FAQs
Your questions, our answers
Questions

Wood lacquering is an ancient technique that involves applying multiple and successive layers of lacquer to wood to achieve a thick, perfectly smooth surface. Traditionally, Chinese lacquer used natural rubber, with drying times of several days between each layer. This demanding process could extend over several months.
It is common to confuse lacquer with a simple protective varnish; however, true lacquer requires numerous applications, often reaching more than one millimeter in thickness. Our exclusive “Crystal Lacquer” method involves between 28 and 32 layers, far exceeding the 2 to 4 layers of traditional varnish.
Real lacquer is carefully re-polished after the drying process and will retain its luster and shine over time. Often, cases are immediately re-polished after lacquer application, but this results in a less uniform surface and a noticeable loss of shine after a few months.
At Swisspack, we take our time to create a high-quality lacquered case.
Discover our boxes and our know-how.

There are several alternatives to ABS plastic injection (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) that are more environmentally friendly or better suited to specific needs. Here are a few examples:
1. Biodegradable Plastics and Bioplastics
PLA (Polylactic Acid): PLA is a bioplastic made from renewable resources such as corn or sugarcane. It is biodegradable under industrial conditions and is often used in 3D printing or packaging. However, it is less easy to inject than ABS.
Biodegradable Plastic: There are bio-based and biodegradable plastics that can degrade in a natural environment. This means that the product can break down, for example, in a forest. However, it tends to be more expensive.
New materials are regularly emerging on the market, however, and Swisspack will be able to guide you in your approach.
2. Bio-Based Composite Materials
Composite materials using natural fibers such as flax, hemp, wood waste, or cellulose mixed with bio-based resins can replace ABS in certain applications, offering a better ecological footprint while maintaining good mechanical performance. This is particularly recommended for small orders / quantities and for all shapes, even round ones.
3. Recycled Plastics
The use of recycled ABS plastic or other recycled polymers is an alternative that reduces the environmental impact compared to the production of new plastics. While the technical performance may vary, it remains a sustainable option. To comply with REACH and RoHS standards, a mixture of recycled plastic with an addition of “virgin” material will need to be used. This is the least expensive option and ideal for an initial step toward optimization. It is quick, low-risk, and requires no significant investment.

The benefits of such an approach are numerous:
– You meet your customers’ expectations
Meeting your customers’ expectations is the top priority. Today, more and more consumers are looking for responsible products and services. By responding to this growing demand, you strengthen customer loyalty and position yourself as a key player in your field.
– You enhance your brand image
By demonstrating a clear commitment to sustainability and responsibility, you can not only solidify the perception of your company but also attract new customers and partners who value these principles.
– You reduce risks
It is crucial to mitigate risks related to environmental, social, and governance issues. Anticipating and proactively addressing these risks contributes to the long-term resilience of your business and helps avoid potential crises.
– You stay ahead of regulatory changes
Staying ahead of regulatory changes is equally important. By anticipating new legislation, you prepare to meet future obligations, allowing you to avoid disruptions and penalties that could harm your operations.
– You strengthen employee engagement
Another fundamental aspect is enhancing employee engagement. By aligning your practices with ethical and sustainable principles, you provide your team with a sense of mission and purpose within your company, resulting in increased motivation and greater involvement in corporate projects.
– You differentiate yourself from the competition
Finally, standing out from the competition becomes a decisive advantage. By integrating sustainability into the core of your business strategy, you gain a clear competitive edge and distinguish yourself in a market where expectations for responsibility are continuously growing.
For more information, read our upcoming newsletters:
– 🌊 Single-use plastic will disappear, are you ready ? 🐢
– 🌍 Discover Sustainable Raw materials 🌳
– 💦 Improve your carbon footprint during manufacturing !
– 🚢 What modes of transport are most ecological ? 🚆
– ♻ Plan your packaging’s end-of-life during its conception 🗑

