Digipak

A compact disc in Digipak-style packaging; seen here: Boards of Canada\'s 1998 release Music Has the Right to Children

Digipak is a patented style of compact disc or DVD packaging, and is a registered trademark of MeadWestvaco, Inc., which acquired the original trademark holder, IMPAC Group, Inc., in 2000. MeadWestvaco licenses the name and designs to various manufacturers around the world. Digipaks typically consist of a gatefold (book-style) paperboard or card stock outer binding, with one or more plastic trays capable of holding a CD or DVD attached to the inside. Since Digipaks were among the first alternatives to jewel cases to be used by major record companies, and because there is no other common name for Digipak-style packaging made by other companies, collectors have long been using the terms digipak, Digi-Pak reflects Walmart.com usage as seen: [1] , and digipack generically, even when the media holder is a hub or "Soft Spot[2]" rather than a full plastic tray.

Digipak-style packaging is often used for CD singles or special editions of CD albums. Because such packaging is less resistant to abrasion than jewel cases, it tends to show signs of wear relatively quickly. This has been addressed more recently by a trend among licensed digipak manufacturers such as domestic U.S. printer/CD replicator Oasis Disc Manufacturing [3] who seem to be more commonly than not recommending printing Digipaks only when coating the raw printed paper with a protective UV matte or UV gloss finish, thus ensuring a longevity that may rival or exceed that of a conventional jewel case.

Despite being somewhat less vulnerable to cracking (as the outside cover is made of paper), the disc tray inside the package (particularly the "teeth" of the hub which secure the disc in place) remains rather brittle and is prone to cracking if the package is crushed. Digipak-style packaging appears to be growing in popularity among record labels and recording artists since the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Due to the interest in having it become as "eco" as it is premium in appearance, manufacturers have been engaging in a full-on push to improve in its environmental credentials and even improve its functionality. Many printers are introducing some recycled components into its trays and one has announced a 100% post-consumer PET tray made from recycled water and/or soda bottles [4], which also eliminates the need for the brittle "teeth" that can otherwise crack in the trays under pressure in some other variants. Many printers are also moving toward some recycled components in the board stock and to FSC or other certification of green forestry practices for their board stock in order to avoid harming our forests as well, since an underlying belief that this packaging is more environmentally friendly seems to be implicit in artists\' desires to use it.

References

External links

• Official Digipak site
• Digi series info at MeadWestvaco
• Digipak site from U.S. manufacturer Oasis Disc
• Hub-pack (Soft Spot®) referred to as generic digipak by some in spite of using nearly none of the plastic of a full Digipak tray
• 100% post-consumer PET Digipak tray made from reclaimed water and soda bottles

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