Edited by Erin La Row, editor, PostPress
When the owners of Big Picture Farm, a small, hillside goat dairy and farmstead confectionery and creamery located in Townshend, Vermont, wanted to create a fun and whimsical milk caramels gift box to add to its Valentine’s collection, owner Louisa Conrad had a design in mind.
“We wanted to have a box that featured our goat in a field of hearts, so I was imagining the goats browsing on flowers that were magical hearts,” Conrad said.
Conrad and her husband, Lucas Farrell, turned to Diamond Packaging, located in Rochester, New York, to create a sustainable package that Dennis Bacchetta, marketing director at Diamond, said, “… brings to life the exciting and unpredictable evolution of their products.” The box won bronze for Best Use of Sustainable Design in the Foil & Specialty Effects Association’s 2023 Gold Leaf Awards.
Sustainability is important to Conrad and Farrell. According to the Big Picture Farm’s website, www.bigpicturefarm.com, whenever possible, they choose high-quality, low-impact methods when it comes to ingredients sourced, feed provided to the animals and grazing systems implemented. They also are committed to solar-powered energy consumption. Recently, Conrad and Farrell transformed their product line into one that is zero-waste and climate-forward.
Goats are the heart of the Big Picture Farm; they’re part of the family. Founded in 2010, Big Picture Farm is certified Animal-Welfare-Approved, which means it meets rigorous and progressive animal care requirements for its herd of about 40 free-range goats. Each goat on the farm has a name and its own personality, and it is highlighted on the company’s website, complete with photos and bios.
It’s no surprise that the farm’s goats are an essential part of its marketing strategy. They’re featured on the packaging and even on some of the chocolates. Bacchetta said the graphic design of the award-winning box incorporates a clean, minimalist look that exudes quality and sophistication. Side panels feature hand-drawn sketches of several of the farm’s free-ranging companions.
Embellishments include shimmering gold and silver foil renditions of two of the farm’s goats that Bacchetta said lend depth and sophistication to the packaging and provide a striking contrast to the matte white finish surrounding it. The foil used was Kurz Luxor (GIO-NB 220) – gold hot foil and Kurz Luxor (Alufin GIO) – silver hot foil.
“The result is a striking presentation that creates visual interest and contributes to a sweet and rewarding unboxing experience,” Bacchetta said.
Diamond used a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 105 offset press in the production of the piece as well as several BOBST machines, including the BOBST BMA foil stamper/embosser, BOBST 102 CER diecutter/blanker/stripper and a BOBST 90 Matic folder/gluer.
The folding cartons were converted utilizing FSC-certified and recyclable Clearwater Candesce® .024 SBS paperboard and manufactured using 100% clean, renewable wind energy in a Zero Waste to Landfill (ZWL) and carbon-neutral (Scope 1 and Scope 2) facility.
Bacchetta said the Clearwater Candesce® SBS paperboard was chosen for its environmental attributes and its smooth surface that is tailored to faithfully reproduce the most sophisticated printed images and meet the high demands of flawless hot foil stamping, cold foiling and embossing.
The standard straight-tuck carton incorporates slit-lock closures and a diecut window on the rear panel to view the products inside. The rear panel quickly communicates the product’s story, benefits and environmental attributes through on-product labeling, including FSC and wind energy logos.
“Our customers love it!” Conrad said. “It is a big hit around Valentine’s Day, but it’s also subtle and beautiful enough that it can work year-round. Of course, sustainability is number one on our minds as well, and we think our customers appreciate that for sure.”
