DS Smith has announced a new partnership with BeFC, a pioneer in fully recyclable smart tags, aiming to replace batteries with biofuel cells. This collaboration is part of DS Smith’s £100 million Research & Development (R&D) and innovation investment to advance work in the circular economy and offer packaging with a lower environmental impact.
Magnus Renman, Group R&D Director at DS Smith, highlighted the potential of corrugated packaging combined with smart technology to reduce waste across the supply chain. He emphasized the need for smart solutions to address inefficiency, cost, and carbon emissions.
“We’re excited to be addressing this challenge head-on with BeFC through innovative, circular solutions designed to slash losses and improve sustainability,” said Renman. “With BeFC’s transformative technology, we’re set on revolutionising how every industry tackles the scourge of supply chain waste.”
The partnership with BeFC will focus on developing smart packaging solutions made from recyclable paper to reduce waste, monitor quality, and ensure supply chain efficiency during distribution and transportation.
Key areas of focus include:
Product tracking: Embedding a custom sensing platform and data protocols for real-time tracking and monitoring of products.
Reducing waste: Providing accurate information about freshness and expiration dates to extend shelf life and reduce wastage.
Efficiency in transportation: Enabling better load optimization to reduce the carbon footprint and operational costs of shipping.
“We’re proud to announce this partnership as we work together towards more cost-effective supply chain management,” said Dr. Jules Hammond, CEO & co-founder of BeFC. “It’s our belief that smart packaging solutions offer limitless possibilities to industry.”
Dr. Hammond added, “The DS Smith x BeFC collaboration is a great example of combining shared expertise and resources to tackle inefficiencies and reduce waste and carbon emissions in supply chains whilst also understanding and validating compatibility with relevant recycling streams.”