Packaging re-imagined

This article is available for reading in Trade magazin 2024/11

Increased efficiency and innovation

Attila Kisfali
subregional
SMI director
DS Smith

DS Smith is one of the world’s leading suppliers of sustainable packaging, responding to changing needs and expectations through continuous improvement. In the near future the company plans to obtain the BRC food safety certification for its other production units, and to expand its production to packaging that comes into direct contact with food.

“We offer solutions to FMCG companies that keep up with changes in the regulatory environment. Examples include DS Smith Lift Up, which enables the elimination of shrink film for soft drinks bottles”,

says Attila Kisfali, subregional SMI director of DS Smith.

The Hungarian packaging market will soon undergo major changes, as the European Union is introducing stricter environmental regulations. Adopted by the European Union, from 1 January 2025 the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) will oblige manufacturers and businesses to review their packaging and switch to sustainable solutions for products covered by the regulation.

Zoltán Szőnyi
sales director
Dunapack

Zoltán Szőnyi, sales director of Dunapack Kft.:

“We offer professional support in the replacement of non-sustainable materials, such as technical foams, with environmentally friendly corrugated board. Recently a new and very important user need has emerged: reducing the logistics costs of packaging materials. Dunapack has recognised this in time and invested in the production of a new type of corrugated board, D-flute. Its strength parameters are similar to those of the B-flute, but its printability is better and its logistics costs are lower. The D-flute can hold up to 25% more material on the same surface”.

Retailers expect packaging that doesn’t increase the manufacturing costs of products very much, but at the same time provides the necessary functions and meets environmental requirements. There is a growing interest in cheaper but environmentally friendly solutions, especially those that are recyclable or biodegradable. Plus packaging should also optimise transport and storage to reduce logistics costs. A growing proportion of consumers are increasingly looking for packaging made from environmentally friendly materials.

Szimonetta Szűcs
marketing and
communications coordinator
STI Petőfi Nyomda

“In order to improve the energy efficiency of production processes, we have launched two projects, one for installing solar panels and another for automation. The company is working towards a circular economy model, where the aim is to maximise the use of products, materials and resources”,

says Szimonetta Szűcs, marketing and communications coordinator of STI Petőfi Nyomda Kft.

She adds that flexibility in customising size, shape and design is important to ensure that boxes fit the contents exactly.

Shelf-ready and bulk packaging is practical and environmentally friendly

Bart Dobbelaere
managing director
VPK

Bart Dobbelaere, managing director of VPK reports that European directives and regulations are pushing the industry to replace plastic with paper-based solutions.

“At VPK we have developed Ecogrip, a sustainable corrugated board alternative to replace single-use plastic shrink films for packaging bottles. It is fully adaptable, easy to use and 100% biodegradable. We have also created the Ideabook, with a team of approximately 100 designers: this VPK platform gathers innovations and new product designs from across the group, and categorises them by type and industry. We have a close-knit team in both production and offices, which guarantees fast and competitive pricing, stable service and impeccable quality”,

explains the managing director.

Tailor-made solutions

Gyula Mazan
innovation manager
Smurfit Westrock

Zsolt Miklós
managing director
Rondo

Zsolt Miklós, managing director of Rondo Hullámkartongyártó Kft. thinks the market share of shelf-ready collective and transport packaging remains significant. In all areas the trend is towards automation, robotics, and automated material handling and loading systems.

“Our basic objective is to establish and maintain a circular economy. 96% of the waste generated during production is recycled and used as raw material for paper production. We have also installed a solar power generation system”, explains the managing director. //