THE RYDAL COLLECTION: DESIGNED TO ELEVATE THE CIRCULARITY OF PACKAGING
It is fair to say that design with sustainability in mind is high on the agenda for brands in every sector. In today’s world, the focus on the provenance of products, and leaving little to no trace on the planet means that paper products are emerging as a shining example of best practice for circular design - and James Cropper is a business that has been focused on helping brands to elevate circularity within their packaging design.
With the Rydal Packaging Collection of sustainable packaging, James Cropper is creating premium papers for packaging with a strong environmental pedigree, through fibre selection that both keeps materials in use and helps the regeneration of natural systems, today and for future generations.
There are many paper collections that are designed for multi-applications, however, Rydal, on the other hand, is a product range designed specifically for packaging – be that a folding box, shopping bag or box covering application.
The natural uncoated surface finish of Rydal gives packaging a soft understated elegance. Suited to all major print and finishing techniques, the paper range demonstrates superb reproduction of graphic elements and it embosses and folds beautifully. The paper's inherent surface and tensile strength characteristics ensure that it converts without any cracked edging: a key point for packaging.
As well as fresh fibres from responsible forestry sources, the range includes papers with 100% upcycled fibre content, and even rescues cotton fibre from old denim jeans to deliver Rydal Apparel – a triumph in terms of fibre blending and highly commended in the 2022 UK Packaging Awards.
The Rydal Collection showcases the extraordinary possibilities of fibre, particularly in a luxury market where there has always been debate over whether sustainability means a compromise on aesthetics. As this range of paper for packaging shows, there are innovations and materials out there which can help brands do better and meet the growing consumer demand for better.
If the product packaging reflects the values of the brand, and helps to deliver a premium experience with an eco-friendly story – that’s a win win, and something that James Cropper is passionate about.
The outcome of a plethora of industry design awards, which celebrate excellence in design and provide a source of inspiration for the global packaging community, falls in line with research commissioned by James Cropper with UK designers, that environmental consciousness is one of the biggest influences on packaging design in recent years.
From the world’s first technology to upcycle used coffee cups, to the industry leading incorporation of used jeans into fully recyclable paper for packaging - transforming waste into beautiful paper is at the core of James Cropper’s FibreBlend Upcycled Technology mission.
The Rydal Packaging Collection, whose name is inspired by a small village and water in the English Lake District, addresses the need for sustainable papers for retail packaging that do not compromise quality or beauty. Currently available in large format sheets for sample dummies and print tests, the collection includes a choice of blacks and whites, with custom colours and textural finishes available to brands as part of James Cropper’s Tailor Made service.
