Values, Vision & Mission

We are a values-first company, however, not only are we driven by our values, but a clear vision and mission. How we envision the future of FACER: Be known as the single authority in empowering progressive brands and captivating their consumers globally. By solving complex challenges and creating the most compelling, ecological packaging that facilitates an unforgettable connection.

The Mission to Achieve the Vision

There are four components to our Mission:

Challenge & Educate

Work in partnership with brands that are at the right stage in their packaging journey to be open to ‘package differently’, solving complex challenges in highly collaborative, educational, creative and sustainable ways.

Engage & Innovate

Proactively engage clients in ongoing research and development of new products that are highly creative in structural design, packaging process, print and decoration. Fill the FACER ideas bank, register intellectual property wherever possible.

Underpin every single communication and manufacturing touchpoint with relentless proficiency. Always sharpening our tools to facilitate clean execution and dynamic delivery, end-to-end. We do exactly as we say we are going to, when we say we are going to.

Share & Contribute

Attract more brands by making our beliefs, ideas and achievements known. Whilst using FACER as a vehicle to positively impact our shared local, national and global environments and the wildlife that inhabits them. As without them, we would not exist.

Values Present Daily

Every day our values are present throughout the factory. Equally, they are a fundamental “why” we work with the brands we work with and are openly communicated to our clients. They are a constant, that also get celebrated monthly with our team Values in Action Champion. 

This is FACER:

F is for Family

Values learned within a traditional family unit, typically those of high moral standards & discipline… 

• We are one single FACER unit, related by purpose & cause. 
• We are a team, not a collective of individual players. 
• We play to our strengths whilst tackling our weaknesses. 
• We practice & refine our skillset. 
• We support each other in our development.

A is for Authentic

Of undisputed origin & not a copy; genuine… 

• We are FACER & we do not allow norms to dictate or limit our beliefs or behaviors. 
• Negativity & egos do not enter the FACER unit. 
• FACER’s soul becomes dyed with the colour of its thoughts. 
• We maintain unwavering faith that we can & will succeed. 
• We have the discipline to confront the facts, whatever they might be.

C is for Collaborative

The action of two or more individuals working together to produce something in order to complete a task or achieve a goal… 

• We challenge ourselves, our clients & our audience. 
• We educate ourselves, our clients & our audience. 
• We engage each other, our clients & our audience. 
• We serve each other, our clients & our audience. 
• We are willing to do whatever it takes & dismantle barriers, we never create them.

E is for Explorative

Serving in or intended for exploration for the purpose of discovery. To investigate closely; to scrutinize; to examine… 

• We create. 
• We learn. 
• We educate. 
• We fail. 
• We win.

R is for Responsible

The state or fact of being responsible, answerable, or accountable for something within one’s power, control, or management… 

• We know that how we do one thing reflects how we do everything. 
• We live & die by our ability to successfully deliver for our clients. 
• We do exactly as we say we are going to, when we say we are going to. 
• We enjoy the freedom that comes from delivering on our promises. 
• We make all decisions with the future sustainability of our actions at their core.

If these values align with your consumer brand and you’re frustrated with your packaging – get in touch.

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How video shows what we really do

With our videographer friends Olympix Media we capture a whole host of video content. But, the best performing videos which you can view on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube (yes, we’re on all of those social media platforms) are those showing our KOMORI presses and BOBST finishing machinery in action. 

You can see our factory floor producing printed folded packaging. Blank sheets of board enter the press and strikingly printed sheets exit. These same sheets get cut and creased and then enter the glue line where they are folded and glued and brought to life. And this is all captured on film, every variety of packaging we produce and it has been mesmerising our online audience. 

How video helps us explain

Talking head video has allowed Luke and the team explain directly how things work at FACER. From answering frequently asked questions such as ‘what’s your minimum order quantity’ to going into detail about different print finishing techniques, for example embossing and debossing. By educating our online audience through video they can make more informed choices about their packaging.

How video creates a stronger connection

We are in the fortunate position to produce packaging for amazing brands, packaging we showcase in our videos. Now, when we started doing this we never envisioned the impact it would have. The brands we work with have not only liked these videos, they have shared them onto their platforms. One of the best comments we’ve ever had was when Co-Founder of PerfectTed, Marisa Poster called a video featuring their matcha packaging ‘a packaging thirst trap’.

