How can innovation in packaging help the agriculture industry
Innovation in packaging built on paper responds to the needs of modern supply chains across sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing, delivering meaningful savings and boosting sales for farmers, brand owners, distributors, manufacturers, and retailers. Companies like Smurfit Kappa collaborate with their customers to understand supply chain requirements, reduce environmental impact, and optimize packaging solutions.
The way packaging improvements influence agriculture is evident: better load utilization, more efficient warehouse space, streamlined replenishment, optimized transport of each shipment, improved on shelf availability, and enhanced unboxing experiences all contribute to increased sales and higher efficiency.
Smurfit Kappa leverages extensive market experience, a highly specialized team, innovative tools, and innovation centers, including its Pain Experience Center located at the San Vicente del Raspeig factory in Alicante. This center, a pioneer in Europe, focuses on fresh fruit and vegetable packaging to generate sustainable, value-added solutions that reduce plastic use.
Smurfit Kappa’s integrated business model drives innovative and sustainable carton packaging
Innovation to optimize sustainable packaging, grow business, and reduce environmental footprint
The design and development efforts aim to deliver efficient, easy-to-implement solutions for the agricultural sector. This enables growers and retailers to increase sales, lower costs, and mitigate risk, offering an added value that helps brands stand out in a competitive market. Tools such as 3D Store Visualizer provide virtual design previews before production, allowing adjustments prior to manufacturing to achieve standout packaging. The Retail Insight Center provides an interactive touchscreen with detailed packaging information, aiding quick, informed decisions. Direct customer engagement through thematic workshops and both online and face-to-face training further optimizes sustainable packaging and reduces environmental impact.
In alignment with sustainability commitments, Smurfit Kappa supports Better Planet Packing and Better Planet 2050 efforts, which align with the European Green Deal objective of net emissions reduction by 2050. These initiatives emphasize reducing the environmental impact of cartons and packaging by developing solutions that protect the planet while meeting business needs.
Sustainable corrugated packaging
Pain Experience Center develops corrugated board solutions for sectors important to the Valencian Community, including citrus, a key market for producers and retailers seeking sustainability. The citrus-focused packaging emphasizes biodegradability as a differentiating factor, highlighting nature-friendly materials and responsible design.
The Goliath line, part of Smurfit Kappa innovation, offers superior stacking compared with other packaging types for citrus. Its P84/13 Double Conical design reduces CO2 emissions and minimizes waste, supporting the long-lasting freshness of tomatoes, cucumbers, citrus fruits, cherries, and zucchini. The Safe and Green tray range for fruit is fully customizable, 100 percent renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable, presenting a durable alternative to single-use plastics. The Box8 system reduces costs and labor for bulk products that are fully assembled on an automated line. The P84 patented stackable tray range is adaptable to every agricultural product, highly resistant to moisture, and features ventilation holes to maintain load balance and optimize transportation.
Wide catalog of packaging
The company maintains a broad product catalog across multiple industrial sectors with sustainable references and paper-based options that reduce environmental harm. Notable lines cater to retail, food, personal care, and construction.
Its commitment to e-commerce includes packaging that protects products and enhances the end consumer’s brand experience. The company also designs, manufactures, and supplies packaging with sustainable displays and high-performance papers that resist moisture, oil, heat, and moisture barriers, meeting the demands of modern supply chains.