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~ Ranpak ~

With ever-increasing online sales, the need for sustainable solutions is becoming stronger
and stronger, and understandably so. Packaging is one of the main processes that is in need of
change, and this does not have to hurt your bottom line. In fact, over 80% of consumers would
be more likely to purchase from brands that ship sustainably than those that do not. Ranpak is
a global leader in sustainable, paper-based packaging solutions for e-commerce. We spoke with

Eric Laurensse, Managing Director at Ranpak Europe, to get an insight into their sustainable
solutions.
Ranpak was founded with the express mission of made and automated solutions. It is all about being flexible
providing a sustainable alternative to the use of as a company. “We expanded our offering with highly
“plastics for secondary packaging applications,” automated box-sizing solutions for large e-commerce and
Eric starts. “At that time, the most common logistics customers to avoid unnecessary volume being
packaging material for most secondary packaging shipped but, despite the reduced box size, there remains a
applications was loose-fill foam.” Basically, when sizable market asking for filling and protecting materials.
you, as a consumer, opened a package delivered To live up to this demand, we offer paper Void Fill,
to your door, it contained more plastic filling Cushioning and Wrapping solutions at the packing location
material than anything else. “Our founder, George of our customer,” Eric explains. “This way, they can convert
R. Johnson, wanted to address this problem and the paper into its final shape to form filling wrapping or
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built the first PadPak converter machine in his protective paper on demand, using our patented converters
garage with his father. The machine allowed him to in their own facilities. For Geami compared to air bubble
convert kraft paper into shock-absorbing stitched products, this saves up to seven times the transport and
paper. He found a solution to replace foam in place, storage costs compared to producing the paper at our
plastic air bubbles, airbags and more. Ever since production sites. On top of that, this on-demand razorblade
then, sustainable packaging solutions have been the concept substantially reduces the environmental footprint.”
exclusive focus of Ranpak.”
Paper over plastic
Fast-forwarding in time, Ranpak currently serves 240 Consumers have become more aware of how they shop
exclusive distributors globally. Via these exclusive online. Their demands, for packaging as well, have changed,
distributors, it serves more than 30,000 customers across confirms Eric: “Recently, we surveyed the market, asking
the globe, varying from the largest retailers such as IKEA, crucial questions about plastic and paper. The outcomes
just about any automotive and manufacturing company, to were clear. Over 80% of the interviewed people in the
small e-commerce start-ups. Driven by the extremely high United Kingdom, France and Germany were more likely
corporate and consumer demand for sustainable packaging, to purchase again from brands that ship in a sustainable
Ranpak’s e-commerce business is seeing strong global way. On top of that, over 85% of the respondents indicated
growth. that they would prefer to see more paper and less plastic
used in packaging. In addition, over 80% prefer to receive
Paper-based paper from responsibly managed forests, such as FSC ”.
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Paper used to protect goods for shipment, and the systems The survey also found that almost 25% of those interviewed
Ranpak develops have always been about doing just that. stated that excessive plastic packaging in a box is still
“Paper is our sustainable alternative to the traditional filling common. “These people noted that the amount of plastic
materials such as plastics or foam,” Eric states, adding that used in packaging is still increasing compared to previous
sustainability is at the core of Ranpak’s business. “It is part years.”
of our DNA. All the products we develop and market,
such as our protective paper solutions, are renewable, These people are not wrong, as there is still a huge plastic
biodegradable and curbside recyclable,” he says. Last year, air bubble market out there. A market that has an incredibly
the company produced over 200,000 metric tons of paper negative impact on the environment with its low recycling
packaging material globally. How sustainable is that? “After rate and hundreds of years to degrade when ending up in
use, most of this paper will be recycled,” Eric says, “and nature. “But plastic air bubbles are unnecessary,” states Eric.
the very small amount that isn’t recycled will naturally Paper is the sustainable alternative. “It makes perfect sense
biodegrade,” he adds. to protect vulnerable items while packing; wrapping them is
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essential to prevent damage. Our patented Geami process
Customised and automated solutions helps to do just that. It converts environmentally friendly
Ranpak takes its sustainable DNA further than just its paper into highly effective protective packaging material.
products. There is a world to gain in providing custom- Geami die-cut kraft paper expands into a 3D honeycomb

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