DS Smith has revealed it is supplying a Closed-Type Tray solution for the transportation of kiwifruit and other fresh fruit and vegetable products to producers in the Greek market.
The solution is intended to meet the requirements of transatlantic journeys that exceed 45 days and designed to ensure ‘optimal’ product quality and freshness. The tray comprises lightweight materials for increased loading capacity, providing protection throughout the duration of the supply chain process.
DS Smith explained that the packaging can be adapted to a range of requirements, with 10kg trays, inclusive of a body, base, and top lid. The lid is fully integrated into the design, while a die-cut technique is applied to create holes in the side for ventilation purposes. The strength comes from an internal structural design featuring reinforced corners.
The trays are comprised of fibre-based materials manufactured out of a virgin paper with a specific weight to ensure strength and durability.
Prior to export, fresh fruit producers have the option to place their own intelligent atmosphere and temperature-controlled bags inside the sealed trays to manage and optimise the required travel conditions for their products.
In order to utilise the minimal amount of material in line with DS Smith’s Circular Design Principles analysis, the design and implementation team used Circular Design Metrics (CDM) tools to rate and compare the circularity of a packaging design across eight different indicators – ranging from supply chain optimisation, recyclability, materials utilisation and carbon footprint, to renewable source.
Giorgos Filippoglou, MD, Greek cluster, packaging division, DS Smith Hellas, said, “At DS Smith, sustainability and innovation are at the core of every packaging solution we design and especially for critical sectors such as agri-food, where product safety, freshness, and quality are paramount. We used our Circular Design Metrics (CDM) tools to ensure that this packaging solution is fully recyclable and created for easy collection, processing, and reintegration into the supply chain as raw material. Its focus is on performance optimisation, durability, and functionality, and it is lightweight to meet the demands of these international supply chains.”