Yes, we can offer you comprehensive solutions that combine design expertise, production, and sustainable strategy.
In terms of design and production, we focus our solutions on the following criteria:
– Eco-friendly materials: Selection of sustainable materials to minimize environmental impact.
– Smart design & branding: Creation of innovative concepts to enhance your brand while optimizing packaging efficiency.
– Best production techniques: Utilization of the most advanced processes to ensure quality while reducing environmental impact.
– Innovative packaging solutions: Development of groundbreaking packaging concepts to meet market needs.
– Reusable packaging solutions: Design of durable and reusable packaging aligned with sustainability goals.
Feel free to contact us to discuss your various projects. We will leverage our expertise to assist you in this transition by providing concrete solutions to improve your carbon footprint.
For more information, read our upcoming newsletters:
– 🌊 Single-use plastic will disappear, are you ready ? 🐢
– 🌍 Discover Sustainable Raw materials 🌳
– 💦 Improve your carbon footprint during manufacturing !
– 🚢 What modes of transport are most ecological ? 🚆
– ♻ Plan your packaging’s end-of-life during its conception 🗑

Yes, we have an eco-design approach, and we consider the product’s lifecycle.
Here are some key steps:
– Reducing the weight and dimensions of the case: This helps lower its carbon footprint during transport, storage, and distribution. It is essential to innovate from the design phase to create elegant packaging while considering its size and weight.
– Giving a second life to your packaging: Design intelligent and innovative packaging that transforms into a functional item, such as a travel pouch, a jewelry box, an organizer, or a photo frame. Your customers will appreciate this original and practical approach.
– Reducing the number of materials used in manufacturing: Using fewer types of raw materials simplifies production and recycling. We streamline design and production processes to reduce the carbon footprint of your packaging.
Choosing materials based on the following criteria:
– Lightweight: The weight should be as light as possible to facilitate transport and reduce your carbon footprint.
– Recycled: Made from recycled materials, such as marine-sourced PET waste, wood waste, recycled paper, recycled leather or fabrics, and PLA (compostable bioplastic derived from plant sugars).
– Recyclable: Designed to be easily recyclable, such as cardboard, paper, leather, wood, and PET.
– Biodegradable: Capable of decomposing naturally or industrially.
– Renewable: Sourced from organic resources, whether animal or plant, that regenerate relatively quickly. Some examples include bamboo, FSC-certified wood, corn, and sugarcane.
– Plastic-free: Replaced with bioplastics or other sustainable materials. Bioplastics come from renewable resources, such as sugarcane, corn, or algae waste, and some of them can also be biodegradable.
– Minimal impact on health and the environment: Materials produced in compliance with international health and safety standards and regulations.
– Trustworthy labels: Certified by recognized authorities for environmental respect and worker health and safety.
Feel free to contact us; we are here to support you and offer customized solutions that combine luxurious design with an eco-design approach throughout the lifecycle of your product

Here is a non-exhaustive list of the most eco-friendly materials, distinguished by their durability, reduced environmental impact, and ability to regenerate:
1. Bamboo
Description: A fast-growing plant that can be harvested without destroying the ecosystem.
Advantages: Biodegradable, durable, and requires little water or pesticides for cultivation.
2. FSC-Certified Wood
Description: Wood sourced from sustainably managed forests, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
Advantages: Ensures the protection of biodiversity and workers’ rights.
3. Cork
Description: A natural material harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree.
Advantages: Renewable and recyclable.
4. PLA (Polylactic Acid)
Description: A bioplastic made from renewable resources like corn or sugarcane.
Advantages: Biodegradable and compostable under appropriate conditions.
5. Recycled Paper
Description: Paper made from recycled fibers.
Advantages: Reduces water and energy consumption compared to virgin paper production.
6. Lyocell (a type of viscose)
Description: Lyocell is also a regenerated textile fiber, but it is produced from wood cellulose in a more eco-friendly manner than viscose.
Advantages:
– Like viscose, cellulose is extracted from wood pulp.
– However, lyocell uses a non-toxic solvent (usually ammonia) in a closed-loop process. This means that almost all chemicals used are recovered and recycled, reducing waste.
– The manufacturing process of lyocell is considered more environmentally friendly than that of viscose because it generates less waste and uses less harmful chemicals.
7. Organic Cotton
Description: Cotton grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers.
Advantages: Less impact on soil and water, and safer for farmers.
8. Hemp Fabric
Description: Made from the fibers of the hemp plant.
Advantages: Very strong, requires little water and pesticides, and is biodegradable.
9. Recycled Metals
Description: Metals sourced from recycled products, such as aluminum or steel.
Advantages: Reduces the extraction of raw materials and decreases your carbon footprint.
Choosing eco-friendly materials helps reduce your carbon footprint, conserve natural resources, and promote sustainable practices in production and consumption. The importance of these materials extends beyond their manufacturing to their entire lifecycle, including end-of-life and recycling potential.
Read our newsletter on the subject of eco-friendly materials:

