DS Smith and Coca-Cola HBC Austria have collaborated to replace plastic handles for 1.5 litre PET soft drink multi-packs with cardboard based outer packaging.
The new plastic replacement solution will be delivered to supermarkets in Austria from this month.
The packaging solution, DS Smith Lift Up, is described as a 100% recyclable corrugated handle which improves carry functionality for consumers.
Lift Up was designed using DS Smith’s Circular Design Metrics approach. The innovation can be applied to different bottle sizes and is manufactured in partnership with packaging machine manufacturer Krones. The carrier handle has a soft grip that makes products easy to carry while they remain secure. This has been designed for PET bottles for consumption at home.
Stefano Rossi, CEO packaging solutions division, DS Smith, stated, “We are proud to partner on this innovative packaging solution, driving out unnecessary waste and single-use plastic. The DS Smith Lift Up concept was designed using DS Smith’s Circular Design Metrics approach, so it uses the least amount of material possible, reduces impact on the environment and looks fantastic in stores and supermarkets.
“Collaboration with our partners Coca-Cola HBC and Krones is key to reducing single use plastics and delivering innovative change at scale. We hold sustainable design at the heart of what we do as a company, and this is a shining example of the opportunity for innovation in packaging to lead the way to a more sustainable future for manufacturers, retailers, and consumers.”
Marcel Martin, CCHBC’s chief corporate affairs and sustainability officer, said, “This is the first-ever packaging solution of its kind for 1.5 litre multipacks of Coca-Cola, Fanta and Sprite. It’s the result of our entrepreneurial mindset, an absolute belief in collaborating with trusted partners and our focus on reaching net zero emissions by 2040.”
The new packaging solution for 1.5 litre PET multi-packs will be used for Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, and Mezzo mix brands in Austria.
