23 Sept. 2022: Smurfit Kappa has opened a network of 5 e-commerce hubs in Germany, offering agile packaging development, packaging testing and simulation, and laboratory testing from a single source at these locations. With locations in Hamburg, Waren an der Müritz, Neuss, St. Leon-Rot and Plattling, the network of e-commerce hubs spans the entire country and thus finds regional connections to major business locations in the country. The hubs are specifically designed to support online retailers in designing their optimal packaging. The opening of these platforms results from the increasing demand for high-quality and sustainable shipping packaging that functionally withstands the requirements of the entire supply chain.

Thanks to the combined expertise of the e-commerce hubs, Smurfit Kappa is able to use high-performance systems to simulate complex load chains and incorporate the respective results directly into packaging development. For example, the company uses vibratory plates that simulate transport in postal transporters or conducts drop tests that put the stability and product protection of packaging and packaged goods to the test. The existing ISTA certification of the Smurfit Kappa laboratories means that the new packaging solutions can be comprehensively tested and the high demands placed on packaging by well-known online platforms, such as Amazon, eBay or Alibaba, can be fully met. The licensing of sales and service packaging can also be carried out directly via the connection to Recycling Dual.

Nico Heitmann, Head of Marketing & Business Development comments: "The opening of the e-commerce hubs, with all the technical tools and systems, is a result of the high demand in this area. We use our platforms to cover the entire range of customer requirements. These range from increasing logistics efficiency, to achieving cost savings through targeted packaging optimisation, to perfecting the unpacking experience for the end customer. Online retail works differently in many areas than analogue business - and we have systemically adjusted to this."