DS Smith Launches e-commerce platform into Europe

Along with our existing UK e-commerce platform, we are proud to announce an expansion of our digital operations, launching ePack offering in Spain and Italy.

Our digital investment aims to capitalise on the forecasted 57% growth in EU e-commerce by 2025[1], with Covid-19 accelerating the switch to online shopping across the continent.

Sustainable packaging_epack.jpg ePack offers 100% eco-friendly packaging to support e-retailers build on a transformational past year in e-commerce and boost growth in sectors like apparel and online groceries - with the latter seeing growth from 9% to 63% of EU consumers shopping online in 2020[2]. The web-shop will offer plastic-free alternatives such as paper mailing bags or fully recyclable insulated fibre-based boxes for delivery.

“The way we live and shop has changed dramatically over the last twelve months and even as markets start to open up, demand for e-commerce is holding strong – and packaging is at the forefront of this change. Our investment in digital and the expansion of our web offer in Europe is reflective of the changing needs of our customers. The ePack platform is supported by our significant scale in Europe, so e-retailers big or small can access world-class packaging, helping to create positive customer experiences and grow their online presence.”

— Alex Manisty, Group Strategy Director at DS Smith

The move follows unprecedented growth of DS Smith’s online sales in the UK where its web-shop recorded a 700% increase in demand over the past twelve months. The digital expansion supports DS Smith’s presence across Europe, where over 200 factories produce fully recyclable and paper-based packaging for the world’s biggest brands.

Image: Spanish ePack website

The right packaging creates opportunities to drive loyalty among consumers through branding while also reducing costs in materials, transportation and damages. It also supports key consumer demands as outlined in DS Smith’s recent Ipsos Mori survey[3], which highlighted that 41% of online customers want packaging to be fully recyclable and are prepared to act if this is not the case. In fact, 29% confirmed that they had stopped buying from particular brands because their packaging was not sustainable.

For more information please visit please visit:

ePack UK: www.dssmithepack.co.uk
ePack Spain: www.dssmithepack.es
ePack Italy: www.dssmithepack.it

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_{[1] Euromonitor}

_{[2] Statista}

_{[3] DS Smith and IPSOS Mori, Sustainable Packaging. Has the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything?, 2020}