12.13.19
Smurfit Kappa and the Wings for Aid Foundation created a packaging solution that facilitates the delivery of emergency supplies into hard-to-reach areas.
The pack, which won the 2019 TIACA Air Cargo Sustainability Award, can be dropped from a plane without any damage to the contents.
This was proven in prototype tests during which a pack of 30 eggs remained intact following a drop from 100 meters (328 feet).
The packs can be easily reused for other purposes such as shelter but if left behind in the outdoors, they will break down due to their 100% biodegradability.
"We are currently able to drop boxes with a capacity of 20kg (44 lbs) from a height of 100 meters (328 feet) at a speed of 90km per hour (56 mph), undamaged and at a predetermined location," said Barry Koperberg, GM at the Wings for Aid Foundation.
"Through our Better Planet Packaging initiative, we seek to go beyond what we’re doing as a company and work with partners such as the Wings for Aid Foundation on new ideas that are making a positive difference," added Frank Sinnige, Customer Experience & Innovation director for the Smurfit Kappa Benelux region.
The next stage of the project will be to drop the packages from drones instead of planes.
The pack, which won the 2019 TIACA Air Cargo Sustainability Award, can be dropped from a plane without any damage to the contents.
This was proven in prototype tests during which a pack of 30 eggs remained intact following a drop from 100 meters (328 feet).
The packs can be easily reused for other purposes such as shelter but if left behind in the outdoors, they will break down due to their 100% biodegradability.
"We are currently able to drop boxes with a capacity of 20kg (44 lbs) from a height of 100 meters (328 feet) at a speed of 90km per hour (56 mph), undamaged and at a predetermined location," said Barry Koperberg, GM at the Wings for Aid Foundation.
"Through our Better Planet Packaging initiative, we seek to go beyond what we’re doing as a company and work with partners such as the Wings for Aid Foundation on new ideas that are making a positive difference," added Frank Sinnige, Customer Experience & Innovation director for the Smurfit Kappa Benelux region.
The next stage of the project will be to drop the packages from drones instead of planes.