Smurfit Kappa introduces e-commerce wine packaging portfolio

Smurfit Kappa, headquartered in Dublin, has created a packaging solution specifically tailored for e-commerce wine sales that has Amazon’s Frustration-Free Packaging (FFP) certification. The company says this is a world first for a generic packaging solution designed for different case counts and wine bottle types.

The company says the e-commerce wine sector has seen a significant increase in sales since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. Market research company Euromonitor notes that online wine sales increased 52 percent between 2019 and 2021.

Smurfit Kappa’s new wine multipack consists of an outer box and buffers. The company says it is robust enough to reach the end consumer in perfect condition no matter how complex the supply chain is.

Amazon’s FFP program was introduced to reduce overpacking, improve the consumer experience and enhance sustainability, Smurfit Kappa says. Amazon provides sellers with a stringent set of packaging guidelines that they must meet before they can list their products.

Vice President of Innovation and Development at Smurfit Kappa Arco Berkenbosch says, “We are delighted to partner with Amazon to deliver another precertified Frustration-Free Packaging solution. We have used our 15-plus years of e-commerce experience to design this solution for the direct-to-consumer wine sector, which is continuing to grow at a phenomenal pace. Our 100 percent recyclable new pack will enable businesses selling wine through Amazon Marketplace to get their products to the end consumer quicker, and speed to market is a key differentiator in today’s world.”