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Controlled material storage and palletized folding carton inventory supporting traceability and compliance in regulated packaging production.

Netpak Earns BRCGS AA+ Certification Following Unannounced Audit

Written by Niko Yudin on . Posted in Certification, New/Press Release, Packaging. No Comments on Netpak Earns BRCGS AA+ Certification Following Unannounced Audit


Netpak Earns BRCGS AA+ Certification
Following Unannounced Audit

Netpak has achieved BRCGS AA+ packaging certification
under the BRCGS Packaging Materials standard following an unannounced audit.
For food, beverage, and regulated packaging programs, this level of BRCGS AA+ packaging certification reflects how a facility performs during normal production, not under scheduled inspection.
4

This Article at a Glance

  • AA+ is the highest unannounced audit grade format used under the BRCGS protocol.4
  • BRCGS Packaging Materials is recognized within the GFSI framework used by retailers and brand owners in supplier qualification.1, 3
  • This certification does not announce a new operating standard at Netpak. It verifies the one already in place.
  • For buyers, the practical value is reduced qualification friction, lower supplier uncertainty, and stronger confidence in live production control.
  • For Netpak, this strengthens commercial authority across food packaging, pharmaceutical packaging, and other regulated carton programs.

The value is in externally verified operating discipline, not a marketing claim.

For food, beverage, and regulated product manufacturers, this places Netpak among a limited group of packaging suppliers operating at AA+ under unannounced audit conditions. That level of certification reflects how a facility performs during normal production, not under scheduled inspection.

Packaging non-compliance can delay product launches, trigger recalls, or prevent acceptance into retail distribution channels. Certification at this level is used to control those risks before they surface.

BRCGS as a Supplier Qualification Standard

BRCGS is used by retailers and brand owners to qualify packaging suppliers in food and regulated product supply chains.

The standard is benchmarked by the Global Food Safety Initiative, which defines internationally accepted food safety requirements3. This is why BRCGS certification is recognized across procurement and compliance programs without additional interpretation.

The Packaging Materials standard focuses on how risk is controlled in environments where packaging interacts with consumable or regulated products1.

For food packaging, pharmaceutical packaging, and other regulated folding carton programs, that level of supplier qualification carries immediate weight.

From certification standard to supplier approval

This is the chain buyers are evaluating when BRCGS certification appears in a supplier review.

BRCGS Packaging

product safety
hygiene
traceability

GFSI
Recognition

common benchmark
for supplier review

Buyer Confidence

faster qualification
less uncertainty
cleaner audits

Scope of the BRCGS Packaging Materials Standard

The BRCGS Packaging Materials standard evaluates how risk is managed across materials, production, and facility operations.

It covers hazard analysis, supplier approval, and full traceability of raw materials. It also addresses ink, coating, and substrate compliance, including migration risk, along with production controls designed to prevent contamination during live runs1.

Facility requirements include hygiene zoning, environmental monitoring, and corrective action systems tied to internal audits. Recall readiness is built into the same structure.

Packaging must be produced in a way that prevents the introduction of physical, chemical, or microbiological risk into the product2.

Material storage and traceability control


Controlled material storage and lot-based inventory systems that support traceability, segregation, and audit verification.


BRCGS AA+ Packaging Certification Under Unannounced Audit Conditions

An AA+ rating reflects full compliance under the most demanding audit structure within BRCGS.

Audit outcome

What the grade reflects

  • The audit is unannounced and conducted within a defined window
  • No major non-conformities are identified
  • Systems demonstrate consistent implementation across operations
Protocol detail

How BRCGS treats unannounced audits

BRCGS states that sites having an unannounced audit receive an unannounced audit grade, for example AA+ or A+4.

This is what distinguishes this result from a scheduled audit outcome.

Many packaging manufacturers operate under scheduled audit conditions or general quality certifications such as ISO 9001.

AA+ under BRCGS requires performance under unannounced audit conditions, where systems are evaluated during normal production. If those systems are not embedded, they tend to break down under audit pressure.

AA+ under these conditions is not commonly achieved. It requires sustained control across materials, workflows, and verification systems.

