DS Smith announced a new partnership with Bioenzymatic Fuel Cells (BeFC), a pioneer in the development of fully recyclable smart labels.
The French start-up BeFC was founded in 2020 with the aim of replacing traditional batteries with biobatteries. Since then, BeFC has made significant progress in the development of digitally printed solutions that are both high-performance and fully recyclable.
The participation of DS Smith, a leader in sustainable packaging, is part of the £100 million investment in R&D and innovation announced in 2021 to accelerate research into the circular economy and offer packaging with a lower environmental impact.
Together, the two companies will explore smart packaging solutions based on recyclable paper, aimed at reducing waste, controlling quality and ensuring supply chain efficiency during distribution and transport. Specifically, efforts will focus on the following:
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Product tracking: Integration of a custom detection platform and data protocols into digital solutions, enabling real-time product tracking and monitoring. This enhances the consumer experience and contributes to supply chain optimization.
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Waste reduction: Extending product shelf life by providing accurate information on freshness and expiry dates, thus combating food waste.
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Transport efficiency: Enabling better load optimization, reducing the carbon footprint associated with shipping and also helping to reduce operational costs.
Magnus Renman, Group R&D Director at DS Smith, said: “Corrugated cardboard packaging and smart technologies have enormous potential to reduce waste throughout the supply chain, but we’re not quite there yet. We need smarter solutions that tackle inefficiency, cost, and, above all, carbon emissions. We are delighted to take on this challenge with BeFC through innovative and circular solutions designed to reduce losses and improve sustainability. With BeFC’s technology, we are determined to revolutionize the way every industry tackles the scourge of supply chain waste.”
Jules HAMMOND, CEO and co-founder of BeFC, said: “The DS Smith x BeFC collaboration is an excellent example of combining expertise and resources to tackle inefficiencies and reduce waste and carbon emissions in supply chains, while understanding and validating compatibility with relevant recycling streams. We are proud to announce this partnership as we work together towards more profitable supply chain management. We are convinced that smart packaging solutions offer limitless possibilities for the industry.”
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