'Flat-Pack' Freezer Box from DS Smith Corrugated

A reusable container without using plastic that would have consumer appeal--a key element to the success of any such initiative.

Retailing is becoming an ever-increasing competitive scene and with consumers demanding value for money stores are faced with a dilemma. On one hand they need to reduce operating costs whilst on the other they are seeking to increase sales. One enterprising supermarket chain decided to improve the shopping convenience for its customers with a take-home freezer facility. Keen to promote environmental aspects they wanted a reusable container without using plastic that would have consumer appeal…a key element to the success of any such initiative.

DS Smith Corrugated at Louth was consulted and worked closely with them to develop a unique container. It is a one-piece container constructed from heavy weight moisture resistant 'B' flute corrugated, with a high thermal coefficient. It has a glued crash lock base and has a bellows style self-locking top that ensures an airtight container. Positioned by the freezer compartments they can be assembled in seconds and with the integral 'hooks' can be simply attached to the shopping trolley. The box size was dictated by needing to take a frozen pizza, fit on the end of a trolley, and yet have sufficient volume to cope with a normal family’s frozen food shop. A bonus of the relatively large flat surface area produced is the potential for in-store branding.

Since its introduction it has found favour with both retail stores and consumers alike. By providing a separate container for frozen food shoppers have found going through the checkouts much easier and tend to add more general products to their trolleys. The freezer box has a built in reinforced carry handle and provides safe and easy portorage. Once unpacked the box can be simply flat packed and stored for future shopping trips. The initially target for re-use was five shopping trips. However the container has proved to be very user friendly and extremely robust, and early estimates have put the reusability factor up tenfold. The box fulfils all environmental aspirations as it has no plastic elements, is 100% paper based and is fully recyclable.