DS Smith turns to smart tech with BeFC

DS Smith which last week announced that it had been acquired by International Paper (see letsrecycle.com story) has said its involvement is part of the company’s £100 million research and development and innovation investment announced in 2021.  

Their joint efforts aim to tackle waste reduction, enhance product quality monitoring and “optimise supply chain efficiency” during distribution and transportation. 

Areas of focus for the collaboration include: 

• Product tracking: Implementing a tailored sensing platform and data protocols into digital solutions for real-time product tracking and monitoring. This not only improves consumer experience but also streamlines supply chain operations 
• Waste reduction: Providing accurate information on freshness and expiration dates to extend the shelf life of products, thereby minimising wastage along the supply chain 
• Transportation efficiency: Facilitating better load optimisation to reduce the carbon footprint associated with shipping, ultimately leading to cost savings and improved operational efficiency 

‘Inefficiency’ 

Magnus Renman, group research and development director at DS Smith, said: “Corrugated packaging together with smart tech has a huge potential to reduce waste across the supply chain but we’re not quite yet where we need to be. We need more smart solutions that tackle inefficiency, cost and, most importantly, 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. With BeFC’s transformative technology but we’re set on revolutionising how every industry tackles the scourge of supply chain waste”. 

‘Expertise’ 

 Dr Jules Hammond, CEO and cofounder, BeFC, said: “The DS Smith and 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.  

 “We’re proud to announce this partnership as we work together towards more cost-effective supply chain management and it’s our belief that smart packaging solutions offer limitless possibilities to industry.”