DS Smith has invested more than €50 million euros in its packaging facilities in Portugal in response to a growing demand for sustainable fibre-based packaging solutions
The investment, which has taken place over the last three years, underline our company-wide commitment to strategic priorities around innovation, sustainability, and circularity, with a key focus on optimizing service capabilities for customers in the Iberian region.
The investments are intended to streamline the upgrading of technology and renewable energy solutions. These include the acquisition of two top-of-the-range fluting machines for our packaging facilities in Oporto and Leiria packaging facilities, and we have upgraded a corrugator unit for optimal performance at our packaging facility in Lisbon with the installation of a 2,800mm (approximately 9.19 ft) wide Dry End.
“We have also invested in a large processing machine that is specifically intended for the heavy-duty marketplace and for corrugated cardboard solutions that are robust enough to transport heavy, large, or bulky products for industrial and agricultural sectors”, says DS Smith.
DS Smith customers in the e-commerce sector are benefitting from the upgrading of machinery to produce padded paper envelopes, and designers have innovated a sustainable fibre-based alternative solution to plastic-based bubble-wrap.
“Other investments have been made in renewable energy in Iberia, and we have commissioned the installation of solar panels at our packaging facilities in Esmoriz, Leiria and Lisbon to produce electricity for our own consumption. These measures are anticipated to reduce CO2 emissions by 34% a year”, adds DS Smith.
The DS Smith Packaging Division in Portugal has six factories that are in Guilhabreu, Esmoriz, Águeda, Carregal do Sal, Leiria and Lisbon, and a logistics centre in Madeira.
The company has two recycling mills in Oporto and Figueira da Foz and a kraft paper mill in Viana do Castelo. In 2023, €145 million euros was invested in Viana do Castelo as a part of a multi-year development programme.
“The company has been investing in its operations globally and our country is no exception”, said Américo Rocha, General Manager, DS Smith Packaging Division. “This significant investment in the packaging plants in Portugal reflects our commitment to promoting technological and product innovation locally and to contributing to the evolution of our units. The new resources allow us to increase the diversity of our offer, as well as our differentiation in the marketplace, with sustainable, innovative, and optimized packaging solutions for the entire supply chain.
“At the same time, our commitment to providing modern and efficient equipment supports our response to our customers’ evolving needs as we work with them to replace plastic and reduce carbon emissions for the Circular Economy. We are focused on making a meaningful contribution to the long-term economic and social development of our local communities”, he concluded.