DS Smith has announced a new partnership with Bioenzymatic Fuel Cells (BeFC), a pioneer in the development of fully recyclable smart tags.
French start-up BeFC was created in 2020 with a vision to replace batteries with biofuel cells. Since then, BeFC has advanced its work in developing digital printed solutions, which are cost effective and fully recyclable.DS Smith’s involvement forms part of the company’s £100m R&D and innovation investment announced in 2021 to accelerate work in the circular economy and offer packaging that has less impact on the environment.
Together the companies will investigate smart packaging solutions made from recyclable paper, aiming to reduce waste, monitor quality, and ensure supply chain efficiency during distribution and transportation. Specifically, this will focus on:
- Product tracking: embedding a bespoke sensing platform and data protocols in digital solutions, allowing for real-time tracking and monitoring of products. This enhances the consumer experience and helps with supply chain optimisation.
- Reducing waste: extending the shelf life of products by providing accurate information about freshness and expiration dates, helping to address wastage.
- Efficiency in transportation: enabling better load optimisation, reducing the carbon footprint associated with shipping, also helping to save on operational costs.
Magnus Renman, Group R&D Director, 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.”
Jules Hammond, CEO & cofounder, BeFC, said, “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. 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.”
