Good packaging makes a product ready to sell, but sourcing it from China can be fiddly: dielines, print colours, finishes, inserts and minimum order quantities all need to line up. The Bridge Sourcing is a UK-based China sourcing partner near Birmingham, with our team in China on the ground. We help UK brands and businesses source custom packaging from China, either on its own or developed alongside your product so everything arrives together.
Custom packaging we source from China
Not sure what you need yet? Send us a photo of packaging you like and your product size, and we will help you build a clear specification.
Boxes
- Rigid gift boxes: magnetic closure, lid and base, drawer and book-style
- Folding cartons for retail and cosmetics
- Printed mailer boxes in kraft, white or coloured corrugated board
- Shipping cartons, cylinder tubes and display boxes (PDQs)
Bags and pouches
- Stand-up and zip-lock pouches
- Custom-printed frosted bags and garment bags
- Poly mailers, courier bags and compostable mailers
- Paper carrier bags, cotton dust bags and drawstring pouches
Labels, tags and printed inserts
- Woven labels, care labels and swing tags
- Product stickers and seal labels
- Instruction leaflets, thank-you cards and warranty cards
Inserts and protective packaging
- Card, EVA foam and moulded pulp inserts
- Blister packs and clamshells
- Branded tissue paper, honeycomb paper and void fill
Retail and display packaging
- Header cards, hanging cards and blister cards
- Counter display units and display stands
Materials, printing and finishes
- Kraft, white and black board; E-flute and B-flute corrugated
- Recycled board, and FSC-certified paper where the factory holds certification
- CMYK and Pantone colour matching; digital printing for shorter runs
- Foil stamping, embossing, debossing and spot UV
- Matt, gloss and soft-touch lamination
- Window patches, ribbon pulls, magnets and custom inserts
Who we work with
E-commerce and subscription box brands, beauty and cosmetics brands, clothing and accessories brands, food and drink businesses (with food-contact packaging), and promotional and print companies who need gift boxes or packaging for their own clients. For trade partners, everything is white label.
How a custom packaging project works
- Brief and specification. Product size, quantity, artwork, finish and budget. We help with dielines and anything a factory needs to quote accurately.
- Quotes and options. We compare suitable manufacturers and explain how materials, finishes and quantity affect cost. We aim to reply with an initial quote within 2 working days.
- Proofs and samples. We arrange digital proofs and physical samples and check size, print and finish against your artwork before bulk production.
- Production and quality checks. We follow production and check goods before dispatch.
- Shipping to the UK. Packaging is bulky, so sea freight often makes sense for larger orders. If your products are made in China too, we can ship them together.
Packaging and product together
If your product is also made in China, we can develop the packaging alongside it, so sizes match, branding is consistent and both arrive ready to sell. This is often simpler than managing two separate supply chains.
Quality and UK requirements
Our team in China checks suppliers before recommending them. We agree the specification and approved sample with the factory, follow production, and check goods before dispatch, sharing photos and updates so you are never left guessing.
We can also ask the factory for the information you may need on the UK side, such as the weight and material of each packaging component for packaging EPR reporting, recycled content details, food-contact test reports for food packaging, REACH documents for inks and coatings, and FSC certificates if you want to use FSC claims.
Delivery to the UK
We coordinate shipping to your UK address and choose the route around your deadline and budget: express courier (around 3–5 days, with duty and VAT paid separately), air freight delivered to your door with duty and VAT included (around 7–12 days), or sea freight for larger, heavier orders (around 1–2 months). Times are typical, not guaranteed, and we confirm a realistic timeline when we quote.
Custom packaging: common questions
What is the minimum order for custom packaging from China?
It depends on the type of packaging, print method and finish. Some items can start from a few hundred pieces, while others need larger runs. We look for suppliers whose minimums suit your stage and explain the price difference between smaller and larger runs.
Can you match my brand colours?
We share your Pantone or colour references with the factory and check them on proofs and samples before bulk production, so you can approve the result.
How long does custom packaging take?
Samples usually take one to two weeks. Production time depends on the packaging type, quantity and finishes, then shipping is added on top. We give you a realistic timeline once we know your specification.
Can you help with dielines and artwork?
Yes. We can get a dieline from the factory for your product size and check your artwork against it before printing.
Can you ship packaging with my products?
Yes. If your products are also made in China, we can coordinate the packaging and product orders so they ship together.
Can you source eco-friendly packaging?
Yes. We can source kraft, recycled and FSC-certified paper packaging, moulded pulp inserts and compostable mailers, and check what certificates the supplier can provide.
Ready to price your packaging? Request a quote, see all our China sourcing services, or read how to source products from China as a UK business. We also source custom promotional products and branded workwear.