The innovative design team at Ericsson's Stockholm headquarters has unveiled a breakthrough in sustainable packaging. They have devised an eco-friendly packaging solution for shipping Ericsson Remote Radio products, shifting from conventional oil-based plastics to environmentally friendly wood fiber materials for the packaging inserts.

This pioneering sustainable packaging project serves a dual purpose: reducing Ericsson's packaging's environmental footprint while maintaining efficiency in production, logistics, and disposal processes. The transformation also aligns with the company's commitment to avoiding contributions to ocean plastic pollution.

The new packaging inserts are fully recyclable and significantly slash the packaging's total plastic content from 20 percent to under one percent. Additionally, a specially formulated anti-abrasion coating on the wood fiber material eliminates the need for the plastic protection bag that traditionally shields the product surface. The only remaining plastic component is the tape used to seal the outer packaging.

The challenge of creating plastic-free packaging for heavyweight electronic products, typically weighing between 24-36kg, called for ingenious solutions. Ericsson partnered with Nefab and DS Smith, two suppliers, to develop two designs that incorporate the new materials without compromising the packaging's structural integrity, which is crucial for product protection during transit.

Mats Pellbäck Scharp, Head of Sustainability at Ericsson, commented on this initiative: "Packaging is part of our supply chain target of halving emissions by 2030, and removing plastics contributes to our climate and other environmental ambitions. The Ericsson design team has shown that it is possible to remove plastics from packaging for complex and heavy telecom gear while maintaining essential product protection."

Notably, the collaboration has received positive feedback from industry peers. Saskia Günther, Head of Corporate Responsibility at Swisscom, highlighted the role of suppliers in reducing the overall carbon footprint. Melanie Kubin-Hardewig, Head of Corporate Responsibility at Deutsche Telekom, emphasized the importance of sustainable packaging innovations in the broader context of circularity goals.

The impact of the new packaging stretches beyond plastic reduction. The carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) impact analysis demonstrates that the new packaging solution outperforms existing alternatives, contributing to a balanced or improved environmental outcome across its lifecycle.

With global efforts to achieve Net Zero and impending regulations on plastic packaging, Ericsson's plastic-free packaging initiative emerges as a significant step toward sustainability. The successful trials with Swisscom and Deutsche Telekom, executed through its COSMOTE subsidiary, pave the way for the solution's wider adoption among more customers in the near future, potentially expanding to encompass a broader range of hardware products.

Ericsson's plastic-free packaging push is a core element of its comprehensive sustainability strategy, aiming to attain Net Zero across the company's value chain by 2040. Circularity and responsible material choices are key drivers in this transformative journey.

Source:ericsson.com

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