Fresh Thinking Paper Ideas – July 2025

From paper-packaged high street underwear to Japanese beer brewed especially for book lovers, we bring you the latest paper designs and innovations.

Beer For Books

One of Japan’s largest second-hand book retailers has partnered with a Japanese brewery to launch a limited-edition beer brewed especially for book readers. BOOK IPA was created through a partnership with second-hand book retailer Value Books and Coedo Brewery, bringing together two companies with complementary approaches to sustainability – one extending the life of books while the other upcycling ingredients such as sweet potatoes in its brewing process. To cater for readers, BOOK IPA is said to be a more subtle brew than traditional IPAs, with an alcohol content of 6% that aims to “open the senses without overwhelming them”. The beer is the first of what Value Books hopes will become a series of reading-optimised beers, with future releases planned to match different literary genres.

This Is Not Just Packaging…

One of Britain’s biggest retailers has overhauled a large section of its menswear packaging by replacing plastic materials with paper. The whole Marks & Spencer’s Men’s Essentials range, including all men’s socks, as well as men’s woven pyjama sets and almost 40% of men’s underwear lines, is now available in FSC-approved paper packaging with paper hooks, which can be easily recycled at home. “We know we have a responsibility to do the right thing when it comes to our packaging by reducing unnecessary plastic,” said Katharine Beacham, head of sustainability in clothing and home at M&S. “This one small change to our men’s essentials range will make a huge difference by removing over five million units of plastic from our supply chain.” With 20 million pairs of socks sold each year and one in five UK men purchasing their underwear and nightwear from M&S, it’s a huge move, and one that’s expected to be followed by additional product packaging being converted to paper, removing a further 3.5 million units of plastic.

Top Cap

With paper and fibre alternatives gradually replace traditional plastic packaging in the supermarkets, the plastic caps of aerosol cans are the latest to receive a more sustainable makeover. French packaging manufacturer WIMBÉE has developed the first cardboard cap, using German company Koehler Paper’s NexCoat Smart flexible packaging paper on the cap’s surface. According to the press release, the paper’s high fold-crack resistance provides excellent laminating, shaping and printing properties on the cardboard’s surface. “Koehler NexCoat Smart is ideally suited to the challenge of creating a greener and, in particular, recyclable alternative to standard caps,” said Bettina Bastien, Brand Owner Manager for Flexible Packaging Paper at Koehler Paper. “It is made of renewable raw materials and can be reused multiple times within the established paper recycling process.”

The Art Of Paper

Paper and packaging company James Cropper has teamed up with artist Nathan Ward to create a stunning 3D work of art made entirely from moulded fibre and paper. The diorama, titled ‘Message in a Wrap’ was inspired by James Cropper’s 180-year legacy of craftsmanship and packaging innovations, and highlights its partnership with premium whisky distillery Bruichladdich. The artwork depicts Bruichladdich’s Isle of Islay-based distillery side-by-side with James Cropper’s historic Burneside mill. “There’s a natural synergy between the James Cropper and Bruichladdich businesses, with both placing an emphasis on their rich heritage, sustainability and innovation,” said Jordan Scott, marketing communications manager at James Cropper. “And there’s a compelling parallel between whisky-making and paper production, as both processes delicately transform raw materials into something more elegant and refined.”

Big Book Of Packaging

Leading packaging company Antalis has launched a new publication that provides a comprehensive guide to packaging materials, innovative designs and sustainable solutions. Available to download for free, the book delivers detailed information on packaging materials and their applications, packaging designs and solutions, and the environmentally responsible options that cater to today’s ecoconscious consumer. “Effective packaging isn’t just about material costs,” says Chris Liddell, Antalis Packaging Director UK. “It’s about minimising damage, optimising cost per pack and enhancing the customer experience from unboxing to disposal. This book demonstrates the knowledge that Antalis Packaging has and the strategies we use to help our customers and businesses balance cost management with sustainability and efficiency, whether through using less materials, optimising design, choosing non-plastic alternatives or automation of packaging using the latest machine technology.”

To download the book, go to antalis.co.uk

Read more interesting articles like the above in the latest edition of The Page here!