The Challenge
MELINA BUCHER set out to rethink its packaging from the ground up. The goal was to create a luxurious unboxing experience that aligned fully with the brand’s values: plastic-free, vegan, and as biobased and locally sourced as possible. Traditional luxury packaging often relies on synthetic materials, glossy finishes, or hidden plastic coatings — making sustainability a real challenge at this level of presentation.
Our Solution
We developed a packaging concept that feels as refined as the product it holds — while staying true to every detail of our material philosophy. The box itself is crafted in Germany from high-quality cardboard and wrapped in a textured cream paper by GMUND, a local papermaker known for its sustainable innovation. The paper is Cradle-to-Cradle certified and produced without harmful chemicals.
Finding suitable stickers was one of the biggest hurdles. After extensive research, we sourced a fully vegan, plastic-free, and biodegradable alternative — a rare find in today’s packaging market.
For the dust bags, we wanted to go beyond the typical solution that gets tucked away in a drawer. Instead, we created a multi-use design with handles, encouraging customers to reuse them in daily life. The bags are sewn in Poland from locally grown and processed hemp, one of the most sustainable fibers available: it grows quickly, requires little water, and naturally resists pests. By using undyed, unbleached hemp in its natural tone and adding only a minimalist screen print, we avoided unnecessary chemical treatments.
As a final personal touch, each order includes a handwritten note placed inside a custom-designed envelope. Since we couldn’t find any glue that met our standards, we created a fully glue-free construction — using clever folds instead. The envelope paper also comes from GMUND and is produced in Germany to keep the footprint low.
The Materials
• GMUND premium paper (Cradle-to-Cradle certified, Germany)
• Cardboard box (locally produced in small atelier in Germany)
• Vegan, plastic-free, biodegradable stickers
• Hemp fabric (locally grown and processed in Poland)
• GMUND paper envelope with glue-free folding design
The Methods
• Concept & design development
• Supplier and material sourcing
• Testing for biodegradability, durability, and luxury finish
• Custom product development (dust bag & envelope)
