How can we judge
whether a product’s packaging design is good?
First and foremost
does it provide adequate protection
for the product?
Next,
are we finding ways to make it 100% recyclable
and achieving our sustainability goals?
The conventional way
is to use Styrofoam
or other cushioning materials
to protect bulky items
For example,
gaming PCs tend to be heavier
So, to protect them
EPE is often the first choice
because it’s easier to assemble
and easier to implement
Even if we were to use 100% recycled foam
it is still ultimately a plastic material
We show users the recyclability of the packaging material
when they get the device
What's the first recyclable material
to come to mind?
Paper
We then incorporated paper folding
and developed a paper molded pulp design
that includes many recyclable materials
that can be reused as part of a circular economy
Normally, structural designs made with EPE
can be entirely automated in production
However, when using paper instead
maintaining structural integrity and protection
becomes a challenge
There are also many more angled corners and slots
which will require a massive amount of labour
to complete the packaging process
The AIO is highly upgradeable
when fully upgraded
the entire machine weighs 7.7 Kg
How would you ensure that the display
wouldn’t be damaged if dropped?
This was a huge challenge
for the Veriton Vero AIO packaging team
Handles are necessary for these larger devices
such gaming laptops and AIO
Currently, they are made of plastic
However, if we replace them with paper
they can also help us streamline the production process
as they will be assembled up front
At the start,
we weren't confident that paper materials
could support the weight of some heavier laptops
around 5-6 Kg
since plastic typically can bear more weight
than its paper counterpart
Adjustment takes time
and using the paper molded pulp approach
requires a mold making design
This process often requires
going through many cycles
day in and day out
before ultimately arriving at the best result
Packaging is a part of the product experience
On top of a better unboxing experience
we asked ourselves
was there anything else we could think about
such as extending the usability of the packaging
How about the accessory box
for the power cord or adapter?
Usually, this is just an empty box and partition
With some ingenuity, it could act as a cooling stand
giving it practical functionality
There is not a one-size fits all solution
for all companies
For Acer,
figuring out 'our' solution
involved collaborating with suppliers
and brainstorming new methods
of production and packaging
to fit our environmentally focused needs
For over the last decade or so
we've really grown together with Acer
through different ways
like close collaboration, brainstorming
and mutual support
We've come a long way with Acer
In the beginning,
packaging design was also new to us
Working closely with Acer provided new knowledge
and inspired us to further our ideas
Our cooperation with Acer
gave everyone an opportunity to grow
In the past, people would ask me
why would not just choose EPE?
Why paper-folding?
Why are you working so hard
when you could have been finished in a few days?
Because since 2013,
we've always insisted on being more sustainable
And we believe this is the best way overall
Initially,
only the design team and a few product managers
would focus on packaging design
They would study the approach to make packaging better
and more sustainable
More and more of us
started to acknowledge that
packaging design is not just about "packaging"
If we could reduce a bit of plastic
or even do away with unnecessary materials altogether
it would create substantial positive change
for our environment and planet
It's only possible for us to be where we are now
thanks to the support of ODMs
the suppliers, and our executive team
Otherwise, we may have only made it halfway
In everyday life,
we feel more connected to nature and our surroundings
We want to leave a better environment
for the next generation