Finalist Interview for 2025 Sustainability Awards: DS Smith's fiber-based packaging for PET bottles
DS Smith, a leading player in the packaging industry, is making strides towards a sustainable future with their innovative project, DS Smith Lift Up. This fibre-based recyclable alternative to plastic shrink film for PET bottles has been impressing juries and industry leaders alike.
The project, which addresses the PPWR regulation - a European Union law aimed at reducing packaging waste - aims to increase the recycled content of shrink film to 35% by 2030. The switch to fibre-based materials in the project results in a significant 42% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to a standard shrink film pack.
DS Smith Lift Up has been extensively tested in real-life lab conditions and is proven to be strong enough for both manual and automated retail supply chains. The solution, which includes duo-packs up to eight packs for small and large PET bottles, can all be produced on the same packing line.
The project has received positive feedback from leading brands in the industry and has been showcased at prominent events such as the Krones booth at drinktec 2025 in September. DS Smith is also a finalist in the Sustainability Awards 2025 for their project.
The winners of the Sustainability Awards 2025 will be announced at the Sustainable Packaging Summit, an event where leaders in the packaging industry gather to discuss sustainable transformation. This summit, taking place in Utrecht on 10-12 November, mobilizes leaders of the FMCG value chain, policymakers, NGOs, recyclers, and investors to collaborate, remove barriers, and identify opportunities on the road to sustainable transformation.
If you're interested in attending this year's Sustainable Packaging Summit, you can register via the link: Sustainable Packaging Summit Registration
Consumers prefer the visibility, attractive aesthetic, ergonomics, intuitive opening, and recyclability of DS Smith Lift Up. The project's special features that significantly enhance the sustainability of packaging, although specific details about those features and their impact were not found in the provided search results, have undoubtedly impressed sustainability award juries in 2025.
Multiple supply chain tests are ongoing, and several new packing lines have been ordered, which will be available to customers from 2026. DS Smith Lift Up is now available to existing and potential customers in the food and beverage sector.
The Sustainable Packaging Summit aims to remove barriers and identify opportunities on the road to sustainable transformation. By attending this event, you'll have the chance to network with industry leaders, policymakers, NGOs, recyclers, and investors, all working towards a more sustainable future.
