Case Study
A Pacific Northwest manufacturing partnership delivering FSC-certified, Sephora Planet Aware-compliant cartons for one of clean beauty's most recognizable names.
Herbivore Botanicals makes clean, plant-powered skincare built around simple, non-toxic ingredients. The brand formulates without synthetic fillers and keeps every product cruelty-free, pairing pure, active botanicals with a design sensibility that's become instantly recognizable on Sephora shelves and beyond.
That recognizability is exactly what made this project a high bar to clear. Any new packaging supplier had to protect the exact look, feel, and sustainability story Herbivore's customers already trust.
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As an established brand already carried by major retailers, Herbivore couldn't afford any drop in quality or consistency. They needed a domestic manufacturing partner close to their production facility, plus a broader, more resilient supplier portfolio, all without introducing risk to a packaging program their customers already recognized.
Knockout matched Herbivore with a Pacific Northwest manufacturing partner located close to their own facility, then engineered the carton to meet every material requirement Sephora's Planet Aware program calls for, without asking Herbivore to change a single design element.
The finished cartons give Herbivore exactly what they set out to find: a certified-sustainable packaging solution that reads as premium as the product inside. North American paperboard, eco-friendly inks, and Sephora-aligned materials came together in a carton that protects the brand's design standards while strengthening its supply chain.
Planet Aware at Sephora is one of the retailer's sustainability seals. To qualify, a brand must meet dozens of mandatory criteria spanning ingredient sourcing, packaging, corporate commitments, and consumer transparency. Packaging design and material choice is one of the core pillars evaluated.
FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification verifies that paperboard is sourced from responsibly managed forests and tracked through every step of the supply chain. It's one of the material standards retailers like Sephora recognize toward their own sustainability requirements.
EuPIA is the European Printing Ink Association, whose guidelines govern how packaging inks are formulated to limit hazardous substances. Inks that follow EuPIA guidance are a widely used benchmark for responsible print production on cosmetics and skincare cartons.
Manufacturing close to a brand's own facility shortens shipping distances, speeds up turnaround, and makes quality oversight easier. It also reduces reliance on any single overseas supplier, giving a brand a more resilient, diversified supply chain.
Knockout draws on a global network of vetted manufacturing partners. We match each brand to the right regional facility and material set for their specific compliance needs, whether that means FSC certification, EuPIA-certified inks, or a retailer program like Sephora's Planet Aware.
