Paints and varnishes are filled in buckets or cans. This has always been the case, but does it have to stay that way? Schulz Farben was open to new ideas and developed the sustainable, flexible packaging concept „Soft Nature“. The prototype has even been honoured with the „Red Dot“ award in the „Design Concept (Category Green)“ category.
Zeynep Okur is Product Manager at the Schulz Farben- und Lackfabrik GmbH in Langenlonsheim. A few years ago, she went to French DIY stores to find out how colours are presented there. On the shelves, she also discovered paints in tubular bag packaging. These were similar to the colours known in this country Refill packs for cleaning products. In principle, this type of packaging is a good idea, but the handling leaves a lot to be desired, the expert found.
Zeynep Okur received the decisive inspiration for more manageable flexible colour packaging when she visited the interpack 2017 in Düsseldorf at the stand of O. Kleiner Flexible Packaging. The specialist for Printing and production of film packaging based in Wohlen, Switzerland, has a flexible yet stable packaging solution for products up to 20 litres with „Brainypack“.
Easy-to-handle packaging in paper-look design
BrainypackThe product manager immediately recognised that the health-friendly, allergy-friendly and preservative-free emulsion paints without solvents, plasticisers and emissions from the Schulz paint range would be ideally suited to the new packaging. The first ideas on how the Brainypack concept could be optimised were already being developed at the trade fair stand. After the initial concept development, Jens Bayer, Head of Product Management, Marketing Manager Andreas Kern, Patrick Krick and Luca Valerius joined the project. They contributed to the final development of the concept and the further development of the sustainable corporate strategy.
The result is literally something to be proud of. The Brainypack packaging consists of PA/PE coextrudate and is fully covered in the Paperlook design printed. The coloured bag is also finished with a matt varnish. The complete printing of the Brainypack was carried out for the first time for this project. The sturdy spout with sealing lid and first-opening protection is glued onto the bag.
Compared to conventional paint buckets and tins, the SoftNature Brainypack offers many advantages. Production is climate-neutral and uses up to 40 per cent less material. Especially when empty, the lightweight bags take up much less storage space than buckets or cans. More Brainypacks can also be placed on a pallet during transport than with conventional packaging. Thanks to the integrated spout, the flexible colour bag can be emptied conveniently and almost residue-free. At the same time, the filled bags offer a high level of stability.
Simple disposal in household waste
Offers advantages SoftNature also with regard to the disposal of empty packaging. They can be rolled up and disposed of with household waste, saving up to 60 per cent of the waste volume. Whereas conventional paint buckets with dried paint previously had to be taken to the recycling centre, the Brainypack can simply be disposed of with household waste.
SoftNature is still a prototype. The concept is unique on the German market, emphasises Stefan Friebis, press officer at Schulz Farben. Zeynep Okur is pleased about the initial interest from customers in the award-winning concept.
SoftNature's sustainable approach also extends to accessories. For example, SoftNature colours are being considered in combination with a Colour tray made from recycled cardboard and a paint roller with a wooden handle, reports the product manager. There is even a design for an in-store presentation. Displays made from recycled cardboard.
