Getting Started With Nutraceutical Packaging: Folding Cartons

Reading Time: 4 Minutes

With a continuing interest in nutrition and wellness, opportunities are growing for nutraceutical companies and their packaging. Whether you offer nutritional drink powders, protein supplements, gummies or vitamin capsules, according to McKinsey, the wellness industry will only continue to grow, setting you up for success well into the coming years.

But it’s not enough to offer a product consumers are interested in — you have to capture their attention, win them over and keep them coming back. Good packaging is crucial to all three of those, acting as a silent salesperson to your consumers. 

Whether you’re launching a new product or starting a new brand, folding cartons are one packaging solution you can leverage to reach nutraceutical consumers while providing functional benefits. Here are some of the benefits folding cartons have to offer and what to look for in a supplier.

Folding Carton Benefits and Features

Protecting your product from moisture, physical damage and UV rays, folding cartons made from paperboard are a sustainable, functional packaging solution. They’re also the perfect branding opportunity, with multiple customization features available and ample real estate for messaging, design, product features and ingredients. 

What products benefit from folding cartons?

Folding cartons can be beneficial for many nutraceuticals depending on the product’s qualities, primary packaging and where it will be displayed. Folding cartons can benefit the following nutraceutical products:

• Single-serve drink packets. Products like electrolyte supplements, vitamin powders and products in stick packs need folding cartons for transport and in-store displays. 
• Products in bulk. Products sold in multiples or larger quantities need folding cartons for display in-store and easy transport after purchase.
• Premium vitamins and supplements. Adding a folding carton to vitamins or supplements in rigid or flexible packaging can convey a premium look and feel.li
• Protein bars and point-of-sale products. Folding cartons can house products at the point of sale and help them stand out. 

What features help you stand out on the shelf?

Folding cartons provide almost infinite possibilities to reinforce your brand and elevate your product. Some features to consider include:

• Metalized features: Create an eye-catching, premium look and accentuate product features or brand messaging with metalization.
• Tactile finishes: Engage consumers with a multi-sensory, tactile experience and convey high-quality products with matte, soft-touch or dual finishes.
• Embossing or raised elements: Provide a distinctive texture that captures attention and elevates the consumer perception of your brand. 
• Invisible ink: Only visible under specific conditions—such as UV light—offering enhanced security and anti-counterfeiting measures.
• Precision color matching: Ensure your brand and messaging remain consistent across different packaging formats and strengthen your brand credibility and recognition.
• Section dividers: Keep different product flavors or variants neatly separated, protected and easy to identify for consumers by using dividers within the cartons. 
• Sustainability features and messaging: Communicate recyclability features and consider Eco-READY™ or Tru-IMPACT® solutions to add to the sustainability factor. 

Each of these features prioritizes another critical element of packaging: the consumer experience. The consumer experience is all too easy to overlook by the time most brands get to packaging decisions, but it’s paramount to turning one-time buyers into repeat customers. 

But, remember that packaging features should elevate your brand and message while still delivering functional benefits and fitting your budget, especially if you’re an emerging brand. Learn more about what emerging brands should consider.

Finding the Right Folding Cartons for Your Products

So, how do you find the folding cartons that work for your products? The following factors will help you and your packaging supplier land on a solution: 

• What are the product qualities? Does your product need an additional layer of protection? Does it need to convey a certain feel, like premium or sustainable features? 
• Will your product be displayed individually on shelves, at point-of-purchase, or online? 
• What is the primary packaging format? Stick pack, sachets, rigid packaging, flexible pouches? 
• How often do you release new or update current products? 

These considerations can help you identify the type of folding carton to use and the features to implement. A good supplier will ask you these questions during the packaging process to narrow down the type of folding carton and features you need to protect or display your product and stand out. 

Questions to Ask Your Folding Carton Supplier

The best folding carton suppliers understand the unique needs of nutraceutical brands — and how to set you up for success with packaging. The following questions can help you identify a folding carton supplier that meets your needs:

• How quickly can you turn around packaging for new products? 
• Do you offer no minimum or low-minimum orders?
• What sustainable packaging solutions and materials do you provide?
• What kinds of design features are available? Do you have capabilities like metalization, embossment or special finishes?
• What will our partnership look like? Will I have a dedicated person or team on my projects? 

The answers to these questions can give you a barometer on how strategic and effective a folding carton supplier will be. The right supplier will offer high-quality packaging and color matching, as well as the service capabilities that nutraceutical brands need: quick turnarounds, adaptability and collaboration. 

Belmark: Fast, Friendly and Frictionless

Belmark understands the opportunities and challenges that growing nutraceutical brands face, and we’re well-positioned to help you succeed. With no order minimums, industry-leading turnaround times, simplified packaging management and a commitment to service, Belmark enables you to get to market fast — without packaging obsolescence or delays. And, our proprietary color matching delivers unmatched color and brand consistency across packaging types, significantly enhancing your brand credibility and consumer perception.

Get in touch with us today to learn about the best folding carton solutions for your nutraceutical products.