DS Smith, in International Paper company and a leading provider of sustainable and fibre-based packaging solutions have won the prestigious ScanStar award alongside its client, the Finnish technology company, Insta.
The award-winning DS Smith entry from Finland is a corrugated cardboard packaging solution comprised of structured casing and a base for the patented Insta Safe EOD™ drone system technology.
Packaging design for technology
The Insta Safe EOD™ product is a pioneering drone system that is designed for the facilitation of efficient humanitarian demining operations. The Insta system contains a drone for the safe and controlled detonation of mines and other military offensives from a distance.
The packaging design is a fibre-based corrugated cardboard transport box, and it represents a combination of DS Smith’s sustainable expertise in conjunction with Insta's commitment to technological innovation.
"We are extremely proud of this ambitious partnership with Insta. Corrugated cardboard packaging has once again proven its versatility in a new application. It is ideally suited to support demanding humanitarian operations, such as the drone-based demining solution. This win is a recognition of innovation and the importance of collaboration," said Ari Viinikkala, Managing Director, DS Smith, Finland.
Fibre-based packaging for sustainability
The advantages of the DS Smith packaging solution include lightness, durability, and cost-efficiency. The base of the product is lightweight, and yet sturdy, with scope to print user instructions for the product inside on the external surface area of the design. In addition, the corrugated cardboard material is 100% biodegradable and subject to decomposition after use, leaving no trace of waste.
“The corrugated packaging and the corrugated base supporting the payload box work excellently as part of our innovation," explained Harri Vuolle, Product Lead for Unmanned Aviation, Insta.
The overall packaging design was created by DS Smith Design Manager Heidi Tikkala, and the visual elements were applied by DS Smith Graphic Designer Mika Mattila, in collaboration with Ari Nissinen, Team Lead for Insta's Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) division.
The annual ScanStar awards competition recognises outstanding Nordic packaging designs that represent a mark of industry excellence. DS Smith and Insta's winning packaging is being awarded for its innovation., and the judges highlighted the lightness of the solution and the fact that it is made entirely of corrugated board and there effective as an alternative to plastic.
DS Smith was also awarded with winning entries for Queen® Flowers in Denmark and for their creation of corrugated cardboard containers to supplement the company/s use of plastic buckets in retailers. This is in addition to the DS Smith One-Fold Insert packaging solution which comprised of only one material to make it easy to identify and recycle within sustainable waste streams, is intended as a simple and versatile solution for customers across variety of sectors.
DS Smith is committed to leading an industry-wide transition to a circular economy while delivering sustainable circular solutions for its customers across thirty-four countries worldwide. The business has a target led Now and Next sustainability strategy in support of its purpose of Redefining Packaging for a Changing World.
The ScanStar 2025 awards ceremony will be held on Thursday 27th November 2025 in Sandefjord, Norway as a part of the annual Emballasjedagene conference.
Additional information can be found by visiting www.dssmith.com