Smurfit Kappa North America wins awards for sustainable packaging solutions

Smurfit Kappa North America, a leader in paper-based packaging solutions, won three international awards because of its innovative solutions that are sustainable and eco-friendly. 

The company won a RISI Award, one of the most renowned prizes in the paper and packaging industry, in the Environmental Leadership category for its Waterborne Coatings. It also obtained two Graphic Design USA (GDUSA) Packaging Design Awards in the Sustainable Packaging category, thanks to its EPS endcaps replacement and in the CBD and Cannabis category for its sustainable solution, both were developed for its customers Rheem and Imperial Seeding in the United States. 

The Waterborne Coatings produced in the Forney (Texas) operation have replaced wax on papers and provide water shed properties. They are being used for live plants and frozen or refrigerated goods and by the major beef and pork processors in the United States. These solutions have been tested and are FDA compliant for food contact and confirmed to repulp/recycle better than the materials they replaced GDUSA Packaging Design Awards recognized the reduction of 610 tons of CO2 emissions with the solution for Rheem, developed to substitute EPS foam with a paper-based solution, which is 100% recyclable and reduces waste to landfills. Due to its resistance, the solution is capable of cushioning and absorbing shocks, leading to secure transportation of the products.

In addition, Smurfit Kappa North America won a second GDUSA Packaging Design Award in the CBD and Cannabis category for its sustainable solution for Imperial Seedling.

The solution developed by Smurfit Kappa North America supports two trays, protecting the plants and maintaining the humidity needed to withstand the 3,760-kilometer journey between Calexico (Mexico) and New York (USA).

“This package allowed us to save additional costs, and to introduce a new line of production to enlarge our opportunities in the market outside of our usual field that we could not supply before”, explained Colte Koen, president of Imperial Seedlings.

With these solutions, Smurfit Kappa continues expanding its customer network and having a positive impact in the markets it serves, by offering sustainable and trustworthy products that facilitate transportation and at the same time reduce costs, waste, and contamination. 

 “In Smurfit Kappa we consider sustainability and innovation as two of our key business pillars. We are committed to supplying solutions that are responsible with the environment and respond to the needs of our customers and their markets in an innovative way. These awards prove that we are on the right path and that together we are contributing to a Better Planet for this and the next generations”  said Juan G. Castaneda, CEO of Smurfit Kappa The Americas.