The solution features integrated ventilation and lightweight construction to maintain product freshness during long-haul shipments
International paper company DS Smith has said that 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 Closed-Type Tray solution has been created to meet the requirements of transatlantic journeys that exceed 45 days, DS Smith outlined.
”Designed to ensure optimal product quality and freshness, it consists of lightweight materials for increased loading capacity – providing protection throughout the duration of the supply chain process through to arrival at end destination,” the company explained.
The packaging is described as versatile and can be adapted to a different range of requirements, with 10kg trays, inclusive of a body, base, and top lid.
The lid is fully integrated into the design, DS Smith continued, with a die-cut technique applied to create holes in the side of the solution for optimum ventilation.
”The trays, which make for an effective alternative to plastic packaging solutions for the transportation of fresh fruit, are comprised of fibre-based materials manufactured out of a high-quality virgin paper with a specific weight to ensure strength and durability,” the group said.
”Similarly, the overall structure is key to preserving the freshness of the fruit products inside, and 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 their standard Circular Design Metrics (CDM) tools to rate and compare the circularity of a packaging design across eight different indicators.
These indicators ranged from supply chain optimisation, recyclability, materials utilisation and carbon footprint, to renewable source.
“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,” noted Giorgos Filippoglou, managing director, Greek cluster, packaging division, DS Smith Hellas.
”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,” Filippoglou added.
The Closed-Type Tray for the transportation of fresh fruit was supplied exclusively to kiwifruit producers in Greece until 2026, and DS Smith currently delivers around 1.5mn trays to customers worldwide each year.
