How to create custom concentrate packaging boxes

Custom cannabis packaging lets you target a new niche in the market or cement your current position, especially when it professionally displays your brand image and proves the highest quality of the product. It applies to all forms of cannabis, including concentrates.

Here’s your guide on picking the right concentrate box packaging type and creating it with MYLARMEN.

Different concentrates with different needs

The first step to packaging is to find out any specific requirements for wax, shatter, budder, oil, or other concentrates you produce. Remember that:

• Wax and budder are soft and malleable. For them, you can pick any airtight and UV-resistant boxes you like. For example, it can be a polypropylene (PP) package with an integrated silicone gasket.
• Shatter and crumble are extremely fragile. So, your concentrate box packaging must-haves are rigid, cushioned boxes to nip breakage issues in the bud. You can also use foam inserts like EVA foam at 5 mm.
• Oils and tinctures are dense liquids. Here, you can adopt bottles with dropper caps, plus secondary packaging that shields them from light and heat.

For better barrier protection, no matter the product type, you should select materials that block oxygen, moisture, and UV light. It’s also a good idea to choose containers that hold up well to heat, especially for oils and shatter.

Aim for packaging designs that support accurate dosing, like pre-measured compartments or dropper caps for portion control.

Concentrate packaging box options

A proper package shouldn’t be too tight or too loose. Depending on the measurements of your concentrate, you should plan for a clearance of about 2 mm on all sides to determine the best final dimensions for the container.

Think of the ease of opening, resealing (if applicable), and safe storage. The box structure should protect the product from damage and, at the same time, remain user-friendly. User experience is a top priority, from opening to storing. Check if the design facilitates easy access while maintaining safety features.

Concentrate packaging boxes can be made of paperboard or cardboard if you don’t plan to have any heavy inserts inside. If you’re going to use glass pieces inside the box or ship your goods to distant locations, corrugated materials are worth it.

And so are recycled materials. Eco-friendly or recyclable options can be a compelling selling point. To make the consumer experience smooth and pleasant, you can add magnetic closures, slide-out trays, or lift-off lids.

Other options include:

• Small jars
• Silicone containers
• Tubes

Develop a precise dieline (a flat template that shows where to cut and fold the packaging) based on your box dimensions. You can use software like ArtiosCAD or Adobe Illustrator. Add an extra 3 mm bleed area beyond the cut edge for printing variations, and a 5 mm safe margin inside the dieline so critical artwork or text isn’t trimmed off.

Legal and regulatory requirements

Cannabis companies can’t disregard federal-level and state-level regulations, so it’s highly recommended to consult a legal expert about the specific requirements in your location. Concentrate packaging boxes are always subject to strict safety, labeling, and presentation criteria. Here are the common requirements that will apply to your concentrates and how you can sell and ship them:

• Child-resistant (CR) and tamper-evident features are legally mandated in all states. For compliance, you must prevent accidental access by children and make sure there are telltale signs if your packaging has been opened before.
• Labeling is of paramount importance. You must use labels for concentrate information, potency levels (THC/CBD), ingredient lists, health warnings, and usage instructions.
• There may be certain design restrictions. Some areas specify limits on colors, fonts, or imagery that you can use on concentrate boxes to keep underage consumers from being interested in your concentrates.

More stringent requirements may apply in your state.

Brand identity and values

Consider who you’re selling to and how your packaging should mirror your brand’s image. To make the grade here, you should establish your brand story, identify which values and qualities to highlight, and know your target audience.

Many design solutions and techniques can help you pull off brand reflection. Get inspiration from the color palettes, fonts, images, and designs you admire. This can help communicate your vision to designers or agencies. Provide them with your preferred color scheme, logo, and concentrate photos.

Prepare artwork in the recommended file formats (usually vector files like AI or EPS) to ensure crisp printing. Double-check that all elements align correctly with your dieline.

Before moving from designing a concentrate packaging box online to mass production, play it safe with physical prototypes. They are like the real-life version of your design that you can use to test the durability, functionality, brand reflection, and effectiveness of CR features embedded within your boxes.

Production and quality control

Before full-scale production, always ask for pre-production samples or prototypes. They can help with all box types and materials. For example, if you’ve opted for a concentrate packaging box with a 300 gsm coated paperboard or corrugated cardboard with a B-flute profile, prototypes are your practical way to verify that the dimensions match your dieline (with a 3 mm bleed and 5 mm safe margin).

Test the prototypes for rigidity, UV protection, and airtight sealing. If you’re adopting PP containers with silicone gaskets, they have to pass drop and environmental tests (e.g., resistance to various temperature/humidity cycles). You can also use them to test CR features.

If your boxes are required to have temperature control or moisture barrier properties, carry out standardized exposure tests on your prototypes to ensure they perform well in a controlled room.

Custom design and manufacturing

You can get started with both processes for cannabis concentrate packaging with MYLARMEN. Here’s how it works:

1. We get in touch to understand what concentrates you produce and determine the desired packaging protection and compliant features.
2. We pick the best design and materials to help your brand keep its position in the market.
3. MYLARMEN specialists create custom design and manufacturing schedules and keep you informed during each stage.

To entrust us with making custom concentrate packaging boxes and get a quote for your project, contact us.