DS Smith has teamed up with Raymarine, a manufacturer of navigation systems and electronics for the commercial marine and recreational boating sector, to create an alternative to single-use plastic in the company’s radar product line packaging.
Fibre-based corrugated cardboard materials have been used to replace Expanded Polyethylene (EPE foam). DS Smith said the solution can ensure the radar products are provided with a ‘maximum’ protection against vibrations, unforeseeable physical impacts, and knocks, during transit and transportation.
A perpendicular shaped corrugated cardboard flute with a 90-degree angle has been incorporated into the packaging structure to provide built-in strength and a reinforced capacity to withstand shocks. Crumple zone layers have been introduced to deform and absorb energy in the event of any collision, while fibre-based air cushions provide additional support.
DS Smith added that the overall structure of the packaging contains precisely shaped corrugated cardboard inserts to ensure Raymarine’s Quantum radar products are held securely in place during any eventuality. The corrugated cardboard inserts are manufactured using a folding technique and within the design is an additional integral box to package product accessories and components separately.
The packaging can be made into a variety of different sizes. The innovation is said to have eliminated plastic and reduced CO2 emissions by over 60% a year in comparison to Raymarine’s previous packaging solutions.
Levente Szabó, cluster director, DS Smith, Hungary, said, “We are dedicated to helping our customers in finding new solutions for sustainable and circular ready packaging. When assessing a new packaging design our process and development research consider the type of materials used, production, transportation, distribution, and supply chain optimisation. This packaging for Raymarine is made from 84% recycled content versus 40% in previous packaging and it is 100% recyclable at end of life. We have successfully replaced EPE, and we can support manufacturers in both consumer and industrial sectors.”
Andrew Smith, VP, supply chain, Raymarine, added, “One of our objectives is to eliminate single-use plastics from our packaging, and thanks to our collaboration with DS Smith we are making positive progress towards that goal. The new packaging ensures that products from our radar range are well-protected during transit while also meeting the demands of diverse climatic conditions and long-haul international shipping. We’ve retained agility in our production process to accommodate varying order volumes, and we’re proud of the packaging’s visual impact, which is clearly branded, instantly recognisable, and aligned with our core values.”
