AF&PA Releases April 2024 Packaging Papers Monthly Report

Delhaize Belgium, the leading supermarket chain, has optimized its packaging process to meet the increased demand for home deliveries in partnership with DS Smith, the leading sustainable packaging provider. By creating its new Direct Box, the retailer could reduce the CO2 emissions with more than 87 tons. Nico Buelens, Project Manager Ecommerce Operations of Delhaize explains: "The new Direct Box is an innovative reusable corrugated tray. It incorporates built-in reinforcement on the handles, thisensures an extra strong Direct Box.

Highlights *Reported cash from operations of $556.8 million *Free cash flow increased 22% over 2020 to a record $466.1 million, representing a free cash flow yield of 10% based on year end stock price *Record full year volumes in the Dispensing and Specialty Closures segment, with a 9% increase over prior year record volumes *Record full year volumes in the Metal Container segment, with a further 4% increase on top of the 14% growth in 2020 *Completed the strategic acquisitions of Gateway, Unicep and Easytech *Issued the Company's inaugural sustainability report *Returned to year end target leverage ratio after completing three acquisitions in 2021

In research published in Advanced Science, investigators drew inspiration from the octopus to develop an adhesive that achieves strong attachment and controlled release on varied substrates in wet and underwater environments. The feat could have numerous applications in fields ranging from healthcare and underwater robotics to infrastructure repair. By studying the octopus’s suckers—specifically, the exposed disc-like portion called the infundibulum—the researchers designed an elastic, curved stalk with a membrane that can change its shape and adhere to multiple surfaces. Underwater, the octopus-inspired adhesive strongly attached to complex objects from lightweight shells to large rocks and soft gel beads with different roughness, curvature, and hardness. The adhesive could be rapidly attached to these objects over many cycles and over long times and then be quickly released on demand.