Why do we package food and consumables? Simple, to sell and protect. Twenty thousand years ago food was transported in reed baskets. Eight thousand years ago ceramics were used, five thousand years ago wood barrels, boxes and crates became more common. It is only the past 1,000 years that has seen changes and advances in packaging as a result of huge social change and the expansion of trade also played a part. In today's Global Market design is as important as the protection. So 20,000 years show that packaging is a simple solution to a simple question yet many companies complicate and muddy the issue so that they can baffle the client and the manufacturer. They create designs that are over complicated and over packaged to increase profits.

From the 20th Century aluminium, cellulose and plastic have formed the common holding device. This as we all know is using the planet's natural resources too fast as well as creating a huge amount of waste product. So biodegradable and compostable plastics and recycling of packaging is reducing the environmental impact. Today, more than ever, people are concerned about the impact packaging has on the environment. For a package to be truly sustainable, it must provide optimal performance in all its different functions, such as protection, branding, product safety, recyclability etc. without compromising its environmental effects. Fibre-based packaging is the sustainable option in more ways than one. EC1 have the ability to create packaging designs that work over multiple substrates and finishes making us well placed to provide the full packaging service solution.