DS Smith has launched a new partnership with TemperPack to introduce ClimaCell® thermal liners, which provide sustainable insulation for temperature sensitive goods such as meal kits, perishable groceries and medical products.
The product, which is made from paper and bio-based materials, can be easily recycled in paper recycling bins by consumer after use. It will replace the difficult-to-recycle EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam, over 350,000 tonnes of which is used in packaging annually, with just a third of this plastic packaging waste being recycled in Europe.
Marc Chiron, Sales, Marketing and Innovations Director at DS Smith Packaging commented, “‘DS Smith is committed to leading the way towards a more circular economy, often using partnerships to quickly develop and adopt more sustainable solutions. I’m proud to announce our collaboration with TemperPack on a circular product like ClimaCell®. A proven concept in the US, we will now bring this innovative solution to protect temperature sensitive goods to Europe, expanding our offering within the circular economy.”
The partnership is made all the more important as evidence shows the COVID-19 pandemic continues to expand the e-commerce market. Recent research from DS Smith revealed that European consumers plan to continue or increase buying groceries online (62%) and order home meal kits (49%). With a such a stark change shopping habits both DS Smith and TemperPack believe the introduction of such sustainable products are vital to ensure we transition to a circular economy and avoid a substantial increase in waste.
ClimaCell® liners are a patented thermal insulation barrier with cushioning protective properties that makes it an ideal replacement to problem plastics such as EPS foam, which is the predominant material used to protect temperature sensitive goods in transit.
