Smurfit Kappa Unveils Packaging Portfolio for Online Beverage Market

Smurfit Kappa launched a range of eBottle packaging solutions for the rapidly growing online beverage and liquids market. 

The new portfolio includes a variety of sustainable solutions for single and multi-pack products, including the Rollor bottle pack, BiPack, and Pop-up insert. 

Online sales for alcoholic beverages have increased by 34% in Europe driving demand for sustainable, durable and consumer-friendly packaging that protects the product during shipment, according to Smurfit Kappa. 

Key challenges for the beverage e-commerce channel are product damage, sustainability, consumer experience and the ability to accelerate growth using the right packing processes. Consumer research carried out by Smurfit Kappa also shows consumers are continuing to push for higher standards.

The research found :

• More than two-thirds (69%) of consumers prefer paper-based packaging;
• More than half (59%) of consumers want the parcel to be easy to open;
• 1 in 10 consumers will reconsider re-ordering in the case of damage

“Our new eBottle product range offers beverage businesses a suite of fit-for-purpose and bespoke packaging solutions which address the key challenges for their e-commerce channel,” said Arco Berkenbosch, VP Innovation and Development at Smurfit Kappa Europe. “The innovative range, combined with our focus on e-commerce processes, supply chain and consumer experience, have all contributed to increased sales and greater efficiencies for our customers.”

Smurfit Kappa also offers a host of automated solutions to optimize packaging processes in addition to the eBottle range. The launch of this new product portfolio is the latest addition to its range of Better Planet Packaging, designed to be more sustainable and coming from a renewable and recyclable raw material. 

InterDrinks is an eMerchant selling more than 2,500 different types of beers and beer products. Smurfit Kappa introduced a flexible and unique packaging solution that accommodates all the various sized products sold by InterDrinks. It also includes an automated assembly that mounts the packs as required.  

“The online European alcohol beverage market is worth €5.6 billion and we want to help companies take advantage of the real growth and opportunity in this segment. As a result of the implemented packaging and automation solution by InterDrinks, it has increased its packing and filling capacity by 66%, allowing it to fulfill more orders, faster,” said Herwin Wichers, Market Development director at Smurfit Kappa.