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2022 winners highlight innovation and sustainability in recycled and virgin fibre-based packaging

The judges of the 2022 European Carton Excellence Awards have revealed the winners of the 2022 competition. Rutgers Printing & Packaging Solutions ‘masterpiece of elementary and sustainable design’ for cherry tomatoes was crowned the Carton of the Year during the annual European Carton Makers Association (ECMA) Congress in Kraków, Poland.

Made entirely from food-safe renewable virgin fibre cartonboard manufactured by Stora Enso, the folding box strikes the perfect balance between maximising product visibility while maintaining rigidity. With a smooth white surface and unbleached inside, it conveys absolute eco-friendliness, and it is easily re-closable with a ‘click’ even after multiple uses, reassuring consumers that it is locked. Thanks to its shape, more boxes can be placed on a pallet than traditional plastic designs, saving costs, increasing transportation efficiency and reducing emissions. Crucially, approximately 67 tonnes of plastic are avoided by using cartonboard for 1 million boxes. After use, the boxes can be completely flattened and disposed of in the carton recycling stream.

Carton of the year: Cherry tomatoes packCarton of the year: Cherry tomatoes pack

The judges – including consultant for branding and design, Satkar Gidda, leading packaging designer Susanne Lippitsch and Global Packaging Director for Unilever, Sanjeev Das – were keen to praise the simplicity of the design, which can be opened with one hand. They also appreciated the presentation of the pack – remarking that it looks great on the table, on the shelf and in the refrigerator – as well as the design of the airflow with the cherry tomato-style punched in holes. Together, all these elements – combined with the fact that it is a single-piece construction – resulted in it being selected as the Carton of the Year.

In addition to the Carton of the Year, winners were also selected across a number of other categories including Sustainability, Innovation, General Packaging – Virgin Fibre, General Packaging – Recycled Fibre, Food & Drink Packaging – Virgin Fibre and Food & Drink Packaging – Recycled Fibre. Platinum and Gold awards were also given to designs that the judges deemed particularly outstanding and deserved special recognition.

Sustainability success

Van Genechten Packaging’s flexible solution for Herbal Essences’ Shampoo Conditioner bundle, created using cartonboard from Metsä Board, scooped the top award in the Sustainability category thanks to its simple, effective design which uses minimal cartonboard while perfectly holding the products together. In addition to its sustainability credentials, the sleeve also creates a new communication platform, allows cross-selling of different products, and has proven to be an excellent sales accelerator. The cut-out windows also allow the consumer to view the scent or flavour of the product inside as well as enabling them to easily read the ingredients list.

The judges praised the design, commenting on its simple yet effective on-shelf appeal and ability to heighten brand communication. “The presentation is fantastic and the consumer knew exactly how it should be used as the brand and content message are very quickly conveyed”, they commented.

Sustainability category winner: Herbal Essences Shampoo Conditioner bundleSustainability category winner: Herbal Essences Shampoo Conditioner bundle

Incredible Innovation Board Supplier West Rock

“Minimalistic yet premium” sums up the winning pack design from WestRock for Nestlé’s Sanpellegrino® Aranciata Rossa in the Innovation category.  Carton converter and manufacturer WestRock created the Cluster-Pak carrier with barcode masking at the top and can-locker at the bottom, allowing for clean 360° product visibility and billboarding while still using as little material as possible. As Sanpellegrino is exported globally to markets where barcodes need to be covered at the point of sale, it required a folded panel at the top to avoid a single unit scan when buying a multipack. By using a mechanical lock, it is also glue-free and easy to recycle. According to the judges “it’s the locking system of this carton construction that is so amazing as it locks without glue and is fundamentally very stable and functional.”

Innovation Category Winner: Sanpellegrino Aranciata Rossa by NestleInnovation Category Winner: Sanpellegrino Aranciata Rossa by Nestle

General Packaging – Virgin Fibre

Faller Packaging took home the General Packaging – Virgin Fibre award for its PleioFlow RF Device carrier using cartonboard from Holmen Iggesund. Designed to keep this complex medical device – with all its wires, tubes and instruments – in a stable position, guarantee its safety and protect the micro-biological barrier, the functionality of this carrier is its most important attribute. The unprinted card allows the SterinClin pouches to be visually inspected for any particle residues in the pouches themselves as well as in the cracks and any other damage that may occur. It is also easy for surgeons to open and unmount the product from the carrier within the sterile surrounding of the operating theatre – “a masterpiece of plastic replacement and a simple example of cartonboard for the medical industry” according to the judges.

