




There were lots of thing we didn’t love about 2023 – rising paper prices, huge hikes in energy cost, creeping increases on all of our essential materials…. but in and amongst all of that there were things that we did love.
Number one big love is for our customers. Yes, I know that everyone says that but we actually mean it. We have some customers that have been with us on our journey since we first launched our website in 2006 (big kudos for sticking with us!) and some that have become regulars over the intervening years. Frankly, we would not be here without you and we wouldn’t want to be.
Halloween has experienced significant growth in popularity in the United Kingdom over the past few years. While it was once a relatively low-key event, Halloween has evolved into a major cultural occasion with widespread participation. But why have we suddenly gone gaga over ghosts and bonkers about bats? And how can we turn it in to a selling opportunity?
Diffusers have become a popular choice for enhancing the ambiance of homes and offices thanks to their range of fragrances. However, it's important to consider not just the diffuser itself but also the packaging that accompanies it and why quality packaging can elevate the fragrance experience.
Well-designed eco-packaging with attractive visuals, logos, and brand elements can capture the attention of potential customers. With Homeware and Home Fragrance packaging entering a crowded marketplace, visually appealing packaging is key to getting the attention of the customer. If you get it right, your business can differentiate from competitors and leave a memorable impression on customers.
Home fragrance products, like diffusers and scented candles, have become a popular choice for enhancing the ambiance of homes and offices thanks to their broad range of fragrances. However, in terms of marketing your home fragrance product it is essential to consider not just product but also the packaging that accompanies it.
Protection and Durability
One of the primary purposes of candle boxes and diffuser boxes is to protect the contents during storage and transportation. High-quality packaging prevents any damage to the candle, diffuser bottle, reeds or other components. By investing in robust packaging you can be sure that your products reach your customers in pristine condition.
At ALP we think crackers are not just for Christmas, but for anytime. Our 'fill your own' crackers make a memorable and fun packaging product and with two sizes currently available they are big enough to be stuffed with socks, soaps, sweet treats and all manner of other things!
Did you know that our eco-toners are Certified Food Safe?
Following a rigorous testing process the eco-toners developed by Ricoh, and which are used on our digital press base, have been awarded a Smithers Pira Certificate of Conformity assuring EU food packaging legislation compliance.
The toners comply with EU and FDA legislation for food packaging intended for all food types when used behind a functional barrier. No significant migration or set-off was observed and a risk assessment for Non Intentionally Added Substances (NIAS) associated with the toners was in compliance.
As an eco-friendly printer, the materials and consumables we use must be environmentally friendly whilst able to perform to the highest standards. Offering a wide range of digitally printed packaging products on choice of smooth and textured papers means that our toners must be able to perform to a high quality, combined with eco desires and safety considerations. The Food Safe Certification for our toners and digital printing allows us the confidence to promote short run, quality packaging to a much bigger audience.
If you would like to know more about our eco-friendly digital printing or enquire about any custom packaging please get in touch with us for more information.
A Local Printer has been a member of Carbon Club since 2021 and has annually offset 50 tonnes of carbon. This is in addition to the carbon offsetting programme for our paper and our and in combination means that we are a fully carbon neutral company with some room to spare!
For many of our customers knowing that they have a carbon neutral product is now more important that having their printing on recycled papers, and for those who wish to use it we have a new eco logo that can be added to any of our printed products.
Carbon neutrality is the single biggest thing we can all achieve, with plenty of carbon offsetting programmes available to businesses and individuals alike.
There are some simple steps that we can take to reduce the carbon we generate in our daily lives:-
1. Turn down your thermostat and water by one degree
2. Turn off lights and appliances when they are not being used
3. Reduce your food waste
4. Ensure your home is well insulated
5. Always have a reusable bag with you when you shop
6. Organise a car pool for employees and/or friends
7. Switch to LED light bulbs
8. Find a carbon reduction partner to work with
Periods of bad weather are a challenge to our couriers and on some occasions can result in damaged deliveries. With courier companies under pressure to get the delivery made on the first day, sometimes your parcels can end up left outside in the wet weather resulting in soggy tops and bottoms!
At Chez ALP we are doing our best to mitigate the occurrence of damp print by re-using the paper wrappers that our paper is delivered in.
Enlisting the assistance of our finishing staff these wrappers have been flattened (no mean feat) and hand trimmed to the perfect size for our boxes. So during periods of particularly wet weather our boxes will include our very own wet weather membrane to protect your print.
A perfect all round winner; Reduce and re-used courtesy of ALP and fully recyclable so you can pop it straight in to your recycling bin.
In 2020 we signed up for three different Carbon Capture programmes that covered all of the papers we use for wrapping paper, greeting cards, school books, leaflets, flyers, posters and all but a handful of products that use special papers.
In 2020 we did pretty well, especially considering that the world had shut down for Covid. But in 2021 we really got digging and notched up an incredible 267 trees planted, UK woodland replanting and tropical rainforest protection. So, a big thank you to all of our customers who kept placing orders and coming back for more, because without you we would not have bought the paper or printed the products and the world would be a little less green.
We’re continuing to add to our growing range of light packaging products and happy to introduce our new Greeting Card Boxes. Specifically designed to hold 8 – 10 sets of cards and matching envelopes in A6, and Square 148 x 148 & 120 x 120mm.
These boxes are digitally printed on Carbon Capture Recycled, Kraft or eco-packaging folding box board. All the papers print brilliantly well with high colour reproduction thanks to our digital print capabilities – which also means that the unique ALP Multiple Sorts option is available for these products.
Printed single or double sided the boxes are cleverly designed to slot together, saving on the cost of adding a glue seam. Simply crease, fold and tuck and you have a box that is sturdy and protective.