DS Smith invests in Italy

The sustainable packaging company has announced large-scale investments in new production facilities. The new Italian plant located in the Emilia Romagna region will be ready within the next two to three years and will give a big boost to the region’s economy.

To meet increased demand, DS Smith, a leading supplier of sustainable paper and board packaging, has announced an investment totalling £100 million (almost €110 million) in two new production sites, one in Poland and the other in Italy.

The Italian plant will be located in Castelfranco Emilia in the province of Modena and will support the company’s ambitious development plans following its significant growth over the last three years. The market for ecologically sustainable corrugated cardboard is expected to see further growth, driven by the increasing popularity of e-commerce and the continued expansion of the food and beverage sectors.

With 85% of its total offerings focused on consumer goods, DS Smith is well positioned to respond to these trends. Moreover, by concentrating on recyclable packaging, it is able to meet market demand for green packaging solutions as an alternative to plastic.

“Looking to the future, we remain focused on fully meeting our customers’ expectations,” commented Paolo Marini, Managing Director of DS Smith Italia. “This new investment will serve as a platform to enable us to respond to evolving consumer behaviour and to grow with our customers in the years ahead. We are redefining packaging for an evolving world and will continue to design sustainable and innovative packaging solutions for the Italian market.”

The modern facility located in Castelfranco Emilia will combine state-of-the-art production technologies with innovative packaging solutions and sustainable performance.

London-based company DS Smith operates in 34 countries and employs 30,000 people. Founded in the 1940s by the Smith family, it manages around 6 million tonnes of paper for recycling every year and is one of the 16 strategic partners of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the recognised global authority on the circular economy.