General Packaging – Virgin Fibre award for its PleioFlow RF Device carrier General Packaging – Virgin Fibre award for its PleioFlow RF Device carrier

General Packaging – Recycled Fibre

Lucaprint’s Fanton Power strip Relife won the General Packaging – Recycled Fibre category for its new eco-sustainable line of ‘Made in Italy’ multi-sockets, created with RDM’s certified recycled cartonboard material. The packaging, which replaces classic plastic wrapping with recycled cartonboard, is equipped with a tamper-evident system and the case is optimised for the industrial process. A completely mono-material case concept, it does not have a lining or coating, highlighting the sustainability credentials of the contents. Overall, the packaging protects the product and makes it visible to the consumer, providing excellent on-shelf presentation and branding. The judges described it as “a wonderful piece of cartonboard engineering which fixes the product inside.”

General Packaging - Recycled Fibre winner: Fanton Power striip RelifeGeneral Packaging - Recycled Fibre winner: Fanton Power striip Relife

Food & Drink Packaging – Virgin Fibre

Autajon Durero Packaging’s design for Match Tonic bottles was crowned Food & Drink Packaging – Virgin Fibre winner thanks to the innovative design of its e-commerce pack specifically conceived to house four units of the company’s square recycled glass bottles. The package uses Stora Enso cartonboard. Matching the aesthetics of the bottle – square with round corners in the shape of a basket – the multi-pack unit design features folding handles that mean it is easy to carry and space-efficient for transportation. Multiple layers can also be stacked on pallets without the need for additional protective sheets. The structure is user-friendly and ergonomic while the graphics are simple and clean resulting in a visually striking end design. According to the judges, the pack is very clever thanks to its “optimal use of material – not too much, not too little. It perfectly wraps around the shape of the bottles and has an attractive, minimalistic graphic design.”

Food & Drink packaging - Virgin Fibre winner: Match Tonic bottlesFood & Drink packaging - Virgin Fibre winner: Match Tonic bottles

Food & Drink Packaging – Recycled Fibre

MM Packaging’s potato pack – winner of the Food & Drink Packaging – Recycled Fibre award – is, according to the judges, “a fantastic piece of work that can be opened and closed very easily with comfortable carrying ergonomics.” The cartonboard is manufactured by MM Board & Paper, and is entirely plastic-free, the box features a convenient carrying handle and solid crash lock bottom. A clear cellulose window film – which is food grade, biodegradable and OK compost HOME certified – means the freshness of the potatoes can be inspected by consumers before purchase, while the smooth, easily printable surface provides ample space for graphics, recipe solutions and large barcodes. The shape of the pack is interesting for a retail environment, providing excellent on-shelf stand-out and brand communication opportunities.

Food & Drink Packaging - Recycled Fibre winner: Potato packFood & Drink Packaging - Recycled Fibre winner: Potato pack

Winfried Muehling, General Manager of Pro Carton commented: “We were truly excited and proud by the quality of the entries for the European Carton Excellence Awards this year. The designs are becoming increasingly more sophisticated and diverse, with a greater focus on consumer handling and material usage. Over the years, the environmental value of cartons and cartonboard has become more significant. The 2022 entries clearly document the lead cartonboard and folding boxes take on the road to circularity. True symbols of change.

We extend our congratulations to all the winners of the European Carton Excellence Awards and thank all those who entered. We look forward to hearing even more about their successes in the year to come and invite all companies to enter again next year.”

About Pro Carton

Pro Carton is the European Association of Carton and Cartonboard manufacturers. Its main purpose is to promote the use of cartons and cartonboard as an economically and ecologically balanced packaging medium. www.procarton.com 

The purchase of PaperBox expands both the company’s presence in Brazil and its product portfolio

2022 09 19 084455Smurfit Kappa, one of the world’s leading suppliers of paper-based packaging, announced it has signed an agreement to acquire PaperBox, a packaging plant located in Saquarema, 70 kms east of Rio de Janeiro. The transaction, which is subject to the approval of regulatory bodies, is expected to close at the end of October.

