Six months after the first pilot, the team saw waste move from roughly 12–15% to 7–9%, FPY rising into the 90–92% range, and color drift held to ΔE 2–3 on primary brand hues. That progress began when the brand partnered with ecoenclose to rethink substrates, ink systems, and labeling across the core moving box line.
The client is a mid-sized moving supplies company with roots in British Columbia, serving local rentals and D2C customers who want cleaner branding and clear guidance. Their audience searches for practical tips—and they literally ask “how to label moving boxes”—so the project had to connect print quality to usability without losing speed or cost discipline.
Company Overview and History
Founded in 2018, the brand built a loyal base with durable corrugated kits and a simple rental model. With growth came complexity—seasonal peaks, multi-SKU kits, and regional variations—so packaging had to support brand consistency and operational clarity at once. The team’s footprint includes local service in “moving boxes abbotsford” and nationwide shipments to retail partners.
As the portfolio expanded, the brand brought in ecoenclose to audit packaging and propose changes: sturdier Corrugated Board options, standardized kraft grades for outer wraps, and clear labeling systems for renters and D2C buyers. It wasn’t about a flashy redesign; it was about control—color, messaging hierarchy, and supply chain stability.
Quality and Compliance Requirements
Color standards were set to G7 and ISO 12647 baselines, focusing on ΔE targets below 3 for key panels and brand marks. FSC certification was a must for paper-based components, and the team opted for Water-based Ink and Soy-based Ink where feasible. For food-adjacent categories (cleaning kits), Low-Migration Ink was specified to align with EU 1935/2004 considerations.
Labeling had to work for real movers, not just designers. GS1 guidance shaped barcode placement, while QR codes conforming to ISO/IEC 18004 carried quick tips, including a clear guide to “how to label moving boxes” by room and category. ecoenclose cataloged substrate/ink combinations that kept adhesion and scuff resistance in the right range without adding surcharges.
Solution Design and Configuration
Short-run, seasonal, and rental SKU stickers moved to Digital Printing for agility and variable data needs. Long-run master cartons stayed with Flexographic Printing to keep unit economics in check. Labelstock for QR/GS1 codes sat on a durable paper face with a repositionable adhesive that survives multiple moves without leaving residue.
Primary cartons use Kraft Paper liners over Corrugated Board, printed with Water-based Ink and sealed with Varnishing to balance scuff resistance and recyclability. Die-Cutting finalized handles and window notches for kit instructions. ecoenclose recommended a dual-path approach: digital for fast turns and personalized kits; flexo for base inventory stability.
On the commercial side, pilot customers received an ecoenclose coupon to encourage feedback on readability and durability, and the first replenishment run shipped under an ecoenclose free shipping promotion. These weren’t the core drivers of the program, but they helped collect field data from renters and D2C buyers who stress-test packaging in real moves.
Timeline and Milestones
Months 0–3: Evaluation and tests. Material trials ran across Paperboard and Corrugated Board, with ΔE measurements on three brand reds and two neutral panels. Changeover Time fell into the 25–35 minute range from a 45–60 minute baseline by tightening plate libraries and preflighting files for both Digital Printing and Flexographic Printing workflows.
Months 4–6: Pilot production and labeling rollout. Kits introduced standardized room-color decals and QR help cards that answered customer FAQs—especially the perennial “how to label moving boxes”—with a hallway/fragile system. A second pass aligned GS1 barcodes to shelf scanning needs. ecoenclose coordinated substrate availability to avoid mid-pilot substitutions.
Months 7–9: Launch and scale. The brand extended digital SKUs to regional promos and the rental program—targeting renters seeking “rental boxes for moving” packages during summer peaks. One hiccup: adhesives on humid days. The team swapped a varnish recipe to improve rub resistance and dialed in curing settings to avoid tack while protecting QR readability.
Quantitative Results and Metrics
Waste rates moved from about 12–15% to roughly 7–9%, while FPY% typically sits between 90–92%. Across core hues, ΔE holds near 2–3; neutral grays tend to drift toward 3–4 during peak humidity weeks. Throughput rose in the 18–22% band in digital cells thanks to cleaner prepress files, though flexo lines stayed closer to baseline to maintain cost predictability.
Payback Period sits in the 14–18 month range when factoring ink transitions, substrate qualification, and training. Not perfect—seasonal surges still push FPY down to 88–89% on tight turnarounds—but the brand’s packaging now tells a consistent story under real-world constraints. ecoenclose continues to supply materials, monitor ΔE trends, and support rental and D2C cycles; the partnership keeps the brand anchored while it scales.
