DS Smith

LONDON, May 18, 2020 (Press Release) -The Covid-19 pandemic has forced many organisations to review their supply chains and, in many cases, revise traditional business models in favour of e-commerce – delivering their product direct to the consumer.

While many businesses are working tirelessly to meet the surge in demand of online orders, a large number of SMEs and local businesses across the country have had to adapt rapidly – often facing the prospect of transitioning their business online for the first time.

Uniting them all is a need for solutions that help increase their effectiveness when it comes to e-commerce. To support them at this time, packaging giant DS Smith has launched the Essential Solutions online e-commerce range - a simplified range of products designed to offer immediate solutions for organisations looking to transition online quickly and easily; particularly SMEs and local businesses who can benefit from a proven off-the-shelf product.

The range is comprised of solutions for the most popular applications including; letterbox packs, an essentials provisions box, a corrugated tray replacement for recyclable plastic crates and bottle packs. The solutions are available immediately online via their ePack webshop (www.dssmithepack.co.uk) with next day delivery available.

The range has been specially designed to be versatile, suiting products in a variety of sectors, including; food and drink, apparel and footwear, health and beauty, home and garden, Sports and leisure and pharmaceuticals

Rob Carle, UK Head of e-commerce Sales at DS Smith commented “During this uncertain time, we’re seeing many businesses facing supply chain challenges and needing to rapidly revise their traditional business models to include e-commerce. The Essential Solutions range gives businesses the support and assurance they need to adapt quickly and continue to get their goods out the door.”

DS Smith is renowned for its range of sustainable packaging solutions that support all sizes of businesses – from start-ups to FTSE100 companies.

To purchase any of the products from the range, the site offers a quick and easy sign up process where customers can then select the product that best suits their needs. For a personalised experience, the webshop team are available on the phone to guide prospective customers through the range and ensure they can be up and running promptly with the ideal product packaging.

Aimed at helping businesses transition online quickly, the Essential Solutions range responds to the evolving demands for packaging and offers solutions to promote, protect and contribute to efficient distribution at every stage. Businesses can be confident that their brand image is protected, products reach their customers in top condition and that their customers have an easy opening and frustration-free unboxing experience. 

Rob Carle, UK Head of e-commerce Sales at DS Smith commented “e-commerce packaging goes through 50 different touch points with the consideration of returns, making it a harrowing process for businesses who are embarking on this journey for the first time. We’ve been supporting businesses with their packaging challenges for years, and our scale, expertise and speed mean we are best placed to support with their e-commerce needs now and in the future.”

About DS Smith: 

DS Smith is a leading provider of corrugated worldwide, supported by recycling and papermaking operations. Headquartered in London and a member of the FTSE 100, DS Smith focuses on creating innovative sustainable packaging solutions in 37 countries employing around 31,000 people. Using the combined expertise of its divisions – including Packaging, Recycling, Paper – DS Smith works with customers to deliver solutions that reduce complexity and deliver results throughout the supply chain. Its history can be traced back to the box-making businesses started in the 1940s by the Smith family.  

LONDON, March 27, 2020 (Press Release) -Over the past week, DS Smith has worked closely with food retailers across Europe to design, develop and produce new boxes designed to supply emergency provision boxes to the most vulnerable.

In addition to providing critical support to keep goods moving and replenish shelves as quickly as possible, focus has quickly turned to home delivery to move goods directly to the front door of those who aren’t able to make it to the shops. As more countries implement social distancing processes and enact new legislation, this service will become essential to people facing Covid-19 movement restrictions.

To combat this, DS Smith has developed special new boxes to be filled by food retailers and left on the doorstep.

As a result of social distancing and self-isolation guidelines, the carefully designed boxes can be stacked in the delivery vans, picked up and dropped off to support the safety of everybody involved in the delivery process.

Stefano Rossi, CEO of Packaging at DS Smith said: “We were approached by several of our food supply customers to design a new packaging solution that would maximise efficiency and provide everyday essentials to many of society’s most vulnerable.

“We worked very closely with our customers to design and produce a solution which allows for a ‘stack, drop and go’ approach that is more time efficient, more hygienic and frees up time for more deliveries. Our sustainably designed solution is also fully recyclable at home.

“I’m extremely proud of the whole team at DS Smith; their determination to support these initiatives meant that we delivered a new design in under 24 hours. This was subsequently prototyped, tested, manufactured and delivered in less than a week.”

DS Smith has played a critical role in the food and pharmaceutical supply chain as demand for these products increases. Its international network means it can provide solutions to those facing similar delivery hurdles. 

About DS Smith:

DS Smith is a leading provider of corrugated packaging worldwide, supported by recycling and papermaking operations. Headquartered in London and a member of the FTSE 100, DS Smith focuses on creating innovative sustainable packaging solutions in 37 countries employing around 31,000 people. Using the combined expertise of its divisions – including Packaging, Recycling, Paper – DS Smith works with customers to deliver solutions that reduce complexity and deliver results throughout the supply chain. Its history can be traced back to the box-making businesses started in the 1940s by the Smith family.

FULDA, Germany , March 5, 2020 (Press Release) -Spirits and wine are the gift classics par excellence. These presents are increasingly ordered via the internet. Attractively wrapped and provided with a greeting card, the bottles go straight to friends, relatives and business partners. With its new packaging solution E-Wrap, DS Smith additionally boosts the joy of unpacking. The innovation for individual orders of spirits, wines, high-quality oils and much more combines both gift and shipping packaging. The all-in-one solution creates a unique unboxing experience for recipients. This packaging solution saves online retailers valuable time and logistics costs, and motivates customers to buy again.

According to the German Wine Institute, four percent of all wines purchased in Germany in 2018 were ordered via the internet. Even though e-commerce in wine still has a niche existence compared to stationary retail, it is considered a high-margin sales channel due to the higher average prices. Most customers are wine lovers who choose more expensive wines. Supply and demand will grow as more and more customers appreciate the benefits of convenient online shopping. That is a matter of agreement among experts.

And since spirits and wine are always also stylish presents, online retailers offer the right gift for every occasion and price category in their shops: Attractively wrapped as a gift for friends and family or as a thank-you for business partners and customers. The direct dispatch to the recipient, also to several addresses, can be ordered at the same time.

In order to streamline the overall processes, DS Smith's display and packaging strategists have now developed “E-Wrap”, a prototype for the individual shipment of spirits, wines or products of a similar shape. The solution combines both gift and shipping packaging. What is special about it is that its two components are firmly interconnected. The outer packaging can be of a neutral design, while the inner packaging surprises as an attractive gift box.

The wrap-around bottle packaging can be easily filled, quickly erected and sealed with the self-adhesive tape that is already in place. This saves valuable time in the assembly process. At the same time, the all-in-one solution results in less packaging material and lower transport costs compared to gift packaging, which is protected by additional shipping packaging. Because the sturdy E-Wrap always has the right dimensions so that bottles and comparable products such as high-quality oils or vases arrive undamaged and without any filling material.

Apart from the logistical benefits, the innovation aims at an extraordinary unboxing experience. Recipients can easily open the outer packaging using the integrated tear-off strip to reveal the attractively printed gift package. The unboxing experience becomes a distinguishing feature. The packaging emotionalises and motivates customers to repurchase and recommend it.