Brazil is the largest corrugated cardboard market in Latin America, with 7.4 bn sq m produced annually, and the Southeast region, where PaperBox is located, equates to 46% of this volume. This acquisition represents a further expansion of Smurfit Kappa’s operational footprint in Brazil as it currently operates in three other states: Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul and Ceará.

“We are very proud to expand our footprint in Brazil to meet the growing demand for innovative and sustainable packaging. This acquisition will broaden and strengthen our presence in the country, improve our production capabilities and enable us to continue to create new opportunities and form new partnerships with customers,” said Laurent Sellier, CEO of Smurfit Kappa in the Americas.

Manuel Alcalá, CEO of Smurfit Kappa in Brazil, added: “Smurfit Kappa believes in Brazil and in the opportunities to deliver growth by continuing to add value to our customers business. PaperBox has a distinguished history in the region and a special commitment to all stakeholders. This is a legacy that Smurfit Kappa will build upon.”

PullPac has received yet another intention to grant from the EPO (European Patent Office), further refining its pioneering cellulose forming technology for competitive fiber-based packaging and single-use products

The new intention to grant comprises a method for producing discrete three-dimensional cellulose products from an air-formed cellulose blank structure in a rotary forming mould system.

Peter Ekwall, Chief Intellectual Property Officer at PulPac explains “We continue to use the already established air-formed cellulose blank structure, but now it is fed to the rotary forming mould and we apply a forming temperature in the range of 100°C to 300°C and a forming pressure of at least 1 MPa, preferably 4-20 MPa”

Dry Molded Fiber sample lids - showing examples of applications that can be made with the pioneering fiber forming technology developed by PulPac.Dry Molded Fiber sample lids - showing examples of applications that can be made with the pioneering fiber forming technology developed by PulPac.

PulPac continuously develops its already established Dry Molded Fiber technology, and the rotary forming system will pose a viable alternative for certain products going forward.  

“We continue to add value to Dry Molded Fiber and keep our licensees at the forefront of fiber forming by constantly pushing technology development forward. In addition to the 30 patent families with 119 granted national patents and plus 50 pending patent applications, I expect an average of two new patent applications a month going forward”, Ekwall continues.   

Dry Molded Fiber is a fiber forming technology that can replace single-use plastic with sustainable fiber-based alternatives at low cost.

About PulPac
PulPac provides the packaging industry with a groundbreaking manufacturing technology for low-cost, high-performance fiber-based packaging and single-use products. By pioneering the technology of cellulose molding PulPac enables their customers to replace single-use plastics with a sustainable and cost competitive alternative globally. 

For additional information about PulPac, please visit www.pulpac.com or follow us on social media.

About Dry Molded Fiber
Dry Molded Fiber, invented and patented by PulPac, is a manufacturing technology designed for the circular economy – using renewable pulp and cellulose resources to produce low cost, high performance, fiber-based packaging, and single-use products. Dry Molded Fiber gives up to 80-90% lower CO2 footprint at similar cost as plastic. It is up to ten times as efficient as conventional fiber molding invented over 100 years ago. The dry process also saves massive amounts of valuable water resources. In addition, energy savings are significant - as the molded products need no drying.

Yash Pakka Limited has awarded AFRY basic engineering assignment for the Ayodhya packaging material production facility expansion project in India. The expansion enables Yash Pakka to increase sustainable packaging materials production and, at the same time, continue to be low-carbon with 100% bio-based energy.

2019 11 25 090513Yash Pakka is a leading provider of packaging solutions in paper and compostable tableware. Company’s bagasse fiber-based products are compostable, fossil-free and low-carbon alternatives integrating bio-based solutions that provide a green alternative to single-use plastic, styrofoam and other fossil-based materials. Yash Pakka’s target is a green and circular economy comprising materials that are renewable, recyclable and can easily go back to Earth. This is effective approach in minimising waste and combatting climate change.

