Sarek Perfume

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Sarek Perfume

Signe Stjarnqvist | Nour Alhalabi | Mahdi Rezaie

Brobygrafiska, Sweden

Print / Graphic

Category Top Talent

A prototype for a sustainable perfume bottle, using cardboard.

Sarek Perfume

Students: Signe Stjärnqvist, Nour Alhalabi, Mahdi Rezaie

University: Brobygrafiska

Lecturer: Sara Larsson

Brief

We were meant to create a premium packaging product with a focus on sustainability and innovative design solutions. Together with BillerudKorsnäs and their annual PIDA competition we had the opportunity to dive into the packaging industry and come up with a solution to the unsustainable material that we are currently using, with the hopes of how packaging products will look like in 2030.

About

Our goal has been to challenge today’s usage of unsustainable materials. The idea was to create a luxurious perfume brand using materials from BillerudKorsnäs, challenging the current ideals of what luxury packaging and products are, especially in the perfume industry and their choice of using heavy glass bottles.

Problem

Perfume is a luxury indulgence most of us use, but that indulgence should not affect our planet or its inhabitants. Perfume bottles today are mostly made out of glass which is not a sustainable material to use. To create glass, ovens are run at high temperatures for decades without being turned off. Even though glass can be recycled, the biggest problem is that they are heavy and fragile when transporting. Meaning that glass bottles can't be tightly packed which results that more transports are needed, which is why glass is not the sustainable solution to our plastic problem.

Solution

We have created a sustainable perfume bottle made out of cardboard from BillerudKorsnäs, the material chosen is Artisan 270GSM and 235GSM. It is lighter and easier to transport which resolves the main issue with the heavy glass bottles. By using a lighter cardboard for both the perfume bottle and the box, we also reduce the energy spent on creating the material whilst maintaining structural stability and a premium texture. Sarek is a company working toward sustainability futures every step of the way, with fair-trade products, sustainable farming practices and 100% of ingredients derived from natural sources.

Our brand identity is inspired by the mountain range of the same name, Sarek, located in the northern parts of Sweden, famous for its icy beauty and untouched terrains. We have built our concept around this breathtaking place, which is reflected in both our logo, typography and especially in our packaging.

When talking about packaging it is important to remember that it is an experience that is meaningful to the consumer. To attract we wanted the outer box to have an interesting form just as the perfume bottle inside. Both of our packaging outcomes are inspired by mountains and their shapes, which is reflected in our packaging construction. However, it is at the same time important to keep the unboxing sensation as well as the surprise effect when they see the innovative perfume bottle. What we have created is an unboxing experience in every step along the way, from receiving the box, to opening it as well as a surprise for the buyer at the bottom of the box – a thank you note directly addressing them to create an everlasting bond.