EUROPE – Irish corrugated company, Smurfit Kappa is planning to expand its Design2Market Factory initiative across Europe following a successful first year of operation.
The facility, which empowers customers to test and refine their packaging solutions on a small scale before launching them in the market, is planned to be replicated in key European markets such as Germany, Italy, Poland, and the UK.
Arco Berkenbosch, Smurfit Kappa’s Chief Innovation Officer, says, “The journey of the Design2Market Factory has been remarkable, and the trust placed in us by many industry-leading household names is a testament to our commitment to innovation and excellence at a rapid pace.
“Broadening our presence in Europe will help more customers to stand out in an increasingly competitive landscape and achieve their sustainability goals in line with our Better Planet Packaging initiative.”
The paper-based packaging giant details that Design2Market’s original 3,000 square meter innovation hub in the Netherlands has been the birthplace of over 50 successful projects, serving some of the world’s most prominent consumer brands.
“Smurfit Kappa’s multi-disciplinary team takes a packaging challenge and designs a new solution which is ready to be tested in the market in just two weeks,” the company said in a statement.
Beyond the benefits of risk reduction and faster turnaround times, the Design2Market Factory offers customers environmentally sustainable packaging solutions that contribute to reducing their carbon footprint and align with their recyclability goals.
Smurfit Kappa is revolutionizing the packaging industry through strategic expansions and acquisitions.
The company recently invested €5 million (US$5.3 million) in constructing a state-of-the-art purification and wastewater treatment facility in Belgrade, Serbia — the first of its kind in the country.
In addition, its merger with WestRock has sent reverberations throughout the market. Analysts anticipate significant advancements in circularity, recyclability, and decarbonization standards across America due to the Smurfit WestRock US$34 billion merger.
This union is also expected to foster product innovation through combined expertise, with a focus on sustainability. This promises to enhance the paper packaging sector, especially in its competition with other materials, particularly plastics.
However, this merger led to a significant shift for Smurfit, as it relocated its headquarters from the London Stock Exchange (LSE) to Dublin, Ireland.
While this transition to the New York Stock Exchange reflects the company’s global expansion, it caused an approximate £9 billion (US$11.24 billion) loss for the LSE.
The aftermath was palpable, with Smurfit’s share prices plummeting by 11% at the LSE in the morning following the merger announcement.
These developments mark a turning point for Smurfit Kappa, reshaping the packaging industry and setting the stage for a dynamic and innovative future.