AFRY’s basic engineering study contains specialty paper machine of 100 MT per day to lead towards flexible packaging with furnish, utilising max strength of agro residue bagass, biofuel based 10 MW of Cogen plant, pulp capacity enhancement by augmentation of Pulp Mill by another 75% as well as support infrastructure in line with increased output of pulp and paper machine.

"We are proud to be selected Yash Pakka’s partner in their innovative and environmentally friendly production expansion project. Capturing the full potential of bio-based industries will be an enabler in mitigating climate change. By increasing the value of bio-based materials, reducing waste and embracing circular solutions, we will reach higher resource efficiency", says Antonio Bernucci, Head of Process Industries in SEA at AFRY.

Facts about sustainable packaging Legislation and brand owner’s requirements drive the packaging material market towards new, sustainable solutions. New opportunities appear especially for fibre-based materials. Read more:  https://afry.com/en/area/pulp-paper-0?sector=1402

AFRY is a European leader in engineering, design, and advisory services, with a global reach. We accelerate the transition towards a sustainable society.

We are 17,000 devoted experts in infrastructure, industry, energy and digitalisation, creating sustainable solutions for generations to come.

Making Future

Pro Carton, the European association for carton and cartonboard manufacturers, is calling on members of the public to place their votes and help select the public award winners in the 2022 European Carton Excellence Award (ECEA) and Pro Carton Young Designers Award (PCYDA).

Vote for your favourite packaging concepts

Public voting is now open for the European Carton Excellence Public Award (ECEA). As the continent’s leading sustainable packaging design competition, the award recognises the creative work and industry expertise of carton manufacturers and converters.

WestRock won the Public Award last year with its Smarties Giant Hexatube. The design is made entirely from cartonboard, replacing the plastic cap and plastic shrink seal in the previous Smarties packaging to save the environment from over 100 tonnes of plastic per year. The pack is one of WestRock’s most technically difficult to produce due to high levels of cutting and creasing accuracy, which ensure the product can be filled consistently at high speed in the factory and its tamper evidence function is not hindered.

The entries selected for public voting this year represent the best of the European folding carton industry. The shortlist comprises 24 solutions that cover a diverse range of applications. The judges were astounded by the quality and functionality of this year’s entries submitted by some of the most recognisable cartonboard mills, converters and designers in the industry. The finalists not only captured the judges’ attention for their innovative approach to packaging design, but their ability to convey the importance of environmentally friendly and sustainable packaging concepts to the consumer.

2022 08 03 113421

Select this year’s winning Young Designers

Voting is also open for Europe’s leading annual young talent competition for packaging design, Pro Carton’s Young Designers Award (PCYDA), which calls on students to design and create creative cartonboard concepts in four categories: Food & Drink, All Other, Creative Cartonboard Ideas and Sustainability.

This year’s PCYDA saw more than 830 entries from over 100 universities and colleges across Europe - breaking the 2021 record. Judges were hugely impressed with the creativity and innovation of the entries, as well as the professional presentation of the videos that were submitted to accompany each design. The best 25 designs are now open for the public to choose their favourite, and can be found on the Pro Carton website here.

Voting for both the European Carton Excellence Awards and Pro Carton Young Designers Award is now open on the Pro Carton website. For both awards, members of the public can vote once per entry, with three votes available in total. Voting closes on Friday, 26 August. The winners will be announced at an Awards Gala on 15 September in Krakow, Poland.

Commenting on the quality of this year’s entries, Winfried Muehling, General Manager of Pro Carton said: “I was truly impressed with the quality of the entries for the European Carton Excellence Award and the Pro Carton Young Designers Award! So many entries scored highly across the awards criteria; from appearance and creativity to protection and authenticity. We’d love the general public to help us decide the winner of the public vote by selecting their favourite and look forward to announcing the winning entrants this September!”

For more information and to place your vote in this year’s European Carton Excellence Award (ECEA), and Pro Carton Young Designers Award (PCYDA) visit the Pro Carton website today: http://www.procarton.com. The Pro Carton Student Video Award will also shortly open for public voting. More information will be announced in due course.

About Pro Carton

Pro Carton is the European Association of Carton and Cartonboard manufacturers. Its main purpose is to promote the use of cartons and cartonboard as an economically and ecologically balanced packaging medium. www.procarton.com 

What is cartonboard?

