Gallery View: Biodegradable gift packaging from Vietnam increasing

Suppliers are offering more gift bags and boxes made of biodegradable paper, plastic or fabric.

Amid growing environmental awareness in the global market, gift packaging makers in Vietnam are coming out with more designs made of biodegradable paper, plastic or fabric.

Biodegradable materials cost 5 to 10 percent more than nonbiodegradable types. Gift packaging suppliers often source their paper and plastic requirements overseas. Biodegradable cotton fabric, on the other hand, is procured domestically.

In terms of design, the current trend is for simple and basic structures. In gift boxes, this means a square box with a lid featuring a printed pattern or minimal trimmings. Gift bags, meanwhile, typically feature printed patterns and may come with twisted, tape, ribbon or patch handles.

Vietnam's gift packaging exports consist mainly of models in paper and paperboard, and plastic designs.

Makers source the majority of their paper requirements overseas, usually from Thailand and Taiwan. Some companies also procure paper from mainland China, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia or Finland.

For plastic models, makers acquire the chemicals and other inputs for producing the plastic from the US, Europe, the Middle East and other countries in Asia.

Another common raw material option for gift bags is cotton canvas. The fabric is typically procured from the cities of Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, as well as the provinces of Vinh Phuc and Nghe An.

MDF, bamboo and rubberwood, meanwhile, are the other choices for gift boxes. These inputs are usually sourced domestically.

Lacquered box set

Cat Dang Handicrafts and Furniture Co. Ltd's model BCD1012-S2 is a set of two wooden boxes with a lacquer finish. The boxes measure 18x18x7 and 12x12x5.5cm.

Cotton canvas bag

Model LT 3303 from Hoang Ha Garment Co. Ltd is a gift bag made of cotton canvas. It comes in several sizes with a 22in handle. MOQ is 1,000 pieces.

Lacquered box

Ket Design House Co. Ltd's model KGBS20 is a 12x12x5cm lacquered box made of wood and paper strips. It comes in various colors. MOQ is 10 pieces.

Paper and cardboard box

Model KGBS13, also from Ket Design House Co. Ltd is a 16x16x5cm gift box made of paper and cardboard. It is decorated with quilling paper and comes in various colors. MOQ is 10 pieces.

Printed paper bag

Viet Thinh Packaging Co.'s model VT 490 printed paper bag comes in CMYK and Pantone colors. It may come with a glossy or matte laminate, hot-stamped or embossed finish. Size, design and logo can be customized.

This article and its contents are provided by the Hinrich Foundation, a partner of Global Sources in promoting trade across Asia. The products and the suppliers featured in this article are export assistance program beneficiaries of the Hinrich Foundation.