As pandemic-induced online shopping has boosted demand for boxes, DS Smith, a sustainable packaging leader, today launched its Circular Design Principles, citing company research that shows better packaging design could save the industry $46 billion a year in logistics costs globally. New research reveals that consumers are carefully considering company sustainability practices before purchasing, especially when it comes to wasted space. Nearly all consumers (93%) reported they have received packages with wasted space, and nearly three-fourths (73%) have received packages that were twice the size or more needed. All this wasted space has left a bad taste in consumer’s minds and wallets, as 54% reported they would think twice before ordering again from a company that had excessive space in their packaging.
“Sustainability is at the core of every business decision we make, and the issue of wasted space has been a pain point for many years and a key reason we developed our Circular Design Principles,” said Mark Ushpol, managing director of packaging at DS Smith. “We see design as one of the essential elements of the circular economy and look at packaging through the lens of imagining not only the impact of design on the end user, but also the impact that design has across all stakeholders, from creation of the product to its final destination,” Ushpol said.
He said DS Smith’s Circular Design Principles provide wide-ranging support for its customers and other members of the packaging industry in their transition to a circular economy that’s rooted in smart packaging and logistics initiatives. The five principles are:
- Protect brands and products – Designers must ensure the packaging protects products and all the resources invested in them. Damaged products from poor packaging have an economic and environmental impact.
- Use no more materials than necessary – Optimizing the use of packaging materials saves resources and reduces waste.
- Design for supply cycle efficiency – Developing an end-to-end approach that considers every step of the way, including storage and warehouse optimization, customers’ factories, packaging lines and the layout of products within boxes for stacking in delivery vehicles.
- Keep packaging materials in use – Quality, durability and recyclability are key to keeping packaging products and materials in use for as long as possible. This means maximizing the use of the fibers and recognizing the value beyond the primary function.
- Find a better way – Challenging ourselves and our customers to develop circular packaging solutions.
Source: Business Wire
Global site 
Finnish site