Cartonboard is a multilayer paper-based material with, usually, three or more layers of fibre derived from wood, or recycled materials such as paper or cartonboard. It is often used in packaging to make cartons for everyday products, such as breakfast cereals, frozen foods, luxury fragrances and pharmaceuticals.

DS Smith has partnered with Veetee to create a sector-leading, fully recyclable Rice Box with the aim of removing over 50 tonnes of problem plastic

Delivering sustainable packaging with optimal consumer convenience significantly increases a brand’s chance of standing out on the shelf. Veetee Rice Ltd’s dry rice pack is a sector-leading solution that removes the need to use plastic bags or standard skillets in its packaging, with a box lid that can be removed, used as a measure, and then reseals the pack for ease of storage.

As one of the UK’s largest rice companies, Veetee’s pioneering solution is a fully recyclable fibre-based rice box with a unique portion measure and was created by DS Smith who works closely with their customers to support the removal of problem plastics from supermarket shelves.

The innovative solution reinforces both companies’ position as sector leaders in plastic replacement, as the fully fibre-based box replaces existing plastic bag options currently on the market and aims to remove over 50 tonnes of plastic from the UK market.

FTSE 100 sustainable packaging company DS Smith worked closely with Veetee and its design brief to create a product that is not only friendlier on the environment but makes it simple for customers to measure portions using a replaceable box lid. The concept of incorporating the portion measure is unique to the sector, solving a consumer problem and helping the brand to stand out from its competitors.

 Veetee rice box 2            

Dave Ellerington, Head of Design & Innovation and Business Development at DS Smith Packaging UK & Ireland said: “It’s been excellent to work with Veetee who share our goal of reducing the use of harmful plastics and giving consumers truly sustainable options. We were able to use our unique circular design principles and metrics in the development of this design to ensure the final product is convenient for customers as well as being sustainable. 

“Our work with Veetee has once again been able to show how packaging is vital for brands who are looking to become more circular and reduce their environmental impact”.

James Brett, Marketing Director for Veetee Group said: “Working with DS Smith to create our industry-leading rice box has allowed us to achieve our goal of selling our product that is a premium, sustainable solution and disruptive on the shelf. We’re also proud to be providing an enhanced customer experience through the box’s unique portion measure, meaning the packaging helps our brand stand out from the crowd”.

The pack has been developed to be filled on Veetee’s fully automated packing lines and within its existing footprint to maximise and improve supply chain efficiency. Following design, development, and manufacturing in the UK, the rice box was first launched in the US in May 2021 before being sold in major UK supermarkets.

CASE STUDY

Market-first rice box champions sustainability in sector

DS Smith has partnered with Veetee to remove over 50 tonnes of problem plastic with innovative fully recyclable fibre-based rice box

Veetee Rice Ltd – one of the largest rice companies in the UK, supplying rice to major supermarkets and exporting internationally to over 50 countries – has partnered with DS Smith to create packaging that optimises consumer convenience and helps it stand out on supermarket aisles, whilst designing-out unnecessary plastics.

Veetee sought to introduce several new features to their packaging design including developing a premium dry rice pack for supermarkets, replacing plastic bags with a carton board pack and ensuring the carton was leak-proof and stable when being filled on Veetee’s automated packing lines.

In collaboration with Veetee, DS Smith’s technical and operational experts went through a series of design developments. The final product successfully designed-out the need for plastic bags and created a lid that doubled up as a portion measure, which is unique in the sector.

The concept of incorporating the portion measure solves a consumer problem and helps Veetee to stand out from its competitors. The new packaging design – which is a fully recyclable fibre-based box –aims to remove more than 50 tonnes of plastic from the UK market and demonstrates DS Smith’s continued expertise in replacing problem plastic.

Dave Ellerington, Head of Design & Innovation and Business Development at DS Smith Packaging UK & Ireland said: “Reducing the volume unnecessary plastics in circulation and giving consumers truly sustainable options are two goals that we share with Veetee. We used our unique circular design principles in the development of this solution, to ensure the final product would maintain and optimise materials whilst being fully recyclable. 

“Our work with Veetee has once again highlighted why packaging cannot be overlooked by brands looking to reduce their environmental impact. It’s really satisfying knowing that our solution will remove over 50 tonnes of problem plastic from circulation, avoiding further waste being sent to landfill or ending up in our environment.”