How video content makes us more fun

Chris Coote, Co-Founder of Olympix Media comes to us with a bunch of ideas (some of them pretty crazy) and somehow he convinces us as a team to do them. And you know what, it makes us laugh, it makes us cringe sometimes too, but mostly laugh. When we share these ‘silly’ videos we show the heart of FACER and team who’s number one value is FAMILY. 

Binge our video content and see exactly why we love it.

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Four colour litho printing

Traditional lithographic printing takes four colours: cyan, magenta, yellow and black. From these four colours creates a full spectrum of colour. The printing process sees your chosen packaging material pass through four printing plates each with your graphic design in the four colours. At the point of setting up your project to print, the colour is inspected by our expert team and digitally measured for ink weights and densities. This colour specification is then saved and used every time your packaging is printed, ensuring outstanding colour quality and consistency.

Pantone colour matching

You can take your colour matching one step further. Achieve outstanding colour by choosing a Pantone colour reference for brand and spot colours. This enables you to have a specific colour that can be used in the physical and digital world. At FACER. we use Pantone X-Rite eXact. This is a digitally controlled colour matching system that measures a Delta-E reading to an ISO tolerance. Guaranteeing not only a stunning colour but a colour that will be recognisably you, whether on a shelf in store or on a social media post.

Endless colour with foil blocking

Now, if you want to amp up your colour, why not choose to print finish your packaging with foil blocking. Often, this gets mistaken for just being metallic, but truthfully you can not only choose from a huge array of colour, you can also choose a variety of finishes: metallic, gloss, pearlescent, satin, and matt. This can be used to create visual highlights that are difficult to ignore. Another way to achieve outstanding colour for your packaging.

Multiple levels of colour

Whether you use traditional litho print, Pantone spot colour or the decorative finish of foil blocking, you can be confident with the colour that will be achieved at any or all these levels to make your packaging uniquely your brand. Are you ready for colourful packaging? Get in touch.

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Why add gift packaging to your range

There are multiple reasons as to why you should add gift packaging to your range. If you have a range of products that complement each other and are likely to be purchased together, create a gift pack. Or you have an everyday product that needs a spotlight during the gifting season, consider adding a gift with purchase and create a gift pack. Perhaps you have specialist products produced for the gifting season, create a gift pack. Make your consumer feel like they are making a special gift choice with a greater perceived value (whether it’s for someone or themselves!), by elevating the packaging for key dates in the year and increase your sales at the same time.

How to elevate your gift packaging

The most impactful way to elevate your gift packaging is through structural design and decorative finishing. Make your products are the hero by displaying them with smartly engineered plastic-free paper-based fitments. Ensuring your products are secure and enticing in equal measure. Gift packaging is also the perfect opportunity to elevate your packaging design with print finishing. Flourish with foil blocking, add sophistication with spot gloss varnish, a bit of bling with blind emboss, and present it all beautifully with bold print. Really showcase your brand to the max. More is definitely more when producing gift packaging.

Repurpose your gift packaging

It’s easier than you think to update your gift packaging for different gifting seasons. Our top tip is to keep the structure the same and let the graphic design and print finishing do the heavy lifting. Switch from a festive metallic foil to a romantic red, or a pretty pearlescent, or even striking monochrome. Change up the messaging to your new target audience. Even swap the products to better suit the season. A cost effective way to achieve seasonal or promotional changes on your gift packaging is by adding a sleeve that carries the seasonal or occasion messaging.

Is gift packaging for you?

Most brands can benefit from the impact of gift packaging. If you want to know more about how you can achieve this, book a consultation with the team.

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Step 1 in packaging production is printing

Your chosen material will arrive in sheet form, ready for the first step. In order to print your chosen packaging design, the printing plates need to be originated. The plates we use for the lithographic printing process are the Kodak Sonora Process Free plates. These sustainable plates, save time, money and water (and you will never see plate origination costs from FACER.).