Positioning Relative to ISO 9001

ISO 9001 focuses on quality management systems and process consistency across industries.

BRCGS addresses product safety risk within food and regulated packaging environments, where failure has direct downstream impact.

Print plate preparation and prepress control


Print plate preparation and prepress controls used to ensure registration accuracy, artwork consistency, and repeatable production output.

BRCGS

  • Benchmarked by GFSI
  • Evaluates contamination, traceability, and material compliance risks
  • Includes unannounced audits at the highest rating level
  • Referenced in retailer and brand supplier approval programs

ISO 9001

  • Focuses on quality management systems
  • Applies across industries
  • Does not address food safety risk at the same depth

Supplier qualification threshold

For food packaging manufacturers, BRCGS functions as a higher threshold for supplier qualification3.

Buyers reviewing food packaging or pharmaceutical packaging suppliers are not evaluating these standards as equivalents.


What This Certification Confirms for Netpak Clients

AA+ certification under BRCGS does not reflect a change in how Netpak operates. It verifies that existing production, material control, and quality systems meet the highest level of third-party audit scrutiny.

For clients, the value is in independent validation during supplier selection.

BRCGS AA+ provides externally audited confirmation of controls that procurement and QA teams typically need to verify themselves. In many cases, this reduces the scope of additional supplier audits.

Material handling, traceability, and contamination controls are assessed during live production. This confirms that systems are functioning as part of daily operations, not prepared for inspection.

GFSI-recognized certification is often required within food and regulated supply chains. Netpak meets this requirement without additional qualification layers.

AA+ under unannounced audit conditions reflects processes that are stable across runs and resilient under scrutiny.

Inconsistent material control, weak traceability, or incomplete line clearance are common failure points in facilities that are not operating under this level of audit discipline.

Pietro Cammalleri, Sales & Marketing Director at Netpak

“AA+ certification under unannounced audit conditions gives our clients confidence that systems are performing consistently under real production conditions, not staged audit scenarios.”

— Pietro Cammalleri
Directeur ventes et marketing; Sales & Marketing Director

Commercial implication

For procurement teams, this reduces supplier validation time and limits the need to rebuild baseline control checks through secondary audits.

How This Shows Up on the Production Floor

BRCGS requirements are embedded into daily operations, not isolated to audit preparation.

1

Material traceability at batch level

Each run is traceable to specific material batches, including board stock, inks, and coatings. If an issue appears, it can be isolated at the lot level without affecting full production volumes. When traceability breaks, containment becomes slower and audit exposure increases.

2

Line clearance between jobs

Materials, tooling, and residuals from the previous run are removed and verified before the next job starts. This is one of the first areas where systems tend to fail under audit conditions, because weak clearance controls increase mix-up and contamination risk.

3

Controlled material usage

Material use is governed through approved lists tied to compliance requirements. For food packaging, that includes low migration inks and compliant substrates. If substitution controls are weak, the failure is usually not visible until compliance review or audit.

Verification happens during production, at defined control points. Issues are identified while the job is running, not after completion.

Production conditions under audit-relevant controls

BRCGS AA+ packaging certification line clearance and tooling control

Line clearance and tooling control

Live production verification under BRCGS packaging controls

Live production verification

Material control and compliance in regulated packaging production

Material control and compliance



Netpak Capabilities in Regulated Folding Carton Production

Netpak supports regulated folding carton programs where material control, structural performance, and compliance requirements have to hold together in the same production environment.

Food packaging

Folding cartons for food packaging programs requiring barrier coatings, grease resistance, and migration control.

Pharmaceutical packaging

Cartons for pharmaceutical packaging with traceability, lot control, and compliance alignment.

Low migration systems

Ink, coating, and substrate combinations selected for regulated environments where migration risk must be controlled.

Structural engineering

Tamper-evident, child-resistant, litho-laminated, and rigid formats engineered for performance and compliance.

Where This Level of Certification Becomes Relevant

This level of certification typically becomes a requirement in specific situations:

Retail launch

Food and beverage products entering retail environments with strict supplier approval requirements.

