In a remarkable stride towards fulfilling its ‘Better Planet Packaging’ commitment, Smurfit Kappa is proud to unveil a momentous investment in cutting-edge machinery for its UK Hexacomb offering. This technological marvel is poised to redefine the packaging landscape and helps Smurfit Kappa to place its customers at the forefront of sustainable innovation. The state-of-the-art machinery is dedicated to enhancing Hexacomb packaging with the versatility to cut and score material up to 45mm in thickness, producing a variety of sustainable solutions that can be customised across a diverse range of sectors and applications. This sophisticated equipment promises customers unparalleled efficiency and an exemplary carbon footprint, outshining conventional foam and polystyrene alternatives.
Global collaboration between Smurfit Kappa Holland and Smurfit Kappa UK heralds a new era of sustainability. In a ground-breaking move, they are set to introduce an innovative, eco-friendly protective product that will revolutionise the UK market. This strategic initiative is a testament to Smurfit Kappa’s unwavering dedication to providing bespoke and sustainable packaging solutions, empowering businesses to not only meet but also surpass their ambitious sustainability objectives.
Why Hexacomb?
Smurfit Kappa has always prioritised sustainable solutions, and its Hexacomb packaging and new machinery are a testament to that commitment. Hexacomb packaging, made from 100% recyclable and renewable materials, offers Smurfit Kappa’s customers a host of advantages. Customers can enjoy reduced shipping costs, a smaller carbon footprint, and the confidence that comes from knowing their products are well-protected during transportation, thanks to the material’s high strength to weight ratio and exceptional shock-absorption properties.
Furthermore, Hexacomb is designed with customer convenience in mind. Its ease of handling makes packing and loading quicker and more efficient, saving precious labour time and associated costs. Additionally, Hexacomb eliminates the need for export certification, simplifying the shipping process for customers. As a sustainable alternative to expanded polystyrene (EPS), Hexacomb ensures a reliable and eco-friendly packaging solution that won’t crumble, shed, or harm the environment.
Smurfit Kappa remains steadfast in its mission to provide customers with sustainable, cost-effective, and efficient packaging that caters to their unique needs, with Hexacomb adding to its ever-growing portfolio of sustainable solutions.
The way forward for Hexacomb and Smurfit Kappa UK
By introducing this new Hexacomb offering to the UK market, Smurfit Kappa affirms its dedication to a sustainable future and marks a significant milestone, not just for Smurfit Kappa but also for its customers. This strategic machine investment aligns perfectly with Smurfit Kappa’s ‘Better Planet Packaging’ initiative, an unwavering pledge to reshape supply chains globally, significantly reducing the environmental footprint of packaging.
Enhanced capabilities and what this means for UK businesses seeking sustainability
Previously, only larger runs of Hexacomb packaging were possible from the Netherlands, limiting Smurfit Kappa’s UK offering. This investment enables shorter-run orders in the UK, bringing Smurfit Kappa closer to customer needs and fostering sustainable packaging solutions.
With a spacious 2270 x 3200mm cutting area, split bed for dual 1600 x 2270mm zones, and a v score tool for corner join integrity, this advanced flexibility facilitates accurate cutting at unprecedented speeds and high production efficiency, eliminating the need for costly cutting tools. It also offers unparalleled capacity to accommodate manageable quantities for customers, and a commitment to innovation ensures the continued development of new tools and methods of production that will pave the way to an even more sustainable future.
Opportunities for the Future
Smurfit Kappa’s investment provides multiple benefits and tools for its customers to redefine their operations with enhanced efficiency through intuitive designs, reduced assembly times and cost saving opportunities that are both pocket and planet friendly. The versatility of Hexacomb with its ability to be tailored to specific applications and supplied in manageable quantities quickly, offers instant lineside packability, surpassing traditional foams and polystyrene. With its impressive strength to weight ratio and sustainability credentials, Hexacomb is the ultimate solution for forward-thinking businesses with future-proofing in mind.
Find more information on Smurfit Kappa Hexacomb Packaging here.
About Smurfit Kappa
Smurfit Kappa, a FTSE 100 company, is one of the leading providers of paper-based packaging solutions in the world, with approximately 48,000 employees in over 350 production sites across 36 countries and with revenue of €10.1 billion in 2021. We are located in 23 countries in Europe, and 13 in the Americas. We are the only large-scale pan-regional player in Latin America. Our products, which are 100% renewable and produced sustainably, improve the environmental footprint of our customers.
With our proactive team, we relentlessly use our extensive experience and expertise, supported by our scale, to open up opportunities for our customers. We collaborate with forward-thinking customers by sharing superior product knowledge, market understanding and insights in packaging trends to ensure business success in their markets. We have an unrivalled portfolio of paper-based packaging solutions, which is constantly updated with our market-leading innovations.
This is enhanced through the benefits of our integration, with optimal paper design, logistics, timeliness of service, and our packaging plants sourcing most of their raw materials from our own paper mills.
We have a proud tradition of supporting social, environmental and community initiatives in the countries where we operate. Through these projects we support the UN Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on where we believe we have the greatest impact.
Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube.
smurfitkappa.com