Alan and James will then prepare our Komori lithographic printing presses, typically with at least four inks. The lithographic CMYK printing process consists of the four colours: cyan, magenta, yellow and key (black). Each unit of the press is prepared with vegetable oil based inks. You can also include further colours, by using specially formulated inks to create particular Pantone colours or entirely bespoke mixes unique to your brand. The perfect way to truly translate your brand to colour. Now is time for your chosen material to travel through each unit, the plates and rollers transferring each colour, building your design until it looks like the artwork you signed off with Justin.

Step 2 in packaging production is converting or print finishing

The next step is all about decorating and transforming. If you have chosen to enhance your design with one or more of the many print finishing techniques available from FACER.:

• Foiling
• Coating
• Embossing
• Debossing
• Die-cutting
• Varnishing

This is when it will be applied, directly onto the printed sheets. If you want to learn more about print finishing, we explain it in detail in our blog post: What is print finishing? The flat sheets are now ready for transformation.

Step 3 in packaging production is cut & crease or die-cutting

Using a flatbed BOBST and a tool called a cutting forme, this is where the structure of your packaging comes into existence. Each sheet is precisely cut and creased to ensure the printed design will form once assembled as it should. This includes specialist cuts such as perforations and scores. To eradicate waste, we print as efficiently as possible, to get the most out of every single sheet of material. We remove all excess, and the flat cut-out pieces are ready for the next step.

Step 4 in packaging production is folding and gluing

The step where the 3D magic happens (one of the best machines to watch in action!). On the BOBST folding and gluing machine we fold and glue the flat, printed and cut die-cut blanks to create the finished folding carton packaging. We always deliver the packaging as a glued, flat structure, which passes under a compression belt to ensure the glue bonds securely. This process combines speed and precision, completing up to 14 units of packaging every second.

This is the final manufacturing step in the FACER. Packaging process. We put it through quality control before sending it to our clients for packing. We can even handle contract packing, placing your products directly into your packaging.

Every single step happens at FACER. HQ in Leeds, Yorkshire. Do you want British manufactured packaging for your brand?

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Client’s internal monologue before working with FACER.

How do we create packaging that differentiates our brand from our competitors? That engages our consumers effectively? That is still environmentally responsible and sustainable? If, we alter the way we package our products, into something more sustainable, will we compromise on product presentation? Will we lose consumer engagement? Will we lose product sales? It’s OK! We’ve got you.

The consistent sustainable packaging challenge

Drum roll for the eradication of single-use plastic. That’s right our clients have challenged us more than once to remove single-use plastic from their packaging ranges, and we’ve transformed them into fully recyclable, paper-based packaging instead. But, this is not a one-size fits all approach, because your brand still needs to stand out on the shelf and you need to feel confident there will be no loss in sales.

Rainbow Dust sustainable packaging case study

Rainbow Dust, manufacturers of specialist bake and cake decorating products came with packaging that included plastic clamshells and blister-packs. The brief was as follows:

• Retain the existing product presentation
• Retain the marketing real estate of each packaging format
• Future-proof for scalability, producing formats viable for future machine automation
• Incorporate the evolved branding into the structure of the packaging design
• Be unique within the cake decorator sector

We used a 5th-panel folding carton structure to retain the product presentation and marketing real estate. We then adapted the folding cartons to fit a wide range of product types and sizes from tubes of food colouring gel to pots of food colouring powder and larger packs for full product ranges. Despite this difference within the packaging range, the branding remained consistently strong with a featured ‘heart’ aperture revealing the primary product in every pack.

Louise Wane, Managing Director of Rainbow Dust had this to say about the project: “I can only describe working with FACER as having been an innovative experience. We came to them with a problem. We needed to rebrand everything to bring our brand and our products back to life. Not only did they work with us creatively, they presented us with a full solution that structurally encapsulated our brand. They were the only supplier that approached us with an answer that took who we are as a brand and incorporated that story into the packaging. I couldn’t recommend them enough in respect of their pace, creativity, customer service and delivery. Nothing short of exceptional.”

Mitsubishi POSCA Paint Marker sustainable packaging case study

Any well established craft cupboard will have POSCA Paint Markers. They are iconic in the world of stationery. So, when long-term client Mitsubishi whispered to us (following a successful eradication of single-use plastic from blister packs for their pen brand Uni-ball) it’s time to go plastic-free for POSCA – we jumped at this opportunity. What was the brief?