There are various ways to proceed:
1. Adapt Material Selection Based on Quantities:
Choosing materials according to production scale allows for optimal resource use. For larger productions, bioplastics provide an eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastics, while smaller, artisanal productions can benefit from more durable materials suited to that scale.
2. Reduce and Repurpose Production Waste:
This goal focuses on minimizing raw material losses and reusing residues to create new products. Repurposing waste adds economic value and reduces environmental impact, as seen with leather recycled from scraps. Repairing defective items instead of discarding them also reduces waste.
3. Design for Easy Disassembly:
Creating packaging that can be easily dismantled facilitates recyclability. Fewer components and biodegradable materials help achieve 100% recyclability and reduce landfill waste.
4. Avoid Hazardous Chemicals:
Sourcing materials free of toxic chemicals and adhering to international safety regulations protects workers and consumers from health risks. This measure also reduces environmental contamination.
5. Preserve Water Resources:
Water conservation and effective wastewater management are essential, particularly in the textile and leather industries. Partnering with manufacturers who prioritize water recycling and treatment helps protect water sources and ecosystems.
6. Manufacturing Location and Storage:
Prioritizing local manufacturing reduces the carbon footprint associated with transportation. Ensuring that production meets actual demand also helps avoid overproduction and supports local communities.
7. Fair Labor Practices:
Ensuring that production partners comply with international labor standards guarantees fair treatment for workers. This includes fair wages, non-discriminatory practices, and safety protections.
Read our newsletter on eco-friendly manufacturing processes:

– Transport maritime ou ferroviaire : Ces modes de transport sont moins polluants que le transport aérien ou routier et devraient être privilégiés pour réduire les émissions de CO2.
– Transport par voie terrestre (camions électriques ou hybrides) : Lorsque le transport ferroviaire n’est pas possible, optez pour des véhicules électriques ou hybrides pour réduire les émissions de gaz à effet de serre.
– Groupement d’expéditions : En regroupant plusieurs commandes dans une seule expédition, vous réduisez les trajets nécessaires et minimisez l’empreinte carbone.
Lisez notre newsletter sur le sujet des transports écologiques:
– 🚢 What modes of transport are most ecological ? 🚆

In this regard, it may be useful to consider the following questions:
– Do you recycle unused packaging stock?
– Have you considered offering reusable packaging?
– How can you help your customers recycle more effectively?
In-Store Sales:
– Inform your customer that taking the box packaging is optional and instead offer them a reusable travel pouch.
– Sell the box packaging separately and donate the proceeds to a relevant non-profit organization (e.g., reforestation, local school projects, professional training, etc.).
– Drive foot traffic by encouraging customers to return the packaging to the store for recycling. When they do, offer a small gift or make a charitable donation.
Usage:
– Find a way to give the box packaging a second life. During the design phase, consider a versatile design, such as a box that transforms into a pouch, jewelry box, organizer, humidor, etc.
– Provide an eco-friendly solution for its end of life: an easily “disassemblable” and recyclable box, or the option to return it to the store for proper recycling.
To learn more, read our newsletter on end-of-life packaging and eco-design.
– ♻ Plan your packaging’s end-of-life during its conception 🗑

