Anti-theft cardboard packaging – cost-effective, sustainable protection

The excitement around e-commerce in the retail sector is well-documented and well-established and with Retail Research predicting growth of 16.7% in 2016 and 15.7% in 2017 that excitement should continue.

At DS Smith we’ve been busy adapting primary packaging to build a personal ‘unboxing’ experience, innovative eco-design, and strong branding and protection amongst other needs. Now we have developed an innovative anti-theft design for better security of sensitive or expensive goods.

Challenge:

Develop a way of better protecting just about any item from theft or tampering that can be put in a box. Stop the risk of disappointing customers who unwittingly receiving packages that have been stolen or damaged in some way.

Approach:

We developed a number of different approaches to increase the security of a package and tested them thoroughly. Our eventual solution not only improved security, but crucially, was still easy to assemble, pack and distribute.

The final packaging solution is based on a total security concept (100% security), which means that each attempt to open the box leaves a visible mark. This allows the recipient, who receives the much-anticipated product, to notice that the package has been opened and refuse acceptance of the shipment. Critically, any tampering should not go unnoticed and the supplier can uncover at which stage of the shipping process the goods were stolen or swapped, and eliminate future complaints.

The innovative box is glued with walls designed to interlock when folded thereby preventing access to the contents. A number of perforations, both at the edges and on the walls, further secure the content. They ensure that any attempt to interfere with the packaging leaves a visible mark. Additionally, the content is protected by special locks. When these locks are tampered with they damage the package extensively.

Results:

  • Reduced costs as these safety precautions are available without the added expense and complication of foils, RFID tags or seals.
  • Reduced costs as losses from tampering can be greatly reduced.
  • Better reputation and happier customers as fewer of them are disappointed receiving goods that have been damaged or stolen.
  • Greater environmental performance as the entire packaging, including innovative security features, are fully recyclable.