Needle-Moving Solutions for a Multinational CPG Company
The Challenge

LUX Global Label has worked with the multinational CPG company for more than 40 years. Unilever remains the biggest customer in the LUX portfolio, with 1,600 SKUs served.
In 2021, LUX Global Label worked closely with Unilever to qualify four additional pressure-sensitive label materials and developed a new solution that helped the company address its sustainability goals. This allowed LUX to stand out amongst the many suppliers that Unilever worked with while delivering value to the customer.
The Solution
LUX Global Label recognized the need for Unilever to diversify the number of qualified materials used to satisfy its requirements, otherwise referred to as “on spec.” Major manufacturers often operate with only one material on spec, but LUX Global Label saw the onset of supply chain issues stemming from the pandemic, logistical breakdowns, and labor shortages affecting many industries.
With more materials on spec, Unilever would gain more resiliency when supply problems occurred. More on spec materials would also give the customer a better bargaining position for better pricing.
LUX worked extensively with the Unilever procurement and packaging teams, and the multinational CPG company’s facilities, to incorporate and trial the four new materials — spending a week onsite qualifying the materials. LUX remained adamant about the need for additional on spec materials and convinced the client it was a necessary step.
In conjunction with qualifying new materials, LUX also recommended a new pressure-sensitive label material. While still meeting and exceeding quality standards, the new material helped Unilever move from a 3 mil (0.003 inch) thickness to a 1.6 mil (0.0016 inch) thickness — nearly halving the material usage.
The Result
- Service Award — The qualification of four materials to avoid service disruptions
- Innovation Award — Moving to a thinner pressure-sensitive material