Supplier qualification

Programs where procurement and QA require GFSI-recognized certification before onboarding.

Production scale

Transitioning from pilot volumes into full-scale manufacturing under tighter compliance expectations.

Vendor replacement

Replacing suppliers that fail audit requirements or cannot meet traceability and control standards.

This is usually the point where packaging moves from a cost decision to a risk decision.

Request a Quote from a BRCGS AA+ Certified Supplier

If you are qualifying a folding carton supplier for a regulated product launch, retail placement, or scale transition, submit your project details through Netpak’s quote form. Netpak operates under BRCGS AA+ certification with systems validated under unannounced audit conditions.

  • Dielines, dimensions, and structural requirements
  • Material specifications, coatings, and compliance needs
  • Annual volumes, launch timing, and distribution requirements


Submissions are reviewed with engineering input and production feasibility aligned to regulated packaging requirements.

References

Sources referenced in packaging certification and supplier qualification frameworks:

  1. BRCGS Packaging Materials Standard Overview

    BRCGS Packaging Materials
  2. Intertek, BRCGS Packaging Materials

    Intertek overview
  3. Global Food Safety Initiative, Certification Programme Owners

    GFSI-recognized certification programme owners
  4. BRCGS, Position Statement and Protocol on Unannounced Audits

    Unannounced audit protocol

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Netpak – Operational Update Regarding COVID-19

Written by jeansebastienricher on . Posted in Certification, New/Press Release.

To all our valued customers,

As an essential service supplier, we wish to inform you that Netpak will remain fully operational during this period.  Additionally, our warehouse and logistics team remain at your service and have the tools necessary to safely continue fulfilling deliveries in order to ensure your business continuity.

The COVID-19 virus has currently had no effect on our production capabilities and raw material supply. We continue to maintain a full production capability for any orders that you need to fulfill your production line.

All Netpak employees are following strict personal hygiene practices in accordance with the World Health Organization guidelines, as well as our BRCGS Grade AA certification (find out more about our BRCGS certification here). External suppliers, visitors, customers, transport (truck drivers) and children are currently not permitted into the facility (unless otherwise approved).

These measures and practices include:

  • Washing hands as often as possible with warm water and soap at all stages of the production process;
  • Avoid touching face, eyes, nose and mouth with your hands;
  • Enhanced routine cleaning procedures (door handles, keyboards, mouse, etc.);
  • Respect social distancing practices (minimum space: 1 meters);
  • Stay at home in case of illness (fever, dry cough, breathing difficulties, etc.);
  • Any employee recently on a business trip or vacation outside of Canada must be isolated for 14 days upon return into Canada;
  • Any employees in a household with someone who has travelled outside of Canada will also be in isolation for 14 days.

 

At Netpak, we are dedicated to providing best-in-class service aligned with our customer focus, excellence and integrity values. Our qualified team remains at your service in order to maintain business-as-usual as we navigate through these uncharted waters together.

Netpak: Printed Folding Carton Experts. Contact us today for a quote: sales@netpak.com | CANADA – USA 1-866-399-8544

Pure or Green: The battle between virgin and recycled board continues…

Written by jeansebastienricher on . Posted in Certification, Folding carton, Food & Beverage, Packaging, Trends.

There is a dilemma that needs to be resolved, a truth that needs to be uncovered. It has to do with virgin vs recycled paperboard. Before we uncover the facts between these types of materials, let us take a closer look at the concept of paperboard itself. Paperboard is a thick paper that is more rigid than the normal one. Because of this, it’s one of the main materials used for packaging. There are two types of paperboard that are popular: virgin and recycled. But what sets each one apart and makes it the one you choose?

Virgin vs Recycled Paperboard

Let us first delve into virgin paperboard. Virgin paperboard is made from fibers that are derived from pine, spruce, birch and eucalyptus trees. These fibers make this type of paperboard strong yet lightweight. The way they are processed allows for them to have not only a light hue but also a smooth surface. Some companies seek to give their product a luxurious, high-end look, with a sleek design to keep their branding on point. A strong material with elastic properties is then required to accomplish this, therefore calling on the virgin paperboard.

