Think about the last time you ordered something fragile online - a delicate vase, a cocktail glass. What was your immediate thought when you opened the box? Probably relief that the protective cocoon of bubble wrap, foam, or rigid thermocol did its job.
These materials are the default because they work and have been the go-to method for packaging for many years now. But they also present a colossal problem: they represent plastic pollution that will outlive the product they protect by centuries.
At Muun Home Decor, we asked ourselves a radical question: Can we pioneer a way to achieve 100% safe, bulk gifting for our Coil Glass Diyas in India, completely free of plastic and foam?
We weren't just looking for an eco-friendly option. We were hunting for a total replacement.
Our first year saw us rely on foam and plastic for safely shipping our products . It was the industry standard, but it deeply unsettled us. How could we claim to elevate your space while adding non-recyclable clutter to the world?
We issued ourselves this problem statement as a challenge to solve knowing the time, investment and energy needed to come up with a solution .
The 8-Month Packaging Challenge: From 0% to 100%
Our initial milestone was an 80/20 ratio - 80% sustainable, 20% necessary conventional materials. Reaching that point was tough, but still not enough to satisfy our conscience. We needed to bridge that final, critical 20%.
The breakthrough didn't come from finding a new material; it came from a shift in perspective.
Design is Protection: We stopped treating packaging as a disposable utility and started treating it with the same engineering rigor as the product itself.
Our allies : Design and Physics
We replaced the "cushion" of foam with the "lock" of geometry. We became masters of the drop test, turning to physics for answers.
We developed custom, interlocking structures made entirely from cardboard. These geometries use tension and calculated voids—not bulky material—to distribute and absorb shock, creating a sophisticated, natural suspension system.
We started with our most demanding product: our bestselling diya sets. These traditionally require individual plastic wrapping and layers of thermocol due to their small size and fragility. If we could package the diyas sustainably, we could package anything.
Success here allowed us to roll out our new system to our full range - glass Coil Carafes, Borosilicate Dome Candle Holders, glass Vases, etc - products that conventionally rely on plastic padding.
While we are diligently transitioning our entire range, we are proud to say that every bulk gifting order for our signature Coil Glass Diyas is already shipped with a clear conscience: 100% plastic-free, 100% foam-free, and 100% designed for maximum protection.
We invested the money, time, and effort to do the right thing, and frankly, the feeling of contentment and satisfaction is worth more than any sales target. We are proud to be part of a new generation of Indian brands proving that commerce can be responsible. We are adding meaning, not clutter. Period.
We have shipped 6000 fragile gift boxes with 100% sustainable packaging. We aim to slowly make our entire range of fragile products to have eco friendly packaging. Recently with our axel and ezra vases our attempt on sustainable packaging and we had breakages in our orders even after our initial testing proved to be a success so we had to shift back to our old packaging but that does not mean we give up, we will keep working on solutions till we find one which solves our challenge
