Fibre-based packaging company DS Smith has unveiled Tape Back, a resealable e-commerce packaging solution.

This product replaces single-use plastic tear strips, enhancing sustainability and functionality in the sector.

Tape Back is designed to facilitate two shipments with just one glue strip, reducing waste and promoting seamless returns. It also reduces the risk of stock damage during returns.

DS Smith highlighted the issue of receiving damaged goods by online shoppers in a survey in November 2024. In the survey, 60% of Americans were found to have experienced the issue within the year.

Tape Back’s design features a return strip that allows consumers to effortlessly reuse the original packaging for returns, thereby cutting down on the need for extra packaging materials.

DS Smith North America Marketing director Cheryl Holliday said: “DS Smith understands the growing importance of sustainable packaging solutions in today’s e-commerce landscape, specifically as it relates to consumers returning goods.

“Ensuring the customer experience is always at the forefront of our innovation process, Tape Back is a direct response to the demand for more environmentally friendly and efficient return processes and demonstrates our commitment to creating circular design solutions.”

In line with DS Smith's philosophy of 'Redefining Packaging for a Changing World', Tape Back has been optimised to boost supply chain efficiency.

The product uses less silicon tape, hot melt, and corrugated board, thereby doubling its circular design metric score.

In June 2024, DS Smith introduced a science-based target to lower its carbon dioxide emissions by 40% per tonne of product by 2030, compared to 2019 levels, alongside its commitment to achieve net zero by 2050.

The company reported a 4% revenue decline on a reported basis in the first half of 2024-25 from the £3.51bn ($4.45bn) recorded in the same period last year.