Eco-design, or eco-conception, of packaging refers to a design approach that considers the environmental impact of packaging throughout its entire lifecycle. Here are the main aspects of eco-design in packaging:
1. Minimizing Environmental Impact
Eco-design aims to reduce the ecological footprint of packaging by considering various environmental factors, such as:
Resource Consumption: Using fewer raw materials and prioritizing renewable or recycled materials.
Energy: Reducing the energy used during manufacturing, transport, usage, and end-of-life.
CO2 Emissions: Evaluating and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions at each stage of the packaging lifecycle.
2. Material Selection
Eco-designers select materials that are:
Biodegradable or Compostable: Materials that naturally decompose without harming the environment.
Recyclable: Materials that can be recycled after use, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill.
Recycled: Made from already recycled materials, thus decreasing demand for new resources.
3. Waste Reduction
Eco-design seeks to minimize waste generated throughout the product’s lifecycle by:
Appropriate Sizing: Creating packaging that uses exactly the amount of material necessary to protect the product without excess.
Reusability: Developing packaging that can be used multiple times or transformed into other products.
4. Functional Design
Eco-design goes beyond environmental concerns and also considers:
Functionality: Packaging must meet the needs of protection, preservation, and transport of products.
Aesthetics: The visual appeal of the packaging while meeting sustainability criteria.
5. Lifecycle
An eco-design approach considers the entire lifecycle of packaging, including:
Production: Evaluating the environmental impact during manufacturing.
Transport: Optimizing weight and volume to reduce the carbon footprint during distribution.
Usage: Considering how consumers use the packaging.
End-of-Life: Planning for what happens to packaging after use, including recycling or reuse options.
Conclusion
In summary, eco-design in packaging aims to create packaging that is not only attractive and functional but also minimizes environmental impact. This approach requires careful thought regarding material choices, manufacturing processes, and waste management, thus contributing to a circular economy and sustainable development.
To learn more, read our newsletter on end-of-life packaging and eco-design:
– ♻ Plan your packaging’s end-of-life during its conception 🗑

Eco-design, or eco-conception, of packaging refers to a design approach that considers the environmental impact of packaging throughout its entire lifecycle. Here are the main aspects of eco-design in packaging:
1. Minimizing Environmental Impact
Eco-design aims to reduce the ecological footprint of packaging by considering various environmental factors, such as:
Resource Consumption: Using fewer raw materials and prioritizing renewable or recycled materials.
Energy: Reducing the energy used during manufacturing, transport, usage, and end-of-life.
CO2 Emissions: Evaluating and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions at each stage of the packaging lifecycle.
2. Material Selection
Eco-designers select materials that are:
Biodegradable or Compostable: Materials that naturally decompose without harming the environment.
Recyclable: Materials that can be recycled after use, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill.
Recycled: Made from already recycled materials, thus decreasing demand for new resources.
3. Waste Reduction
Eco-design seeks to minimize waste generated throughout the product’s lifecycle by:
Appropriate Sizing: Creating packaging that uses exactly the amount of material necessary to protect the product without excess.
Reusability: Developing packaging that can be used multiple times or transformed into other products.
4. Functional Design
Eco-design goes beyond environmental concerns and also considers:
Functionality: Packaging must meet the needs of protection, preservation, and transport of products.
Aesthetics: The visual appeal of the packaging while meeting sustainability criteria.
5. Lifecycle
An eco-design approach considers the entire lifecycle of packaging, including:
Production: Evaluating the environmental impact during manufacturing.
Transport: Optimizing weight and volume to reduce the carbon footprint during distribution.
Usage: Considering how consumers use the packaging.
End-of-Life: Planning for what happens to packaging after use, including recycling or reuse options.
Conclusion
In summary, eco-design in packaging aims to create packaging that is not only attractive and functional but also minimizes environmental impact. This approach requires careful thought regarding material choices, manufacturing processes, and waste management, thus contributing to a circular economy and sustainable development.
To learn more, read our newsletter on end-of-life packaging and eco-design:
– ♻ Plan your packaging’s end-of-life during its conception 🗑

