Smurfit Kappa replaces EPS frozen food packaging with eco-centric paper-based alternative

12 Jun 2020 --- Smurfit Kappa has launched an eco-centric packaging solution that keeps frozen and chilled foods fresh throughout the supply chain. Made from a 100 percent paper-based combination of Hexacomb and corrugated materials, the Thermo Box keeps frozen food including fish at temperatures similar to expanded polystyrene (EPS) boxes. For this solution, Smurfit Kappa was approached by Netherlands-headquartered Patani Global Food, a global supplier of fresh and frozen foods including vegetables, meat and fish and non-food products for the catering industry.

“Smurfit Kappa undertook an analysis of its supply chain to grasp all the challenges and complexities. We did a series of temperature tests to compare the new pack with the EPS box and the results showed that the Thermo Box is a really excellent product that more than fits the brief. The average temperature was even kept lower for a longer time than when using the EPS boxes,” says Patrick Oostveen, Managing Director at Patani Global Food.

Patani Global Food ships goods from Amsterdam to worldwide locations including to the Antilles Islands in the Caribbean using EPS boxes. However, a rise in the amount of litter that was washing up on the idyllic beaches in the region had led to a future ban on plastic waste so the company wanted an alternative solution that would not harm the environment.

While the majority of existing temperature-controlled food packaging solutions depend on using EPS due to its insulation properties, Smurfit Kappa’s new Thermo Box is marketed as 100 percent recyclable. The pack also offers greater flexibility than EPS as it can be stored flat therefore reducing warehouse costs. Likewise, different sizes can be easily created and the corrugated exterior offers ample branding opportunities.

The product is the latest addition to Smurfit Kappa’s Better Planet Packaging portfolio of products, many of which are popular substitutions for single-use plastic. Launched in 2018, Smurfit Kappa’s Better Planet Packaging initiative seeks to reduce packaging waste through design, research and development and industry expertise.

“This project was the result of a successful collaborative process between Smurfit Kappa and Patani Global Food. Our starting point, as always, was to see how we could provide a completely biodegradable product that would not compromise on any of the required functionality,” notes Arco Berkenbosch, Smurfit Kappa VP of Innovation & Development. 

The Thermo Box is currently available in a range of countries across Europe. “The paper-based Better Planet Packaging solution we came up with draws strength from its corrugated and honeycomb capabilities and offers significant potential for both fresh and frozen goods and, indeed, the e-commerce sector,” adds Berkenbosch.

Last month, “Conscious Consumerism” was pegged by Smurfit Kappa as a primary consumer force driving eco-centric business models. Within this shift, the burgeoning demand for transparency, propelled by next-generation consumers, is emphasized. 

The packaging specialist has reported significant progress in reducing its relative CO2 emissions in its recently published 13th annual Sustainable Development Report (SDR). The leading paper-based packaging provider recorded a 32.9 percent reduction in fossil CO2 emission intensity between 2005 and 2019. 

Moving ahead, the company expects environmental sustainability to remain a priority for businesses in a post-COVID-19 era, propelled by what is coined “The Consumer Effect.”

Edited by Benjamin Ferrer

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