Along with its existing UK e-commerce platform, DS Smith has confirmed the expansion of its digital operations, launching ePack offering in Spain and Italy.
The company’s digital investment aims to capitalise on the forecasted 57% growth in EU e-commerce by 2025, with COVID-19 accelerating the switch to online shopping across the continent.
The company says ePack offers 100% eco-friendly packaging to support e-retailers build on a transformational past year in e-commerce and boost growth in sectors like apparel and online groceries – with the latter seeing growth from 9% to 63% of EU consumers shopping online in 2020. The web-shop will offer plastic-free alternatives such as paper mailing bags or fully recyclable insulated fibre-based boxes for delivery.
“The way we live and shop has changed dramatically over the last twelve months and even as markets start to open up, demand for e-commerce is holding strong – and packaging is at the forefront of this change,” says Alex Manisty, Group Strategy Director at DS Smith. “Our investment in digital and the expansion of our web offer in Europe is reflective of the changing needs of our customers. The ePack platform is supported by our significant scale in Europe, so e-retailers big or small can access world-class packaging, helping to create positive customer experiences and grow their online presence.”
