DS Smith, Alpine Water Innovate Protective Fiber-Based Mineral Water Packaging

DS Smith created a corrugated cardboard packaging to protect the glass bottles containing Alpine Water's artesian mineral water, Hallstein. | Credit: DS Smith

DS Smith, an International Paper company, and global provider of sustainable fibre-based packaging solutions, and Alpine Water Produktions- und Vertriebsgesellschaft m.b.H., announce their recently innovated packaging solution for the artesian mineral water brand, Hallstein.

The new transport box has been designed to protect Hallstein’s glass bottle consignments during transportation to e-commerce customers, and comprised of corrugated cardboard, they are intended to replace the brand’s previous packaging solution, which was dependant on Polyethylene, a closed cell foam, also referred to as a PE foam for inlay and inserts.

Each individual DS Smith transport box has a capacity to hold six 750ml glass mineral water bottles, and where required, the packaging capacity can be flexibly increased and combined with outer casing in a variety of sizes - to hold nine, twelve, fifteen, or eighteen additional bottles.

Cicular Design Metrics (CDM)

The DS Smith design team applied their Circular Design Metrics (CDM) tools to rate and compare the circularity of the old and new packaging design across eight different categories, ranging from carbon footprint and design for reuse, to supply chain optimisation, materials utilisation, and recyclability.

The CDM indicators were used in conjunction with the DS Smith TCO Pack – Lower Cost – Value Tool, to understand and reduce the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of the packaging solution, and the costs associated with owning, using, and maintaining the product, alongside its full lifecycle benefits.

Life-cycle efficiency

As a part of their research, the design team discovered that twice as many Hallstein transport boxes can be constructed and packed on the production line within the same timeframe as the previous packaging solution. In addition, the new packaging has been found to be fast and easy to construct with pre-glued elements,

Alexander Muhr, Managing Director, Alpine Water Gmbh/Hallstein:

“We are delighted with the result of our collaboration with DS Smith. Their expert team has helped us to create a robust, sustainable, and versatile packaging solution to protect our product and glass bottles during transportation to local and international consumers. Our new transport boxes are demonstrating production, cost reduction, and space saving benefits, with positive impacts on the entire supply chain. They also look great and feature our recognisable branding on their outer casing, making it easy for our customers to identify with the product and sustainability credentials.”

The transport box design is also simple for the end-consumer to access, and fold away or, recycle within domestic schemes, and the external surface area is ideal for placing brand logo, artwork, or graphics with the current casements showcasing bold flexographic printing in the Alpine Water GmbH blue.

Andreas Koch, Cluster Design & Innovation Manager, DS Smith:

“Our packaging solution for Hallstein was subjected to rigorous and extensive safety testing and this included sending shipment consignments to the USA to evaluate the impact of knocks and bumps. Hallstein is known for its premium mineral water product in glass bottles and our challenge was to find a way to provide a sustainable protection for as wide a range of transit conditions as possible. We are committed to supporting our customers in finding fibre-based packaging solutions and in helping them to move towards the circular economy.”

Hallstein is a naturally filtered and premium artesian water that is sourced and bottled directly from the Austrian Alps. The company transports its products to e-commerce customers in the USA, Europe, Switzerland, Singapore, Canada, and the Bahamas. Many international gourmet restaurants and upmarket hotels rely exclusively on Hallstein as a key supplier.

DS Smith is committed to leading an industry-wide transition to a circular economy while delivering sustainable circular solutions for its customers across thirty-four countries worldwide. The business has a target led Now and Next sustainability strategy in support of its purpose of Redefining Packaging for a Changing World.

Source: DS Smith

The preceding press release was provided by a company unaffiliated with Packaging Impressions. The views expressed within may not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of the staff of Packaging Impressions.