However, there is another side to this coin. What if brand presentation is not what your company focuses on, but rather the ethical usage of material instead?  Recycled paperboard is made from fibers that are derived from paper that is re-puled. The fibers therefore have a tendency to be weaker as they are over processed. Because the fibers are recycled, impure material, such as dyes or inks, can sometimes be found in this type of paperboard. However, the surface can be coated to hide these colors. Therefore, if you are looking for a material with an environmental impact, recycled paperboard is what you should consider.

It might be difficult to crown a winner in this battle between virgin and recycled paperboard, as it depends of the message you are trying to express about the brand through the packaging. And it doesn’t end there! There are several types of paperboard out there to choose from depending on what industry you are in. At Netpak, we have several options for you to choose from. We realize that it can get overwhelming to choose what is best for your product and that is why we can help advise you on the choice to make. It is important to note that we source the paperboard we use from global sources.

With the vision in mind for your brand and the knowledge on the types of paperboard available for you, there is no winner or loser in this battle between the yin and yang of the paper industry. It’s a tie!

Netpak: Printed Folding Carton Experts. Contact us today for a quote: sales@netpak.com | CANADA – USA 1-866-399-8544

Plastic Pollution: It’s the Last Straw

Written by jeansebastienricher on . Posted in Certification, Education, Folding carton, New/Press Release.

Canada: The True North, Strong and, soon to be, Plastic-Free. It has been announced that by 2021, Canada will ban single use plastics. As the name implies, single-use plastics are defined as “items intended to be used only once before they are thrown away or recycled.” However, this still leaves room for confusion. There remains a grey zone in what constitutes a single use plastic and what items won’t make the cut. We suspect that items like plastic straws, polystyrene, plastic bags, cutlery, takeout containers and plastic bottles, are just a few of the everyday elements that will soon be banned.

Nevertheless, this new injunction will undoubtedly impact the food service industry. Whether it’s at the coffee shop or in a grocery store, plastic and polystyrene have played a large role in most types of businesses. What will the food service landscape look like? For larger food franchises, this will be an easier and more affordable transition, as long as the materials needed are readily available for packaging. However, for smaller business owners, this might be more challenging than expected, especially from a financial standpoint. Even though it’s clear that conversations are still needed regarding this topic, the wheels have already been put in motion for some commercial entities as we move towards more sustainable packaging for products.

Sustainable packaging isn’t a complicated concept to understand, but it’s still complex to execute. There are many factors that come into play as it’s not only about recycling anymore. The complete life cycle of a package is just as important as the end stages. From the raw materials that are used to create a package, to the disposal of it, every step in the process is now evaluated for sustainability. A new wave of eco-innovation, based on a demand for sustainability at both the manufacturer and the consumer level, has forced both brand owners and packaging producers to now think outside the box, quite literally!

At Netpak, our commitment to developing sustainable options from the beginning of the packaging process to the end is ongoing. Every day, we strive to work efficiently, by reducing waste, resources and energy, while still delivering the highest caliber product to our customers. Our efforts have been rewarded as we have received several “Eco-Responsible” certifications, from The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFIâ) to The Forest Stewardship Council (FSCâ); we keep the wellness of the environment at the heart of what we do and how we do it.

Netpak: Printed Folding Carton Experts. Contact us today for a quote: sales@netpak.com | CANADA – USA 1-866-399-8544

BRC® Certification: Netpak receives its sixth consecutive designation

Written by jeansebastienricher on . Posted in Certification, Education, Markets.

Netpak is proud to announce it has obtained its sixth consecutive BRC® “GRADE AA” certification by GFSI®.

Netpak’s commitment to our customers and continuous process improvement is at the heart of our core values. Being the first North American printer to be accredited with the highly coveted BRC® certification is among one of our many industry achievements and a true testament to our outstanding performance and quality.

What is the BRC® certification?

Setting the standard in the food industry, the British Retail Consortium (BRC®) is a globally recognized organization that establishes a series of standards to help companies be compliant with food safety laws at all levels of the supply chain. Many food manufacturers are now requiring their suppliers to implement rigorous quality control programs and obtain highly-recognized certifications.

