Packaging Industry: The Factors to Consider When Choosing a Thinwall Packaging Manufacturing Partner

In light of new trends that include sustainability, the rise of e-commerce, competition and rapidly changing consumer preferences, packaging consumer companies are rethinking what they need from a packaging manufacturing partner. So what are the key considerations before settling for one?

Cost of flexibility

Increased competition is creating a greater need for product differentiation and shelf appeal. To have the most attractive product however is a continuous process as with every design improvement, chances are the competition will react and in some instances up you. One of the financial decisions would therefore be considering the cost of changing label designs and minimum order quantities in cases where you have to use different designs for A/B testing to figure out what is more popular with customers. Other cyclic label changes (e.g holidays) also need affordability, otherwise each change is gonna leave a huge dent in the income statement and the board may not be happy. The partner should therefore be in a position to allow for flexibility at affordable rates.

How the partner will help you meet your profitability targets

From first principles, profitability will be determined by the difference between your cost of goods and your selling price. This makes reducing the cost of goods or increasing the selling price, or in some instances a mesh of the two, the only ways you could increase your profitability. In reality though, other factors like cash cycles affect profitability of your business. The cash cycle is greatly influenced by the operating cycle and one of the key determiners here is the supplier’s lead time. Going for a partner who offers the best credit terms and short lead times is therefore one edge you can get over your competition.

Sustainability

Sustainability is becoming a huge factor in packaging as companies strive to meet carbon footprint targets and respond to consumer need for green packaging as well as government policies to enforce sustainability and a circular economy. This is essential in keeping plastic in a value loop and even more important, keeping the environment free from pollution. Saving the environment is critical as according to the World Bank, out of the +2 billion tons of trash that are generated globally every year, 12% is plastic and 33% ends up in open landfills; something that needs to stop otherwise we would be compromising our next generations future and resource availabity. It is therefore important to make sure your partner is manufacturing recyclable packaging and is actively involved in circular economy.

Locally, it is easy for thinwall packaging consumer companies in East Africa to get a partner that fulfils all those considerations in Silafrica, the leading Fast Moving Consumer Goods packaging provider in Kenya and the region. Silafrica leverages modern machines from top companies like Netstal and Husky to offer the flexibility to try out different label designs affordably and achieve short lead times. With circular economy being one of its three main pillars, sustainability is at core, both in process and system levels. This enables thinwall packaging consumer companies to get access to affordable, attractive and recyclable thinwall packaging solutions; which is the holy grail.

ABOUT SILAFRICA: Silafrica has been the leading manufacturer and supplier of the most innovative and sustainable rigid plastic packaging solutions for beverage, food, personal and home care, and chemicals since 1967.

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