55 January / February 2025 - Issue 352 email: editor@printmonthly.co.uk are made compact for retail shelves. “DS Smith came up with some fantastic solutions to help to make our packaging more sustainable and circular,” comments Bent Svenningsen, production manager, Vilsund Blue, adding: “We wanted to replace the plastic in our pallets and DS Smith have helped us to develop a pure corrugated cardboard alternative.” Martin Nielsen, technical support manager at DS Smith, also talks up the importance of switching to more planet friendly packaging in the long run. He explains that by making simple changes like this, it could have a significant impact for both the retailer and the product supplier. “Vilsund Blue set us a challenge to seen remarkable improvements in their design efficiency and creativity, as they’re empowered to work with unprecedented flexibility, precision, and speed. “Impact Dynamic Constraints has been embraced by design professionals, reshaping how packaging is created and setting a new standard for the future of the industry. Constraint-based design is more commonly used within CAD software in other industries, such as architectural or Mechanical CAD, but it has never been seen before in packaging design software, so we’re incredibly proud to be leading this innovation at Arden and redefining what’s possible in packaging design.” Switching to Cardboard Material choice can also play a major part in the final packaging product. With brands and retailers under increasing pressure to switch to paper-based and more environmentally friendly materials, the onus is now on printers to deliver this in line with demand. Recently, DS Smith, a specialist in sustainable and fibrebased packaging solutions, moved to replace plastic pallets for canned products with corrugated cardboard for Vilsund Blue, the largest industrial producer of shellfish and seafood in Denmark. DS Smith used its Circular Design Metrics (CDM) tool to rate and compare the circularity of new packaging designs across eight different indicators such as carbon footprint, design for reuse, supply chain optimisation, and material utilisation. This presented both DS Smith and Vilsund Blue with the potential for a new approach to how products are packed. Taking a closer look at the new material, the fibre-based packaging solution has not only helped to improve Vilsund Blue’s overall environmental impact, but also increased its capacity. Now, Vilsund Blue can install 2,700 cans per pallet for the transportation and freight of products, up from the original 1,800 using the plastic packs. In addition, products can now be stacked and stored more efficiently and eliminate plastic materials from their pallets and to protect the products and assure and optimise a sustainability performance throughout the supply chain,” Nielsen says, continuing: “They produce mussels at scale, and we collaborated with Vilsund Blue’s machine suppliers to ensure that the packaging was fully aligned with their production processes. We have also significantly reduced carbon dioxide emissions and the product looks great on the shelf.” Create Memorable Experiences As to the viewpoint of companies operating in this sector, James Palfrey-Smith, commercial manager at ASC Cartons, which has been creating boxes for more than 40 years, believes the packaging sector continues to present substantial opportunities for growth, especially with the evolving needs of e-commerce businesses. “As these brands strive for distinct and memorable customer experiences, there is a rising demand for custom packaging that reinforces brand identity,” Palfrey-Smith says, adding: “Printers can tap into this by offering solutions that support high-quality, visually engaging, and eco-friendly packaging. “Digital printing and flexible packaging solutions enable personalisation, shorter production runs, and rapid turnaround times – key attributes that e-commerce brands seek to differentiate themselves in a competitive market. Well-crafted packaging is more than a container; it is a powerful branding tool that strengthens a business’s image and encourages customer retention.” ▼ DS Smith worked with Denmark’s Vilsund Blue to introduce corrugated cardboard trays for its tinned goods DS Smith came up with some fantastic solutions to help to make our packaging more sustainable and circular ASC Cartons has been providing packaging products for more than 40 years 40 PACKAGING SOLUTIONS
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