International packaging provider DS Smith has collaborated with Romanian tomato producer Serele SupeR to eliminate 10mn plastic trays over three years
DS Smith, an International Paper company, and leading global provider of sustainable and fibre-based packaging solutions, has partnered with the Serele SupeR agricultural cooperative in Romania to replace 10mn plastic packages with circular, recyclable, fibre-based and FSC-certified corrugated cardboard solutions.
The DS Smith design team assessed a variety of Serele SupeR single-use packages that were previously used to hold the producer’s fresh tomato products and have instead created a selection of four sustainable, fibre-based, corrugated cardboard punnets.
The new punnets are described as faster and easier to pack on the production line, and are 100 per cent recyclable at the end of their lifespan.
According to the group, the DS Smith punnets also feature an angled corner design to hold specific cherry tomato varieties with different dimension requirements.
In addition, the tomato punnets are wrapped in a recyclable and flexible film to enhance their appeal on-shelf and stand-out for consumers in-store.
As a result of the new DS Smith packaging solution, Serele SupeR claims to have achieved “significant benefits” within a three-year trial period.
These benefits include 10mn plastic trays being eliminated and replaced with corrugated cardboard and fibre-based punnet solutions made from 100 per cent renewable and FSC-certified materials; a reduction in carbon emissions, with 46 per cent less CO2 compared to PET packaging; the optimisation of material consumption increased by up to 21 per cent without compromising on product protection; and increased efficiency in logistical processes for contemporary retail requirements.
“Our partnership with Serele SupeR demonstrates how we can add value through circular design and innovation in packaging,” said Christian Schmidt, managing director DS Smith Packaging, România.
”We have managed to significantly reduce plastic use, lower emissions, and support Serele SupeR in their sustainability targets.
”The new designs demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of sustainable packaging to the wider horticultural sector in Romania, and so perhaps other fresh produce producers will start to see this approach as the new norm,” he continued.
”We are proud of the results led by our solution so far and continue to support Serele SupeR as they move towards a circular economy.”
In embracing a transition to sustainable and fibre-based packaging solutions, Serele SupeR said it also hopes to differentiate its brand within the competitive local marketplace.
“For us, the transition to sustainable packaging is not just an operational change, but a strategic and responsible decision,” noted Silvia Răileanu, founder, Serele SupeR.
”We wanted to find a solution that would meet the needs of our consumers and partners, but also really reduce our environmental impact.
”The collaboration with DS Smith offers us more than just innovative packaging – it gives us a direction for sustainable growth,” she explained.
”This transformation strengthens our relationship with retailers and the consumers who choose our products, who are increasingly mindful of their environmental impact.
”Behind our corrugated punnets is a wide strategy: we have integrated sustainability principles into the entire supply chain to build lasting value and trust in the long term,” Răileanu noted.
”We strongly believe that strong partnerships, such as the one with DS Smith, can accelerate systemic change and can set new standards in agriculture and packaging.”