The rolled wood technique allows for the creation of various types of items, including cases, pouches, displays, gifts, and cigar cases. This technique enables customization and the use of different wood species, allowing for original round shapes.
Rolled wood is eco-friendly because its carbon footprint is much lower compared to plastic or cardboard. It is both lightweight and durable, making it the only true ecological alternative to cardboard, plastic, and MDF for rigid cases. Plastic production requires significant energy, while paper and cardboard undergo fiber extraction, wetting, chemical bleaching, pressing, and drying. In contrast, wood is simply cut, dried, and ready for use. With veneer techniques, logs are sliced into sheets without saw marks or planing.
Ecological Advantages:
– The production of rolled wood uses 30 times less embodied energy than MDF and 100 times less than paper.
– It is four times lighter than carbon fiber, for example, weighing around 450 kg/m³ (depending on the wood type) compared to 1.8 tons/m³.
– It provides high durability with a thickness of only 2.2 mm.
– Enables innovative, lightweight, and compact shapes, often impossible to achieve with traditional wood, with minimal waste.
– Rolled wood isn’t machined; it’s built layer by layer (additive manufacturing), ensuring all material is used from cutting to the final product.
– The drying of a 0.4 mm-thick veneer sheet uses minimal energy compared to a solid 25 mm board, and veneer sheets can be rolled for transport, reducing the carbon footprint.
– It is ideal for a circular economy: wood is recyclable or easily degradable, and any waste is recyclable. Additionally, cultivated trees grow in just 40 years and have a positive impact on CO₂ emissions, as they absorb CO₂ during growth.
Discover our boxes and the rolled wood technique.
3D printing offers potential ecological advantages, including waste reduction and on-demand manufacturing.
However, its environmental impact largely depends on the materials used, energy sources, and manufacturing processes.
To maximize its eco-friendliness, we select sustainable materials such as PLA or bio-composites. This approach optimizes energy consumption and incorporates responsible practices throughout the production process.

Yes, we can establish a recycling system for materials as long as the brand commits to collecting the cases from their customers.
Each request will be subject to a preliminary assessment based on the country, type of case, and materials used.
Feel free to inquire about this service.

In packaging, the choice of printing techniques varies depending on the shape, materials, and design. For a plastic watch box in the shape of a helmet, we chose the water-transfer process to achieve the best result, both in terms of aesthetics and printing precision.
Water decals can be applied to all 3D surfaces: plastic, glass, metals, etc. This technique requires specific expertise and skill, as the various layers of decals are manually positioned but with precision to match the design.
The step-by-step process:
1. Surface preparation by cleaning and ensuring it is free from dust.
2. Application of the decal by immersion in a dipping bath or manual placement of the decal in the exact position according to the design.
3. Hot drying in an industrial oven.
4. Application of a protective varnish on the decal to achieve the desired finish, in this case, a glossy varnish to create a depth effect of the print patterns.
Read our newsletter on water slide decal.
Discover our know-how.
Since our inception, we have complied with current regulations by adhering to CITES, SA8000, REACH and FSC standards.
Currently, we hold several recognized certifications, including Ecovadis, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001, and we are signatories of the UN Global Compact.
In 2024, we also participated in the Climate Change Accelerator, further strengthening our commitment to combating climate change.
Our key partners share these standards of excellence and are also certified Ecovadis, SMETA, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 et FSC standards.
As part of our sustainability approach, we are considering obtaining new certifications and are currently exploring various options. By 2025, we will update this information on our website.
Discover our sustainability approach.