ATLANTA (News release) -- As fall approaches, sustainable packaging leader DS Smith has launched a new solution to collect the season's changing leaves with GreenChute, a 100% curbside recyclable and reusable corrugated yard waste bag filler.

As part of the company's mission to provide customers with environmentally friendly and fully recyclable products, DS Smith uses its trademark Greencoat technology to create GreenChute - making yard cleanup easier, plastic free and more sustainable than ever, all season long.

GreenChute resists moisture to help easily collect yard debris, including leaves, branches, grass and other waste. The cardboard lawn funnel holds the user's lawn bag open and in place to easily rake leaves and lawn clippings into a pile and place them through GreenChute into the bag for disposal. The cardboard structure includes a printed QR code that, when scanned, shares the assembly and usage instructions for consumers.

GreenChute is also an easy recyclable solution as consumers demand a reduction of plastic waste. Survey data¹ shows that 96% of US consumers said they try to live sustainable lifestyles at least some of the time. Additionally, a reported² 32% globally deem dealing with the amount of waste we generate is a top three environmental issue. As residents make use of compostable yard waste bags, they can now use a product to collect leaves that will not remain in the landfill for decades - addressing both of these polled concerns.

"Sustainability is at the heart of our organization, including designing new innovative products that address problem plastics," said Melanie Galloway, DS Smith vice president of sales, marketing and innovation. "GreenChute is an easy sustainable choice that is fully recyclable and effective - all qualities that DS Smith not only takes great pride in but believes are essential for a better future. As consumers make a choice to use fully compostable yard waste bags, they should also have an accompanying plastic-free, earth-friendly tool to clean up their yard."

The company's Greencoat technology is a wax-free, 100% recyclable coated alternative to wax-coated boxes that provides a safe and leak-proof barrier while also moving away from fossil-fuel based materials in favor of fiber-based. The development of Greencoat has enabled over 530,000 tons of corrugated packaging to be recycled instead of landfilled and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by nearly one million metric tons over an eight-year period. In fact, the company recently made a $140 million investment in research and development to continue innovation in sustainable packaging, including in grocery, retail and e-commerce applications.

GreenChute is just one example of DS Smith solutions that aim to remove one billion pieces of problem plastics from supermarkets and online retailers by 2025 through its Now and Next Sustainability Strategy. Earlier in 2022, the company reported strong progress against its plastic placement target, replacing over 313 million pieces of problem plastics for retailers with recyclable fiber-based alternatives in the last two years.

DS Smith's purpose is to "Redefine Packaging for a Changing World," and as part of its recently launched "Now and Next Sustainability Strategy" and commitment to the circular economy, the company by 2030 will use packaging and recycling to replace problem plastics, reduce customer carbon and eliminate consumer packaging waste.

About DS Smith

DS Smith is a leading provider of sustainable fiber-based packaging worldwide, which is supported by recycling and papermaking operations. It plays a central role in the value chain across sectors including e-commerce, fast moving consumer goods and industrials. Through its purpose of 'Redefining Packaging for a Changing World' and its Now and Next sustainability strategy, DS Smith is committed to leading the transition to the circular economy, while delivering more circular solutions for its customers and wider society - replacing problem plastics, taking carbon out of supply chains and providing innovative recycling solutions. Its bespoke box-to-box in 14 days model, design capabilities and innovation strategy sits at the heart of this response. Headquartered in London and a member of the FTSE 100, DS Smith operates in 34 countries employing around 30,000 people and is a Strategic Partner of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Its history can be traced back to the box-making businesses started in the 1940s by the Smith family. North American operations are based in Atlanta, with 15 manufacturing, paper and recycling facilities, totaling more than 2,000 employees. DS Smith will report annually its progress across its climate targets in its Sustainability and Annual Reports.

¹ Sustainable Brands, Ipsos, "2022 Q1 Pulse Highlights, Socio Cultural Trends," July 13, 2022

² Ipsos, "Two thirds of citizens around the world agree climate change is as serious a crisis as Coronavirus," April 22, 2020