It’s been a while since I’ve done a Packaging Geek post. If you know me, you’ll be aware that I don’t like missing a good packaging spot… especially when I manage to find two in one day.

While visiting the beautiful St Ives (and getting incredibly lucky with the weather), I came across a major house renovation project. The entire roof appeared to have been removed and replaced with a huge canvas cover supported by scaffolding.

What caught my eye, however, was how the structure was being weighted down. Some trusty and very robust IBCs appeared to be doing the job perfectly. I’m guessing they were filled with water to provide the necessary ballast.

Then, later in the day, came an even rarer sighting. A 64L Total Opening CurTec keg in brown with a beige lid.

Now, fellow packaging enthusiasts will appreciate just how unusual that is. These are not something you typically see out in the wild. They’re more commonly found inside pharmaceutical, chemical or food manufacturing facilities, protecting valuable products.

Yet here it was, being used by another scaffolding company as part of a building project.

There seems to be a lot of construction work happening in St Ives, and it was fascinating to see packaging playing such unusual, but genuinely useful, roles beyond its original purpose.

It’s always nice to be reminded that good packaging doesn’t necessarily stop being useful once its first job is done.

Has anyone else spotted packaging being used in unexpected ways recently?