…creating fully recyclable bespoke mini propagator starter packs for
young gardeners
Mr Fothergill’s were looking to re-design their range of ‘Little Gardeners’ starter propagator packs, ideal for young gardeners or the smaller garden, that could also be easily packed and printed.
They chose to approach thermoforming packaging manufacturer, Macpac, with their highly efficient thermoforming machinery and low cost tooling, allowing for increased flexibility and highly cost-effective minimum runs from as little as 1000 units upwards.
It was a natural choice, with Macpac having a well-established reputation in the horticultural sector, helped by the close collaboration with a mail order nursery to create a distinctive and hugely successful plug Plantpac range for purchase on-line from their dedicated Plantpac website, along with seed tray propagator packs which they had been manufacturing for a number of years.
Mr Fothergill’s had collaborated with Macpac on earlier highly successful projects and were therefore well aware of their capabilities in designing bespoke packaging to brief, time and budget. With environmental protection also being a key driver, they were equally anxious to provide a plastic mini propagator tray that would safeguard their customers’ green credentials, whilst satisfying the product’s environmental promises.
For both Macpac and their customer, protection of the environment is a company-wide objective, and Macpac continually strive to eliminate any damaging effects across their range of product designs, with their considered choice of material, manufacture and in the distribution of products to customers. Macpac’s design therefore in this instance was to engineer a propagator tray that contained dimples in the base to retain moisture, the renewably-sourced material chosen was blended with 90% post-consumer recyclate (R-PET), the finished pack itself being 100% fully recyclable, and end-product weight was reduced without compromising on functionality.
Mr Fothergill’s was founded over 40 years ago and now supply to 3,000 garden centres, shops and retail outlets and through mail order direct to the end user. They have a long and acclaimed reputation in furthering the gardening aspirations of young people and of encouraging activity in the outdoors.
