Squire, the UK padlock maker, announced a shift from plastic to boxed and card-based packaging, aiming to significantly reduce non-recyclable materials after a 2025 effort that cut plastic use by 75% featuring cellulose-based card inserts. The change applies across its padlock range and packaging formats, designed to simplify recycling and lower single-use plastic waste during shipping and retail display.
The new boxes use rigid paperboard with recyclable coatings and redesigned inserts to protect metal components without foam or blister packs. For consumers, the move reduces household plastic waste and streamlines disposal, aligning with broader sustainable retail trends and circular packaging expectations. Squire's rollout signals increased industry pressure to replace single-use plastics with recyclable fiber alternatives in hardware and durable-goods categories.
Image Credit: AIJ Magazine
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Fiber-based Protective Packaging
- Rising adoption of cellulose and rigid paperboard systems suggests new product designs that rival foam for impact protection while being fully recyclable.
- Recyclable Coated Paperboard
- Advances in recyclable coatings point to packaging substrates that maintain moisture and grease resistance without compromising fiber recovery in recycling streams.
- Elimination of Plastic Inserts
- The move away from blister packs and foam inserts signals demand for engineered paper inserts and structural designs that secure hardware components during transit.
Sectors Adopting This
- Hardware and Durable Goods
- Sectors with heavy metal components are positioned to benefit from redesigned packaging that reduces weight and waste while preserving product protection and perceived value.
- Retail Packaging Suppliers
- Manufacturers and designers of retail-ready packaging face opportunities to replace polymer-based solutions with fiber-first alternatives that meet sustainability procurement criteria.
- Logistics and E-commerce Fulfillment
- Fulfillment operations are likely to see shifts toward pack configurations that optimize carton utilization and recyclability, reducing return handling and disposal costs.
