With a target of 250,000 reusable packages and twenty pioneering brands, DS Smith, an International Paper company, and a leading global provider of fibre-based and sustainable packaging, is supporting the REUSE FAST TRACK initiative in collaboration with RE-ZIP, and the RAJA Group. The programme aims to develop a reusable fibre-based packaging solution with French e-commerce manufacturers and suppliers.

REUSE FAST TRACK, which is scheduled to run for a year, is anticipated to demonstrate that packaging can be reused with tangible benefits for sustainability targets, commercial profit, and operational efficiency when provided to e-commerce customers at scale. The intention is to promote the reuse of 250,000 packages within a twelve-month period by recirculating returned packaging.

The initiative comes at a time when packaging regulations, such as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), require businesses across the European Union (EU) to invest in solutions that are designed, used, and disposed of, within a harmonized framework.

The project is funded by EU LIFE, the EU’s dedicated investment vehicle for initiatives promoting environmental protection and sustainable development, with the aim of making reuse a credible alternative and accelerating its adoption.

E-commerce sectors

REUSE FAST TRACK is open to businesses and brands from across e-commerce sectors, ranging from cosmetics, fashion and apparel, and FMCG (Fast-Moving-Consumer-Goods), and participants, will benefit from personalized support, supply chain deployment, IT configuration, marketing, consumer engagement, and performance monitoring.

Sustainable collaboration for e-commerce

The initiative incorporates the combined expertise of RE-ZIP a Denmark based start-up that is managing the program's operations by providing a traceability app to track returns and   facilitate its implementation, the RAJA  Group, a European leader in multichannel distribution of supplies and equipment for businesses, and DS Smith, a leading global provider of fibre-based and sustainable packaging solutions. The collaborators will ensure that the reusable packaging solutions are in optimum condition before they are returned to the e-commerce marketplace.

Comments from the founding partners:

Anne-Laure Daniel, Managing Director, RE-ZIP, France, “The market is waiting for a strong signal. REUSE FAST TRACK is that signal: not just another pilot, but the largest reusable packaging rollout program ever launched. We are opening the door to brands that want to be on the right side of history to decide now”.

Mathieu Bultelle, Head of New Markets, DS Smith, France, “DS Smith designs sustainable and circular packaging. This program is an opportunity to put that expertise to work for large-scale reuse, with committed brands and real impact data”.

Marie-Aurore Marichy, Group Product Manager, RAJA, “As Europe’s leading packaging distributor, RAJA wants to give its customers a concrete opportunity to switch to reuse.” “We provide them with packaging, advice, and distribution services.”

Applications are now open and the three partners will select twenty businesses and brands starting in July 2026. REUSE FAST TRACK will launch in France in September 2026 and will potentially be rolled out to wider European countries and participants from 2027.

Further details can be found at https://communication.re-zip.com/reuse-fast-track

DS Smith has a target-led sustainability strategy and is committed to leading an industry-wide transition to the circular economy, while delivering sustainable circular solutions to customers worldwide.

For further information, interviews, and images:

Daniella Steadman, PR Manager, Packaging Division, DS Smith

E: daniella.steadman@dssmith.com / T: +44 (0) 750 735 7755

DS Smith

DS Smith, an International Paper company, is a leading global provider of sustainable fibre-based packaging, which is supported by recycling and papermaking operations. The company plays a central role in the value chain across sectors including e-commerce, fast moving consumer goods, food and beverage, and industrials. It has a target-led sustainability strategy and is committed to leading an industry-wide transition to a circular economy while delivering sustainable circular solutions for customers. As a part of this mandate, there is a focus on replacing plastics, taking carbon out of supply chains, providing recycling solutions, innovation, and significant investment into Research & Development including alternative materials and fibres. The company has a progressive approach to the service and optimization of sustainable supply chains, a well-known and bespoke ‘Box-to-Box’ in fourteen-day operational model and a unique Circular Design Metrics approach. It is a proactive member of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and the original DS Smith box-making business was started by the London-based Smith family in the 1940s. Additional information can be found by visiting www.dssmith.com               

International Paper (NYSE: IP; LSE: IPC)

International Paper creates sustainable packaging solutions that enable our customers, teammates, and shareowners to thrive in an ever-changing world. We are a leader in corrugated packaging, partnering with customers across industries to protect what matters most, strengthen supply chains and create lasting value. Additional information can be found by visiting www.internationalpaper.com  

RE-ZIP

RE-ZIP is a Danish-based innovative circular packaging solution designed to eliminate single-use waste in e-commerce by providing durable, foldable and reusable bags and boxes. It perates through a system where customers return empty, collapsed packaging to drop points for rewards, with the materials cleaned and recirculated, significantly reducing CO2 emissions. The packaging is made to be used repeatedly. Just a single reuse makes a real difference. It is developed to match existing workflows in web shops and fulfilment centres. With flexible material compositions, durability can be adapted to suit actual return rates, starting with low-cost, low-emission packaging and scaling up as reuse increases. Customers can opt for circular packaging when ordering. Once the product has been delivered, they collapse the packaging and drop it off at a drop point identified using the app. They scan it and are issued a reward. The packaging is then sent to a cleaning hub before being sent around the loop again. Additional information can be found by visiting www.re-zip.com  

The RAJA Group

The RAJA Group is the European leader in multichannel distribution of supplies and equipment for businesses. It unites twenty-seven companies and operates fifteen distribution centres in nineteen European countries. RAJA specializes in the distribution of packaging, office supplies and furniture, industrial equipment, hygiene, cleaning products, and personal protective equipment. The Group's companies serve more than two million customers in Europe, ranging from startups to multinational corporations, across all sectors including distribution, industry, e-commerce, services, and government. It is a family-owned and independent group and was founded in 1954. The RAJA Group distinguishes itself through the quality of its products, the excellence of its services, and its close relationships with its customers. RAJA’s   European headquarters are in Roissy, near Parisemploys 5,000 people and generates €1.7 billion in revenue. Additional information can be found by visiting www.raja-group.com  

The European Union LIFE programme

The LIFE program is the European Union (EU) funding instrument for environment and climate action (LIFE). It is financially supporting the REUSE FAST TRACK program to sponsor up to 250,000 reusable packages for participating brands. The LIFE programme aims to facilitate the shift towards a sustainable, circular, energy-efficient, renewable energy-based, climate neutral and resilient economy. The financial envelope of the LIFE Programme is implemented via four sub-programmes: Nature and Biodiversity, Circular Economy and Quality of Life, Climate Change Migration and Adaption and Clean Energy Transition.  The programme supports demonstrations, best practice, coordination and support actions, capacity building, and governance projects. Additional information can be found by visiting www.cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/life_en    

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