DS Smith facilitates packing and unpacking with produce transportation boxes

DS Smith has partnered with Famifarm Oy, a Finnish fresh herb and salad company, to present a recyclable, fiber-based transportation box that can optimize packing and unpacking lines. The box features a hatch mechanism that is said to open quickly and effortlessly.

Jussi Loimusalo, CEO at Famifarm Oy, says: “Our customers, such as the retail chains, like 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 long-term cooperation.”

Famifarm Oy requested a solution to ease transportation of fresh products from its greenhouses to stores around Finland. DS Smith describes the transportation boxes as ergonomic, as they are easy to fold after use. They are said to speed up the unpacking process for Famifarm customers by up to around four times, compared to previous packaging solutions.

Brand messaging is printed on the exterior surface of the fiber-based packaging. According to Loimusalo, this attention to aesthetics and the details of the product are “as essential as the brand’s design ethos.”

“Our new corrugated cardboard boxes are of prime quality and look great. The brand must be prominently displayed,” he adds.

The importance of packaging design 

The packaging was designed by Jyrki Petrelius, cluster design creative specialist at DS Smith, and Veli-Matti Karvonen, automation expert and development manager at DS Smith in Finland.

Petrelius says: “This solution was designed for an automated packaging line and is intended to enhance the business of our customers’ customers, such as retail stores and outlets. 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.”

Famifarm Oy is the largest producer of potted herbs and salads in the country. There, the customers recognize it for its “Järvikylä” brand and logo showing an illustration of the family manor house and the year 1674. 

Recently, DS Smith provided its Tape Back box for e-commerce returns to a Greek apparel company.