The BRC® Global Standards programme is fully approved by the Global Food Standard Initiative (GFSI®) and has become a benchmark in for best practice in the food and beverage industry. Being BRC® certified allows Netpak to validate our production process with the highest standards of quality, safety and traceability in the industry.

What is the BRC® certification process?

Receiving the BRC® designation requires an extremely thorough auditing process, conducted yearly. These formal performance reviews completed at our facility assess the various key components of our production process including our safety and hygiene systems, as well as our control on the manufacturing processes and production line. Risk management systems must be implemented, as well as a rigorous quality control process and upstream and downstream product traceability processes in order to successfully complete the audit and ensure we benchmark against the highest and most demanding standards in the industry.

Years ago, Netpak was among the first in North America to successfully complete the BRC® auditing process and to this day, we have successfully completed this process for the sixth consecutive year.

What does the BRC® certification mean for Netpak?

Obtaining the BRC® designation is of the utmost importance for Netpak. Our customers can rest assured that our facility and packaging solutions meet and achieve the highest levels of the GFSI-recognized certifications for food safety, all while fulfilling their legal obligations and providing protection for the end consumer.

As the industry grows and adds various standards and requirements to meet, Netpak has made a continuous commitment to our customers and our company to maintain these strict standards of quality control, hygiene and food safety. We are proud to be pioneers in the folding carton packaging industry and we will continue to improve our processes to better help our customers and partners achieve their business goals.

Netpak: Printed Folding Carton Experts. Contact us today for a quote: sales@netpak.com | CANADA – USA 1-866-399-8544

 

How to choose the right coating or lamination for your packaging

Written by jeansebastienricher on . Posted in Certification, Education, Folding carton, Innovation.

The folding carton and printing industry is flooded with coating and lamination options. These print coatings can help your packaging stand out from its competition by providing a unique texture, making them more durable and elegant. There are many different options available today ranging from standard to speciality finishes that can be applied to the full packaging or to selected spots. Our team of industry experts will help you select the best type of lamination or coating available for your project.

Lamination

This is the ideal finish for paperboard boxes, although it can be costly compared to other options because of its protective properties, such as moisture protection. If your product has to stay in storage for some time, lamination could be the way to go for your packaging finish.

There are various types of laminations available at Netpak, including the three most popular: gloss, matte and soft touch lamination. The most common gloss lamination offers a clear and lustrous finish to enhance the look of your packaging and intensifies its color. Matte lamination, often chosen over gloss in luxury products, offers a minimalist and elegant look, while soft touch offers all the benefits of matte lamination while giving your packaging a velvety, brushed-hand feel. Learn more about the different types of laminations Netpak offers here.

Aqueous (AQ) Coating

Commonly used as a cost-effective solution, AQ coating is used to protect printed pieces by providing a gloss or matter surface that deters dirt and fingerprints. AQ coating is water-based and food safe, making it the ideal sustainable solution for the food and beverage industry. Netpak’s team of experts is well-versed in the rules and regulations of the food and beverage industry, allowing us to suggest and provide the most cost-effective and best-suited solutions for your packaging. Learn more about Netpak’s highly-coveted certifications here.

Ultraviolet (UV) Coating

Ultraviolet coatings, commonly called UV coating, provides a glossy finish that is often compared to a gloss lamination. Though similar and eco-friendlier, UV coating is not as strong and does not protect your packaging as lamination would. UV is a cost-effective solution and quick to produce if you’re on a budget and in a time crunch.

Varnish & No-Coating

Varnishes can be another option for smaller budgets. It is basically a clear ink available in gloss, satin or matte. Digital printing is great for efficiency, fast turnarounds and lower per unit cost. Meanwhile, when the packaging is mostly used for shipping and transportation, embellishments and expensive coating are typically not required, which results in no coating.

Netpak: Printed Folding Carton Experts. Contact us today for a quote: sales@netpak.com | CANADA – USA 1-866-399-8544