Q: Knoll Printing & Packaging has been a leader in luxury packaging for decades. What’s the company’s current focus?

A: At Knoll, we’re continuously evolving to meet the shifting demands of the beauty industry. Our focus today is on strengthening supply chain resilience while blending luxury with sustainability. We’re committed to creating packaging that is not only aesthetically refined but also responsibly made. Recent innovations include our award-winning Knoll Ecoform molded pulp compacts and the expansion of in-house manufacturing through our fully owned rigid packaging factory in the Philippines, offering our clients greater control, quality, and transparency.

Q: How does Knoll’s factory in the Philippines support your business, sustainability, and innovation goals?

A: Our fully owned and operated Philippines facility is a cornerstone of our strategy for supply chain integrity, innovation, and environmental stewardship. It enables end-to-end control of the production process—from material sourcing and prototyping to manufacturing and quality assurance. This direct oversight ensures we meet strict environmental standards, uphold ethical labor practices, and rapidly develop new sustainable solutions. The factory itself is a model of responsible manufacturing, featuring solar-powered operations, rainwater harvesting systems, and a low carbon footprint. It reinforces our global footprint while providing our clients with exceptional flexibility and speed to market.

Q: How is Knoll using its Philippines factory to support brands directly?

A: We’ve installed custom-built rigid box automation lines to produce luxury packaging formats—such as base/cover, telescoping, drawer, hinged, book-style, and compact cases—with flawless, high-end finishing. These lines are designed to match the capabilities of our European facilities, ensuring consistent Knoll-quality production globally. The location in a protected trade zone offers logistical and cost efficiencies, especially for brands delivering to the United States. We’ve also introduced manual production lines to support agile, smaller-scale projects and respond more flexibly to client needs. As a result, brands benefit from faster lead times, supply chain security, and global production consistency outside of China.

Q: In addition to the factory, what else is Knoll focused on as an organization?

A: A major focus is the continued development of our Knoll Ecoform molded pulp packaging, particularly our first-of-their-kind molded pulp compacts. These are designed to deliver a premium tactile experience while being 100% recyclable and biodegradable. They incorporate magnetic or friction-fit closures and optional mirrors using recyclable materials, making them ideal for limited editions, refillable systems, and zero-waste packaging goals. Clean beauty and eco-conscious brands are embracing this innovation as a way to make bold sustainability statements without compromising on luxury.

Q: Molded pulp isn’t traditionally associated with luxury. How is Knoll changing that perception?

A: That’s exactly the mindset we set out to challenge. Since introducing Ecoform in 2018, we’ve collaborated with global leaders like Chanel, Coty, and The Estée Lauder Companies, pushing the material’s capabilities with innovative shapes, finishes, and high-end detailing. Our technical expertise and design-driven approach have elevated molded pulp to luxury status, winning industry awards and proving that sustainability and elegance can coexist. We’re constantly looking for new ways to expand the use of this material and lead the charge toward a more sustainable future in packaging.

Q: What’s next for Knoll in the beauty space?

A: We’re doubling down on smart, sustainable technologies that meet luxury standards and environmental benchmarks. Beyond molded pulp, we offer FSC-certified paperboard, mono-material recyclable structures, and reduced-plastic formats. Our design and engineering teams collaborate closely with brand partners to ensure each solution is not only functional but tells a compelling sustainability story. Strategically, we are committed to full ownership of our supply chain and leveraging our 40+ years of expertise to deliver greater automation, flexibility, and agility for our clients worldwide.