MAKING RECIPES #11 What herbal delights are in the box?

Thoughts on why packaging of herbal remedies should not be boring

Kraft card is sustainably sourced

I have been putting off writing this post on packaging in the paid subscriber MAKING RECIPES # series. Why? Because it just is so hard to concentrate on something that seems rather mundane. But, as I delved deeper, I found that there is much more to packaging than I previously thought: some key concerns range from protecting precious handmade herbal remedies to making sure that all is recyclable to help the environment. In this post I reflect on the five things I see as valued benefits of packaging, based on my experience of making herbal remedies. And I confess why I like Kraft paper so much.

This post is part of the paid MAKING RECIPES # series. All my other posts are available free to subscribers. The MAKING RECIPES # series for paid subscribers aims to give you useful advice and information if you want to be making and selling herbal remedies and body care products. This is my inside story as a herbal practitioner based on my experience of growing, harvesting and making plant preparations from the medicinal forest garden. You can see it prepublication if you sign up as a paid subscriber, as well as comment and access the chat and past archive.

A cardboard box with items based on using distilled witch hazel

Maybe it is too obvious to say that to sell your products you need to make them look good! Good packaging provides a structure for labels to explain to the user what is in the box, including information making items safe to use. Packaging also protects fragile bottles and jars containing liquids and ointments. Through care in packaging you can ensure a decent shelf life and be environmentally respectful with recyclable materials. If sending your items to customers by courier or post then it is essential they arrive undamaged. Here I explore these aspects of packaging from my experience of making and presenting herbal remedies and body care items on a small scale, thinking about what I learnt along the way - sometimes the hard way!