James Brett, Marketing Director for Veetee Group said: “Working with DS Smith to create our market-first rice box has allowed us to achieve our goal of selling a product that is not only premium, but disruptive and sustainable. We’re proud to be providing an enhanced customer experience as the only brand to include a portion measure within the packaging’s design.”

The rice box has been developed to be filled on Veetee’s fully automated packing lines and within its existing footprint to maximise and improve supply chain efficiency. The one-piece design enables a high-quality print to be used on the inside and outside of the carton, creating an enhanced customer opening experience. The complex double-skinned construction creates a collar for the lid, whereas most other carton packs are single skinned.

The pack is entirely designed, developed and manufactured in the UK at DS Smith’s Neath site.

For more information on DS Smith, please visit: https://www.dssmith.com/packaging

For more information on Veetee Rice, please visit: https://www.veetee.com/

About DS Smith:

DS Smith is a leading provider of sustainable fibre-based packaging worldwide, which is supported by recycling and papermaking operations. It plays a central role in the value chain across sectors including e-commerce, fast moving consumer goods and industrials. Through its purpose of ‘Redefining Packaging for a Changing World’ and its Now and Next sustainability strategy, DS Smith is committed to leading the transition to the circular economy, while delivering more circular solutions for its customers and wider society – replacing problem plastics, taking carbon out of supply chains and providing innovative recycling solutions. Its bespoke box-to-box in 14 days model, design capabilities and innovation strategy sit at the heart of this response. Headquartered in London and a member of the FTSE 100, DS Smith operates in 34 countries employing around 30,000 people and is a Strategic Partner of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Its history can be traced back to the box-making businesses started in the 1940s by the Smith family.

Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, is investing nearly €65 million in three Consumer Flexibles packaging plants in Europe in order to meet growing customer demand for sustainable pet food packaging solutions. The European pet food market has grown significantly in recent years, driven by a consistent rise in pet ownership. This trend increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and is expected to continue for many years to come.[1]

  • Mondi to invest nearly €65 million to meet customers’ growing demand for sustainable packaging solutions.
  • Investment strengthens Mondi’s leading position in pet food packaging.
  • Production capacity to be increased at three Consumer Flexibles plants in Austria (Mondi Korneuburg) and Germany (Mondi Halle and Mondi Steinfeld).

This project is part of Mondi’s previously announced €1 billion expansionary capital investment programme to accelerate growth in sustainable packaging and will further strengthen its leading position in the pet food packaging market.

Work has already started at Mondi Korneuburg (Austria) and includes investments in new, state-of-the-art machinery and equipment as well as an expanded production area. These changes will lead to a capacity increase, solidifying the site’s position as a market leader in pre-made retort stand-up pouches for wet pet food.

MNDPR220a

The group is also investing in new, advanced machinery at Mondi Halle and Mondi Steinfeld in Germany, to increase production capacity of sustainable pre-made bag solutions for pet food, as well as home and personal care. This will enable future growth and support customers to switch from multi-layer, non-recyclable packaging to more sustainable alternatives such as mono-material recyclable stand-up pouches and paper-based pre-made bags.

Dirk Gabriel, COO Consumer Flexibles, Mondi says: “We take pride in being an innovative, agile partner for our customers. With this investment, we continue to take the lead in packaging solutions that are sustainable by design, especially in the pet food industry.

This investment also supports our Mondi Action Plan 2030 (MAP2030) sustainability framework which is focused on circular driven solutions, created by empowered people, taking action on climate. With these projects, we’re increasing operational efficiency and reducing our own energy consumption while also connecting our production network.”

[1] Wet pet food demand estimated to grow 5% a year between 2020 and 2025 according to Wood Mackenzie 2020 (PCI).

About Mondi

Mondi is a global leader in packaging and paper, contributing to a better world by making innovative packaging and paper solutions that are sustainable by design. Our business is integrated across the value chain – from managing forests and producing pulp, paper and plastic films, to developing and manufacturing effective industrial and consumer packaging solutions. Sustainability is at the centre of our strategy and intrinsic in the way we do business. We lead the industry with our customer-centric approach, EcoSolutions, where we ask the right questions to find the most sustainable solution. In 2021, Mondi had revenues of €7.7 billion and underlying EBITDA of €1.5 billion.

