Single strip design improves customer efficiency

DS Smith, a leading fiber-based packaging manufacturer, has launched Tape Back, a unique packaging design solution that eliminates the need for single-use plastic tear strips in e-commerce packaging. Tape Back uses one glue strip for two e-commerce shipments, reducing waste and ensuring suppliers can offer seamless and sustainable returns.

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DS Smith “Tape Back” Solution (Photo: Business Wire)

“DS Smith understands the growing importance of sustainable packaging solutions in today’s e-commerce landscape, specifically as it relates to consumers returning goods,” said Cheryl Holliday, Director, Marketing for North America. “Ensuring the customer experience is always at the forefront of our innovation process, Tape Back is a direct response to the demand for more environmentally friendly and efficient return processes and demonstrates our commitment to creating circular design solutions.”

Tape Back features a convenient return strip that allows consumers to easily reuse the original packaging for returns, minimizing the need for additional materials.

Other product benefits include:

• Seamless Returns – The easy-to-peel return strip requires less packaging and requires no additional materials to return items.
• Innovative Design – DS Smith designers have created an innovative solution that removes the need for a single-use plastic tear strip entirely.
• Enhanced Sustainability - With sustainability driving consumer behavior, Tape Back reduces hidden non–recyclable material and avoids mixing components, making it easy to recycle at home.
• Improved Functionality - Designed to do more with less the innovative solution reduces waste. It also makes it easier for suppliers to process returns and eliminates the risk of stock being damaged when returned.

True to DS Smith’s ethos of “Redefining Packaging for a Changing World,” Tape Back has undergone optimization to reduce material usage and improve supply chain efficiency. As a result, less silicon tape, hot melt, and the least amount of corrugated board is used, doubling the product’s circular design metric score.

About DS Smith:

DS Smith is a leading provider of sustainable fiber-based packaging worldwide, which is supported by recycling and papermaking operations. It plays a central role in the value chain across sectors including e-commerce, fast-moving consumer goods and industrials.

Through its purpose of ‘Redefining Packaging for a Changing World’ and its Now& Next sustainability strategy, DS Smith is committed to leading the transition to the circular economy, while delivering more circular solutions for its customers and wider society – replacing problem plastics, taking carbon out of supply chains and providing innovative recycling solutions. Its bespoke box-to-box in 14 days model, design capabilities and innovation strategy sit at the heart of this response.

Headquartered in London and a member of the FTSE 100, DS Smith operates in 34 countries employing around 30,000 people and is a Strategic Partner of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Its history can be traced back to the box-making businesses started in the 1940s by the Smith family. www.dssmith.com

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