• Remove clear plastic acetate cartons from the POSCA packaging range
• Retain the existing product presentation and marketing real estate of each packaging 
• Consider future-proofing scalability with formats viable for future machine automation
• The structural packaging design should incorporate the ability to stand upright and have tamper evidence
• The final product specification should be decorative and enhance consumer perceived product value

This was achieved with a conventional folding carton structure made from FSC certified, mono material pack that is fully recyclable. The structural packaging design incorporates the ability to stand as well as tamper evidence. Visually, an aperture has been included to reveal the primary products, enhancing the life-size printed versions on the pack. Printed using oil-based inks and water-based coatings.

Just two examples of the eradication of single-use plastic, swapped for sustainable and recyclable paper-based packaging. No need to be scared of losing sales with sustainable packaging.

Is it time to rethink your packaging? Let’s talk.

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Add extra depth to your story

The raw material you choose for your brand’s packaging is just one of the many elements to weave into telling your brand’s story. A paper with its own brand story is G.F Smith’s Extracted. It is a dynamic combination of chemistry and artistry. Taking disposable paper coffee cups destined for landfill and transforming them into beautiful paper and then transformed into beautiful packaging. A 100% recycled paper, that can be recycled again.

Organic alternative 

Instead of tree pulp, Gmund Paper produce hemp paper. The industrial production of this paper is resource-saving, high-quality, durable and recyclable. Just one field of hemp yields up to five times as much paper as a forest of the same size. Producing folding cartons with 100% hemp paper, creates not only a visual impact, but a tactile one too. It creates a pillowy soft finish that invites touch. 

By-products are beautiful 

The idea of using waste to produce paper, would have once upon a time, meant an unattractive prospect. Not now. Notpla’s (not plastic) packaging solution was founded in 2019 with a team of designers, chemists, engineers and entrepreneurs working to solve unnecessary single-use plastic usage. A cause very important to us here at FACER. Manufactured using the by-products remaining from the industrial processing of seaweed, because of this the paper produced has a distinct surface finish. That tells its own story.

Sustainable packaging swaps

There is an ocean of alternative sustainable packaging materials available for your packaging. So, do not be afraid to swap traditional paper for something equally sustainable and more unique. That better suits your brand and your brand story. Do you want to experience these materials? Request a sample here.

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Who is guilty?

The main culprit is packaging with a matt or high gloss finish. Why? 

Because (and the brands may not even know this is happening) packaging manufacturers are achieving this finish with a plastic laminate film. 

Now, you can test your packaging, with a tear test, just take a corner and tear, you’ll soon know if there is a thin film of plastic laminate on it or not. Frustratingly you can achieve a high gloss and matt finish in a completely sustainable way with water-based coatings.

BAN THE LAM! 

Ideally, packaging manufacturers would not offer or use this process. But in the meantime, if you’re not working with FACER we strongly urge you to understand all the processes your packaging is going through – especially if you’re making any sustainability claims.

More sustainable choices

Our top tips for highly sustainable packaging that does not compromise on creativity for brands are this:

• Ditch single-use plastic 
• Pick paper-based
• Use raw material from sustainable sources
• Say no to plastic laminate film 
• Say yes to highly decorative print and finishing that doesn’t impact recyclability
• Remember and seek to reduce your carbon footprint

Take an eco-conscious approach to your printed packaging

We achieve an eco-conscious approach by gaining certification which will improve the sustainability of your packaging, including: FSC® Certification, ISO 9001 Quality Management Certification, ISO 14001 Environmental Management Certification, and World Land Trust Carbon Balanced Printer Certification.

Plus, we belong to bodies which hold us accountable for improved practices: Sedex, BPIF (British Printing Industries Federation), and Living Wage Employer.

That’s not all, we have adopted better processes: vegetable oil based inks, chemical free pre-press, alcohol free printing, minimal water usage, and water-based coatings.

Finally, the factory is now completely run on renewable energy.

Do you want to swap to a more sustainable and eco-conscious packaging solution, that is definitely recyclable? Get in touch.

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How it all began

Before we get onto packaging bottoms and lids let’s understand what a folding carton is first. Did you know the term folding carton has been used since the 19th century? Now, we’ve not been producing folding cartons since the 1800’s, we have however since 1938. You could say we know our stuff.