Mondi has a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange (MNDI), and a secondary listing on the JSE Limited (MNP). Mondi is a FTSE 100 constituent, and has been included in the FTSE4Good Index Series since 2008 and the FTSE/JSE Responsible Investment Index Series since 2007.

www.mondigroup.com

End-to-End Packaging Solutions for mitigating labor, efficiency, and waste-reduction challenges

SupplyOne, Inc., the largest independent supplier of custom corrugated and other value-added packaging products, equipment, and services in the U.S., highlights its comprehensive packaging automation equipment program, covering a full array of secondary, end of line solutions ranging from case erectors to shrink wrapping equipment and stretch wrappers, to thermoforming equipment and vacuum chamber sealers, or even an entire fully-automated packaging system.

SupplyOne delivers the right packaging equipment for the right application, from a broad range of recognized best-in-class manufacturers, supported by the SupplyOne network of locally available, factory-trained technicians with a track record of providing installation, on-site training, and maintenance services that keep production lines running at peak efficiency.

Line Layout and Design

2022 07 18 111131SupplyOne Equipment Specialists consult on the overall line layout and design, bringing strategic knowledge to make application-specific recommendations that enhance productivity, reduce downtime, extend equipment life, accelerate speed to market, and increase cash flow. Automating the retooling processes, for example, can dramatically improve the agility and throughput of packaging lines.

The specialists will identify industrial robots and autonomous solutions from leaders in the field that can help mitigate labor challenges, eliminate repetitive tasks, enhance product safety, increase the speed and accuracy of packaging processes and warehouse operations, and deliver a fast return on investment.

End-to-End Packaging Solution

SupplyOne’s goal is to serve as a total packaging supplier that partners with customers to keep costs down, improve efficiency and enhance throughput and sustainability? SupplyOne offers deep and broad packaging industry expertise, top equipment from trusted, best in class suppliers, and consumables optimized for the specific equipment and application, as well as exceptional locally available technical service.

About SupplyOne

SupplyOne is the largest independent supplier of custom corrugated and other value-added packaging products, equipment, and packaging-related services in the U.S. The company provides mid-sized manufacturers, food processors, and medical and e-commerce companies industry leading packaging programs and complete packaging solutions to reduce its customers’ total cost of packaging ownership from a single point of contact. The result? Better packaging, and enhanced efficiencies, speed to market, and cash flow. Since its founding in 1998, SupplyOne has become the acquirer of choice for privately held specialty corrugated packaging manufacturers and value-added packaging distributors. For more information about SupplyOne’s packaging solutions, contact SupplyOne at 484-582-5005, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit https://www.supplyone.com/.

Sustainable packaging firm leads plastic replacement fight

DS Smith has just announced that it has designed out over 313 million pieces of problem plastics in the last two years alone1 as part of its ambitious plastic replacement programme.

The significant figure equates to more than three million units per week, as customers and consumers demonstrate demand for fibre-based packaging as an alternative to hard-to-recycle plastics.

To meet this demand, DS Smith designers have worked with customers to create 1,000s of new innovations to replace plastic. Solutions have been created to remove everyday plastic items including ready-meal trays, plastic fruit and vegetable punnets and plastic six pack rings that pollute the planet. This all comes at a time when campaign groups are highlighting the amount of plastic that ends up as waste, making it more important than ever to remove them at the design phase.

Samantha Upham, Sustainability Business Partner – Sales, Marketing & Innovation commented: “With our help, customers are accelerating their ambitions to remove problem plastics from their products. By using our Circular Design Metrics, we can easily show not just where plastic can be replaced, but how circular their packaging is right now and where we can make improvements together.

145494 120633 DSSRM 3D Visuals for Premier Parasite Polypropylene 02

“All 700 of our designers have been trained in our Circular Design Principles, which means we can design out problem plastics at inception stage and find alternative fibre-based solutions which deliver the required attributes.”

