When suppliers talk proactively with the right people, the result often is packaging that stands out in a crowd—with money-saving efficiencies along the way.

Diamond Packaging did just that in creating a better package for Zotos International in the professional hair-care products industry. With a new carton for its Joico VeroChrome hair colorant, Zotos wanted to continue to leverage its identity among competing products, as well as its other product lines. In addition, Zotos sought a carton that would improve filling-line efficiencies at its production facility.

The solution was a carton printed on the reverse side of a special recycled board. The smooth texture of the satin-aqueous-coated board, from Diamond, enhances the fine-line art reproduction and eliminates production inconsistencies that caused production lines to slow down.

A small test run of cartons was produced to validate the design from both design and operations perspectives.

"Efficiencies increased over 100%," says Michele Rago, a Zotos Buyer and Planner.