-08:00

This packaging may look like any ordinary sleeve however the treatment it uses is unique. It has a hi-rise UV coating that rises above the sheet and gives the package an embossed look. Although you can't tell from the photo, the hi-rise is in the shape of the warrior in front.

What is also cool about this package is that is uses low profile velcro dots, in which the book cover locks with a snap.

Here is more description :

Stock: 18pt. Silver Met Pet
Prints: 4 colors plus a PMS and 2 hits of white
Special Coatings: Spot offline high rise gloss UV
Special Feature: Low profile velcro dots