A CBD brand places an order for 1,000 printed boxes in an effort to keep packaging costs down. Well, six weeks later, a product detail needs a bit of an update, but hundreds of those cardboard and boxes are just sitting around in storage waiting for the scrap heap. The thing is, the packaging looks perfect but the info on the box is no longer relevant for the next production batch.
For small CBD businesses, this is a pretty expensive problem to deal with. Managing cardboard and boxes is not just about finding the lowest price per box, it’s about figuring out the right quantity to order and keeping the labeling accurate so that when your products do change you’re not stuck with a bunch of outdated stuff.
A 100 unit minimum order quantity, along with a planned 90 day review cycle for the labeling, can help cut down on leftover packaging ,but the key is to make sure you coordinate your printing schedules, your artwork revisions, and your inventory before placing your next order.
The reason CBD brands are often struggling with packaging waste
CBD businesses often produce small runs to test demand or to introduce new products or expand into different markets. It’s not uncommon to see their packaging requirements change before the product even sells out.
Consider a brand selling CBD topical products in three different variations; each one needs its own special printed carton, even though the box dimensions and overall look are the same.
If the company orders 1,000 boxes per variation but only sells 200 units of each one in the quarter, they end up with 2,400 unused cartons.
Now, these boxes aren’t necessarily junk just yet, but if the next production run requires a bit of a product info revision then some of them might become pretty much useless.
This creates a few operational problems:
- Lots of money is tied up in packaging inventory that is just sitting around.\
- Artwork changes will probably require additional printing expenses.\
- Storage space gets occupied by cardboard and boxes that might never get used.
Low MOQ custom CBD boxes lets businesses buy smaller quantities without breaking the bank, at least not on ridiculously high inventory levels.
Why 90 day label changes can be a real moneysaver for CBD brands
A 90 day label review cycle is not a benchmark that the FDA or any other regulatory body has set down in stone, it’s just a practical planning cycle for businesses to keep an eye on things.
A brand might review their artwork on a quarterly basis, or as needed, to check product details, batch info, laboratory documentation and applicable labeling rules.
During those reviews changes might involve:
- Product formulation or ingredient details.
- CBD concentration and product specific details.
- Batch ID and traceability.
- Business info or approved marketing statements.
- Applicable warnings and labeling requirements.
And then there is of course the issue of regulatory requirements which depend on product classification, jurisdiction, and intended use.
The FDA continues to have a pretty tight grip on what they’ll allow as far as CBD product labels are concerned so businesses should do their homework before approving any artwork.
Separate your permanent branding from changeable product info
One possible solution is designing your custom CBD boxes so that they have a consistent outer look, with suitable areas for approved variable info.
For example, a company might keep their brand identity, product family design and fixed packaging info across several production batches.
Then they could just slap on the batch specific details, where it’s allowed of course, through printing or labeling.
This approach helps to cut down on repeated artwork and label revisions for CBD packaging.
Working with a 90 Day CBD Packaging Cycle
Effective CBD packaging inventory management starts by asking a pretty straight forward question:
How many boxes will you realistically be using before the next round of artwork changes?
Let’s say a company expects to sell 40 units a month.
Over 90 days, that’s around 120 units.
If you order 1,000 cartons you’re going to be left with a lot of exposed inventory that could end up being revised anyway.
A smaller order that’s closer to what you actually need might make more sense, assuming you take into account production lead times and safety stock.
A handy formula to help with this is:
Packaging order quantity = Expected demand over the planning period + Safety stock The boxes you already have that are fine to use
For example, if a brand expects to need 120 cartons, wants to have 20 spare, and already has 40 boxes in stock that are good to go, then their calculated requirement is 100 boxes.
So a 100 unit order would be a reasonable place to start.
It’s also a good idea to keep track of your artwork version numbers, approval dates, and remaining stock by SKU. Without doing this, you can end up accidentally putting out old cartons.
Choosing Better Cardboard and Boxes
Reducing packaging waste isn’t just about ordering the right amount, the cardboard and boxes design also has a part to play.
CBD brands often use the same carton sizes across multiple product variations, especially if the product containers have similar dimensions.
Sharing a box design can mean you don’t need multiple cutting dies, and it makes future reorders a lot simpler.
Here are some things to consider:
- Standardised sizes: Where possible, use common carton sizes that let you protect your products without wasting materials.
- Artwork that adapts: Keep the variable stuff separate when you can.
- Inserts that help: Make your outer boxes flexible to accommodate different containers without having to redesign the whole thing.
- Keep it simple: Avoid fancy finishing processes that add cost to short orders.
When it comes to retail distribution, you can also design custom display boxes that fit your consistent product dimensions. This means different approved carton variations can slot into a shared display boxes configuration, as long as it meets the retailer’s requirements.
The end result is a much more manageable packaging system that works across production, storage and retail presentation.
Multiple Packages Helps with SmallBatch CBD Packaging
For CBD brands that are growing, your packaging supplier should be able to do more than just talk about printing costs.
Multiple Packages offers custom packaging design, structural development, prototyping, and printing solutions for businesses all over the US.
Their CBD packaging options and custom packaging services can help brands get started on thinking about box dimensions, artwork consistency, and production requirements.
Brands looking to do smaller orders can also get quotations for different quantities and compare material choices, design requirements, and reordering costs before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the smallest order I can put in for custom CBD boxes?
It’s not a straightforward answer, the minimum order quantity (MOQ) for custom CBD packaging varies wildly depending on the supplier, the kind of box you want, how you want it printed and finished. A 100unit order might just do the trick for some smallbatch production, but you’ll need to check that it’s available with the manufacturer.
Are 100unit MOQs good value for small CBD brands?
They can be, especially when you’re not sure what the demand is going to be like or when you’re changing packaging details all the time. Yes, the cost per box might be a bit higher, but you get to limit your inventory and the risk of ending up with packaging that you can’t use.
How often should I review my CBD packaging labels?
Some businesses make a good rule of thumb to review their labels every 90 days, but that’s not actually a rule. You should also have a review when any of your product details change, or when you need to update your approved claims or applicable requirements.
How do I keep my CBD packaging inventory from going out of date?
Keep track of approved artwork versions, keep an eye on the number of custom display boxes you’ve got left by SKU, forecast how many units you’re going to sell before you start ordering and coordinate label reviews with your reorder dates. Don’t order big runs of packaging that you know is going to change.
Cutting Down Packaging Waste For Consistent Print
Just because a packaging option is cheap, it doesn’t follow that it’s going to be the cheapest option in the long run.
If you’re running small batches of CBD products, being able to order in small quantities, controlling the number of times you change your artwork and keeping a realistic view of what your demand is going to look like, all of these can make a big difference.
Before you order your next batch of cardboard and boxes, take a good hard look at how many units you think you’re actually going to sell, and whether any of your product details are likely to change.
Pop onto the Multiple Packages website to talk about what kind of custom display boxes would work best for you.