DS Smith and Finnish fresh herb and salad producer Famifarm Oy have teamed up on a project to create a recyclable fibre-based packaging solution to enhance processes on the packaging and unpacking lines.
The Famifarm products are transported from the company’s greenhouses to outlets across Finland. The DS Smith packaging innovation for the brand’s transport boxes features a hatch mechanism to allow them to be opened ‘speedily and with limited effort’.
DS Smith claimed that the packaging is ergonomic and shown to be effective in speeding up the unpacking process for customers by ‘up to around four times’ compared to previous packaging solutions. The boxes are also easy to fold after use.
Jussi Loimusalo, CEO of Famifarm Oy, said, “Our customers, such as the retail chains, have really liked the new functional transport box, which saves a lot of time for their employees. We value our packaging partner’s transparency, commitment to sustainability, and reliability, and DS Smith has demonstrated an in-depth understanding of our operations which actively contributed to our joint product development. We are not looking for quick wins, but a long-term cooperation.”
The transport boxes display brand messaging printed on the exterior surface of the fibre-based packaging. Jussi Loimusalo added, “Our newly innovated corrugated cardboard boxes are of prime quality and look great. The brand must be prominently displayed.”
The idea for the packaging was contributed to and developed by Jyrki Petrelius, cluster design creative specialist at DS Smith, alongside Veli-Matti Karvonen, automation expert and development manager at DS Smith in Finland.
“This packaging solution was designed for an automated packaging line and is intended to enhance the business of our customers’ customers, i.e retail stores and outlets,” Jyrki Petrelius stated. “At the same time, the solution is versatile and suitable for large and small retail and grocery environments. The packaging protects fresh products as before, but now speeds up unpacking. The new unpacking method makes the process easier.”
