DS Smith Invests $140 Million in Research

New testing center to enhance cardboard stability, cut G-force shock in boxed shipments

Sustainable packaging leader DS Smith, bolstering its commitment to accelerate its work in the circular economy, announced today a $140 million investment in research and development, including developing new materials to replace plastics and a testing program to strengthen corrugated cardboard and reduce G-force shock in home delivery packaging.

The manufacturing and design company’s focus on applying science to fiber is a key driver of its Now and Next sustainability strategy, offering all customers 100% recyclable packaging within two years and replacing a billion pieces of supermarket and e-commerce plastic by 2025.

The additional investment over five years includes the creation of a prototyping and testing facility in the UK to fast-track next generation technology and work with research partners globally.

“How we live our lives is changing fast due to many factors and how we all take care of the environment is a top priority. We are now investing more than previous years to ensure that we are leading this change and can offer customers packaging that has less impact on the environment,” said DS Smith CEO Miles Roberts.

The drive to innovate sustainable packaging that is fiber-based and fully recyclable comes after recent company surveys that showed U.S. retailers and supply chains need to be prepared for more online shopping and high consumer demand for effective packaging.

“We continue to focus on reducing our impact of our operations on the environment but importantly, we are able to contribute to wider society by providing circular packaging solutions that eliminates waste and re-uses valuable resources,” Miles said.

Among the most notable, the company plans real world analysis of e-commerce home delivery supply chains, including measurement of G-force impacts on packages in transit, to reduce waste and prevent damaged parcels.