DS Smith, Laithwaite’s Wine partner on closed-loop recycling system in the UK

DS Smith, a packaging provider based in London, and Laithwaite’s Wine, an online wine merchant in the United Kingdom, have partnered to certify a closed-loop recycling system across the two companies’ supply chains.

Using cardboard wine cases made from 100-percent-recycled material, Laithwaite’s has been delivering wine in the U.K. for about 10 years, according to a news release from DS Smith. Working in partnership with DS Smith, the company says Laithwaite’s can deliver a closed-loop recycling system that ensures more visibility across the supply chain, allowing it to track cases from production through to delivery, collection, recycling and as the material is turned back into new cases.

Laithwaite’s handles imports of wine from across the world at its distribution center in Gloucester, U.K. Once unpacked, DS Smith says those cases are transported to the DS Smith paper mill in Kemsley, U.K., to be recycled into new packaging material before being sent to DS Smith Packaging in Launceston, U.K., to produce new cases. The company adds that the cases are used by Laithwaite’s for e-commerce distribution to its customers across the U.K.

“We are delighted that through our partnership with DS Smith, we are able to keep our cardboard for recycling right here in the U.K.,” says Andrew Hawker, head of logistics at Laithwaite’s Wine. “Via the closed-loop model, we can give a new lease of life to our recycling, which will be used in the packaging we send to our customers.”

“Laithwaite’s was one of our first customers to be awarded our Closed-Loop Certification,” adds Tom Campbell-White, European strategic development director at DS Smith. “Championing the circular economy is vital for companies everywhere as they drive to meet the changing expectations and demands of increasingly environmentally conscious consumers. Providing Laithwaite’s with a fully auditable recycling and recovery route means they can certify and track sustainability targets.”

The two companies also partnered on increasing the performance of the cardboard boxes and eliminating plastic usage with a design project using DS Smith’s DISCS technology. DS Smith says the technology provided Laithwaite’s with boxes made using the optimal amount of paper for the best level of protection to keep its glass wine bottles protected during delivery.