USA – DS Smith is introducing its DryPack seafood box in North America, designed to replace non-recyclable expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam boxes.
DryPack, a no-leak, water-resistant, and recyclable box, can maintain fish freshness below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) for over 40 hours when packed with ice during cold chain operations.
Reportedly, DryPack is the sole containerboard seafood box endorsed for air freight by the International Air Transport Association, ensuring the safe transportation of fresh fish by seafood processors.
These boxes are shipped flat to seafood processors, occupying 81% less space than EPS foam boxes, and are easily assembled manually or with automation equipment, according to the corrugated fiber packager.
Steven Rose, Managing Director for Packaging at DS Smith North America Packaging and Paper (NAPP), expresses excitement about providing the North American seafood industry with a recyclable, fiber-based box that meets rigorous standards for transporting fresh fish.
By delivering empty DryPack seafood boxes flat at a reduced price and steering customers away from non-recyclable EPS boxes and associated waste disposal fees, DS Smith aims to enhance efficiency and cut supply chain costs and carbon footprint for seafood processors.
DS Smith NAPP now produces DryPack boxes at its US specialty packaging plants using Greencoat technology—a food-safe, moisture-resistant, recyclable coated box solution holding certifications from the United States Department of Agriculture, US Food and Drug Administration, and Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
This technology, also utilized in the fresh poultry and produce industries to replace non-recyclable, wax-coated boxes, has proven crucial for Norway-based salmon producer Kvarøy Arctic. The company’s CEO, Alf-Gøran Knutsen, emphasizes the environmental and branding benefits of corrugated board packaging.
With DryPack, DS Smith advances its mission to accelerate plastic replacement in the packaging sector. Aligned with its Now and Next sustainability strategy and in collaboration with customers, DS Smith has swapped 762 million problem plastics with fiber-based alternatives since 2020.
This new development follows DS Smith’s US$60.76 million investment in Kemsley paper mill to boost efficiency.
Kemsley stands as the UK’s largest mill for recycled papers and the second largest in Europe, producing 830,000 tonnes of paper annually from 100% recycled fiber.
The new F-line will supply recycled fiber to PM3, a versatile paper machine capable of producing various grades of paper, including white top test liner and plasterboard liner.
A state-of-the-art drum pulping and screening system will be installed to more effectively separate contaminants like plastics, barriers, and coatings from fiber, further improving efficiency and quality.
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