When we’re talking about a folding carton, we’re referring to a box made from paperboard AKA box board AKA solidboard, a heavier weight paper. The most common folding cartons are: a straight tuck, a reverse tuck and a crash lock or lock bottom box (also known as envelope base in the UK).

Let’s talk bottoms

A crash lock bottom for your packaging has many benefits. It offers quick and easy auto assembly. Ideal for heavier objects as it is strong and stable. Plus, a secure and tamper evident base. However, not commonly used in conjunction with machine-automated packing processes. That’s where a classic straight tuck comes into its own (or even a skillet, but that’s a conversation for another day!).

To really stand out on the shelf, why not give your packaging feet. Yes, feet. This will enhance the stability of your packaging, especially when stored on the shelf. Not only this, it helps capture attention as a non-standard packaging structure. Despite, it being more unusual the setup is effortless.

Put a lid on it

We’re going to talk about box closures. Now, you may think, you just open and close a box lid. No! There is so much more to it than that. Subtle considerations surrounding your product and its packaging journey. 

One of the most common locking systems for the tuck-flap on a folding carton lid is the ‘slit-lock’. What is slit-lock? It is when there are tiny slits either side of the tuck-flap. You would have definitely seen this in action. So, why would you use this type of lock for your closure? It is ideal if you want your box to gently lock and not easily reopen without some effort from the consumer.

An alternative to slit-lock is the friction lock. This differs, as it does not have the slits either side of the tuck-flap. Perfect, if you want your consumer to be able to experience the primary product in retail and then re-close the carton (think smelling a beautiful candle) or keep the packaging to house multiple products in that need to be accessed time and time again.

But, that’s not all

All of these types of folding carton can be produced at our site in Leeds, UK. And more… We love to think outside of the box and can structurally engineer variations that will work for your product. Get in contact if you’re ready to package different.

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Print finishing refers to the actions performed on your sheets of chosen raw material / board stock once the print process has taken place. 

At FACER this includes the below:

Die-cutting

Structure or structural packaging design, is a an excellent way to differentiate your products from your competitors. Die-cutting is what makes it happen during the production process, and gives you the opportunity to add interesting, even brand storytelling, shapes to your packaging. 

Use it to reveal your product sure, but also showcase accents of your brand. You can even display some clever messaging that you want your consumer to communicate with straight away. 

For example, one of our clients have used this technique to communicate the inspiration behind their products. With an architectural cut-out that conveys the country of origin (also showcasing a reveal of the brand’s logo within) adding depth to the fragrance’s story. Plus, a layer to the unboxing experience.

Folding and gluing

If you follow us on our socials you will know our love for BOBST gluing lines. The machines where all of our folding and gluing happens. To transform a flat sheet of board into packaging it needs to be folded and glued. A vast array of dimensions (we can glue products up to a meter wide!) and structures can be achieved to help your packaging perform and to stand out.

Foil blocking

The obvious star of the show, but this can be so much more than shiny gold and silver. Now, if you want to increase the perceived value of your product, foil blocking is worth investing in (and you’ll be surprised to learn how cost effective it is). There is a full spectrum of foil colours out there though! As well as a variety of finishes: metallic, gloss, matt, holographic, clear… Adding something extra special to your packaging and really ramping up perceived value.

Take it to another level with sculpted foil-embossing. By combining embossing and foil blocking, literally adding another dimension to your packaging, taking that 2D surface and making it 3D.

Embossing and debossing

Another way to increase the perceived value of your product is by finishing it with embossing and debossing, bringing elements of your packaging design to life. To emboss the board fibres are manipulated to raise the surface of the board. This can be achieved at varying levels: single, multi, or sculpted. To deboss the board fibres are manipulated by stamping. Creating thoughtful depressions in the surface of your packaging. A dry print finish with no chemistry involved, super cost effective and one of our favourites as the tactility is next level.

Varnishing

When you want to create a different finish to your packaging, varnish can achieve this. Whether you want a matt or gloss finish, make elements of your packaging pop with this sustainable alternative to polypropylene laminate films (no thanks). All coatings applied by FACER are water-based.

All print finishing techniques by FACER will enhance your brand story and packaging presence whilst not compromising its recyclability.

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