The Closed-Type Tray solution is specifically crafted to address the needs of transatlantic journeys lasting over forty-five days. Designed to ensure optimal product quality and freshness, it incorporates lightweight materials that enhance loading capacity. This innovative design provides robust protection throughout the entire supply chain, ensuring products arrive at their final destination in prime condition.
Versatile and adaptable, the packaging comes in 10kg trays, featuring a body, base, and a top lid. Each component is integrated for seamless operation, with a die-cut technique that introduces ventilation holes along the sides, further ensuring optimal airflow.
The trays boast impressive strength due to their internal structural design, reinforced at the corners, which significantly enhances durability without the need for additional supportive materials. This makes them a viable alternative to traditional plastic packaging for transporting fresh fruit.
Fabricated from high-quality virgin paper, the trays utilize fibre-based materials designed for strength and longevity. Crucially, their overall structure plays a vital role in maintaining the freshness of the fruit. Prior to export, fresh fruit producers can insert intelligent atmosphere and temperature-controlled bags within the sealed trays, effectively managing and optimizing the necessary travel conditions for their products.
To optimize material usage in alignment with DS Smith’s cutting-edge Circular Design Principles, the design team employed standard Circular Design Metrics (CDM) tools. These metrics assess the circularity of the packaging design across eight different indicators, including supply chain optimization, recyclability, materials utilization, carbon footprint, and renewable sources.
Moreover, the straightforward construction of the tray facilitates a streamlined packing process. It is compatible with automatic forming machines, enhancing efficiency by speeding up or reducing packing times. The exterior design allows for a variety of printing techniques and branding opportunities.
Giorgos Filippoglou, Managing Director of the Greek Cluster, Packaging Division at DS Smith Hellas, stated: “At DS Smith, sustainability and innovation are at the core of every packaging solution we design, especially for critical sectors such as agri-food, where product safety, freshness, and quality are paramount.”
“We utilized our Circular Design Metrics (CDM) tools to ensure that this packaging solution is fully recyclable, promoting easy collection, processing, and reintegration into the supply chain as raw material. With a focus on performance optimization, durability, and functionality, the tray is also lightweight, catering to the demands of international supply chains.”
The Closed-Type Tray, designed for transporting fresh fruit, was exclusively supplied to kiwifruit producers in Greece until 2026. Currently, DS Smith delivers approximately 1.5 million trays to customers worldwide each year, showcasing their commitment to food and drink sustainability and innovative packaging solutions.
