Charapak provides packaging for WW1 memorial

The Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red installation at the Tower of London marked 100 years since the first full day of Britain’s involvement in the First World War. Each of the 888,246 poppies planted in the display represented a British military fatality during the war.

The poppies were put up for sale and all sold, a process which has raised millions of pounds to be shared equally among six service charities – Cobseo, Combat Stress, Coming Home, Help for Heroes, The Royal British Legion and SSAFA.

The Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red installation was created by Derby-based ceramic artist Paul Cummins, and was viewed by an estimated four million people.

Charapak, which specializes in the design and manufacture of high-quality corrugated packaging and displays that promote and protect, produced a specially-designed transit pack to transport the poppies to and from the Tower of London, plus a combined gift/transit pack to distribute the poppies to their new owners.

The e-commerce packaging for the poppies has been created to be sturdy and robust enough to withstand the distribution process while also providing the best opening experience for each recipient, Charapak said. 

The box is produced in B flute corrugated with a litho laminated print, and from the outside resembles a normal postal pack. It then opens up to reveal a printed color image of the poppy display at the Tower of London, with the poppy and its mount held securely in place at the center of the box.

Charapak Integrated Fulfilment division is handling the cleaning, re-packing and delivery operation, and has installed a bespoke packing line to handle the re-packing operation. Working closely with the courier delivery company, the poppies arrive at the company’s Derbyshire facility in pre-determined batches for onward despatch to specific areas of the UK or overseas. The poppies are placed on a conveyor line where they are first inspected for any damage. They then go through a washer and drier before being transferred to individual packing stations where the individual parts are placed in each box together with commemorative documentation. 

The boxes are then securely closed, using the sealtak adhesive strip closure system, labeled and passed through for despatch.

The operation is currently handling the packing of around 30,000 poppies each day and final deliveries are expected to be completed early in the New Year.

Charapak Group managing director Richard Smith said: ‘We are extremely proud to have been involved in this historical landmark project.

‘The worldwide impact of the installation has been phenomenal and we are pleased to have played our part, through our packaging and fulfilment expertise, in ensuring these iconic poppies reach their final owners safely and in good condition.’