Sustainable packaging – laflor chocolate

The perfect sustainable packaging: requirements

Long before producing the first chocolate bar, we were working intensively on the topic of sustainable packaging. Obviously, it had to be visually appealing and underline the quality of the product. However, there are more requirements than just appearance: the packaging must be airtight and lightproof in order to guarantee long-lasting edibility (we speak of edibility on purpose, because generally, chocolate can be kept for a long time), otherwise it will lose all its unique flavors and its character.

Challenge: minimum order quantities

Another difficulty that manufactories like laflor have to face, and one that should not be underestimated, is the minimum order quantities from packaging suppliers. Many packaging companies have such high minimum order quantities, that it is not possible for a (still) small bean-to-bar producer to meet these requirements.

Combining functionality and design

After a long and intensive research, which lasted for two years, we defied all these odds and developed a packaging that meets the functional requirements described above, but is also made of 100% recycled material and is compostable. All of this without sacrificing aesthetics: the new packaging, like the previous one, is a treat for the eyes! Its minimalist, elegant and timeless design is impressive.

The packaging was developed and designed by Zelia Zadra, co-founder of laflor, in close collaboration with Swiss designer and art director Piera Wolf.

Sustainable packaging made from bioplastics and NatureFlex

The sustainable chocolate packaging consists of three different components, which are joined together in England to create a finished product. The innermost layer consists of a bioplastic. This is a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional plastic packaging. The middle layer consists of a film, known as NatureFlex, which is made from sustainably sourced wood fibers. This film replaces the aluminium foil that was previously used. The outermost layer is a type of paper that is not made from wood, as is usually the case, but from agricultural waste. In each of the three components, renewable energy is used to power production – something that is particularly important to us as an environmentally conscious and sustainable company.