Over the next year, DS Smith will continue to drive adoption of fibre-based alternatives amongst customers in response to consumer demand for plastic alternatives. In a recent survey commissioned by DS Smith, 4 in 10 consumers (41 per cent)2a wanted packaging made from alternative renewable sources, whilst in a separate survey, 52 per cent of Brits said they would purchase products that contain less plastic to help improve recycling rates in the UK.2b

As part of DS Smith’s Now & Next sustainability targets, the company has an ambition to take one billion pieces of problem plastics off supermarket shelves, replacing them with corrugated alternatives. DS Smith’s plastic replacement work and wider sustainability progress can be found in its latest sustainability report which can be found here.

  1. Over a 2-year period from May 2020 to April 2022
  2. Market research conducted by OnePoll:
    1. Consumer research: 2,000 UK adults who have shopped online in the past six months. Conducted between 17th June and 23rd June 2022 
    2. Consumer research: 2,000 UK adults who have shopped online in the past six months. Conducted between 17th June and 23rd June 2022

About DS Smith:  

DS Smith is a leading provider of sustainable fibre-based packaging worldwide, which is supported by recycling and papermaking operations. It plays a central role in the value chain across sectors including e-commerce, fast moving consumer goods and industrials.

Through its purpose of ‘Redefining Packaging for a Changing World’ and its Now and Next sustainability strategy, DS Smith is committed to leading the transition to the circular economy, while delivering more circular solutions for its customers and wider society – replacing problem plastics, taking carbon out of supply chains and providing innovative recycling solutions. Its bespoke box-to-box in 14 days model, design capabilities and innovation strategy sit at the heart of this response.

Headquartered in London and a member of the FTSE 100, DS Smith operates in 34 countries employing around 30,000 people and is a Strategic Partner of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Its history can be traced back to the box-making businesses started in the 1940s by the Smith family.

AGE Industries, Ltd, a leading supplier of innovative and custom packaging and shipping solutions for industry and government agencies, offers custom-designed corrugated packaging for manufacturers across many different markets, with boxes that securely protect products, reduce shipping costs and inventory through custom design, and visually appeal to retail customers.

  • Innovative solutions that protect products, reduce inventory and shipping costs, and visually appeals to consumers

Manufacturers rely on AGE Industries’ expertise and reputation for reliably delivering complete packaging solutions. Custom packaging solutions range from products as diverse as heavy, bulky automotive parts and major household appliances, to premium consumer electronics and fancy lingerie, to fresh and packaged foods.

For each application, the package designers at AGE Industries select among many different box types and inserts, including Die Cut, Full Overlap Slotted Container (FOL), Full Telescopic Design Container (FTD), and Overlap Slotted Container (OSC). They utilize software to optimize the shape and size of the box to efficiently and safely package the product(s) contained within, and to ensure the boxes can be stacked securely on a pallet, without wasted space. 

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AGE Industries excels at designing boxes that provide the optimal balance between the crush strength and weight/thickness to reduce the cost of materials and shipping. The use of recycled fibers also adds strength and reduces material costs. With a deep commitment to environmental sustainability, AGE Industries works with customers to ensure that packaging is curbside recyclable and is committed to ensuring that 100% of all waste and byproducts created in its manufacturing process will be recycled to make useful and safe products.

AGE Industries offers custom printing, with exceptional color matching, that increases brand awareness and supports point-of-purchase marketing campaigns. A variety of wax and varnish coating options are available. Additional customizations include partitions, eyelets, transparent windows, and die cut foam inserts

During the current supply chain challenges, customers rely on AGE Industries’ dynamic Just-In-Time (JIT) inventory management system and efficient operations for timely delivery of packaging materials to keep manufacturing and distribution flowing.

For more information about the AGE Industries, Ltd, visit www.ageindustries.com.

About AGE Industries, Ltd.

Founded by Arthur G. Eltzroth in 1974, AGE offers innovative custom packaging and shipping solutions for private industry and government agencies. AGE designs and manufactures corrugated boxes, fiber tubes, and wood crating for Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and New Mexico in the United States. AGE Box de Mexico, based out of Reynosa, Tamps. Mexico, provides custom corrugated packaging and overall packaging solutions for Mexico. AGE meets WBENC, Tx HUB, and CMBL certifications.

For more information, contact AGE Industries at 817-641-8178 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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