British packaging firm DS Smith has signed a new partnership with Bioenzymatic Fuel Cells (BeFC), a firm engaged in the development of fully recyclable smart tags, to accelerate the development of smart packaging solutions.
French start-up BeFC was announced in 2020 to replace batteries with biofuel cells. The company raised €16m in a Series-A financing round in June last year.
Both firms will work to boost the development of smart packaging solutions. DS Smith and BeFC will assess solutions made from recyclable paper, to minimise waste, track quality, and ensure supply chain efficiency during distribution and transportation.
DS Smith Group R&D director Magnus Renman said: “We need more smart solutions that tackle inefficiency, cost and, most importantly, carbon emissions. We’re excited to be addressing this challenge head-on with BeFC through innovative, circular solutions designed to slash losses and improve sustainability.
“With BeFC’s transformative technology but we’re set on revolutionising how every industry tackles the scourge of supply chain waste.”
The partnership is intended to focus on product tracking by incorporating a bespoke sensing platform and data protocols in digital solutions.
DS Smith said this will enable real-time tracking and monitoring of products. It will also increase consumer experience and optimise the supply chain.
The collaboration on smart packaging is expected to reduce waste by extending the shelf life of products by giving proper information about freshness and expiration dates.
Additionally, the recyclable smart tags will help improve efficiency in transportation by allowing better load optimisation, lowering the carbon footprint related to shipping, and helping save operational costs.
BeFC CEO and co-founder Jules HAMMOND said: “We’re proud to announce this partnership as we work together towards more cost-effective supply chain management and it’s our belief that smart packaging solutions offer limitless possibilities to industry.
“The DS Smith x BeFC collaboration is a great example of combining shared expertise and resources to tackle inefficiencies and reduce waste and carbon emissions in supply chains whilst also understanding and validating compatibility with relevant recycling streams.”
Recently, International Paper finalised the deal to acquire DS Smith in an all-stock deal that values the latter at £5.8bn on a fully diluted basis.