The Last Mile solution for online grocery deliveries is an innovative packaging design.
The ICEE Fold Flat airpop® Box is created by Melbourne-based company ICEE Containers Pty Ltd. After 30 years manufacturing in Australia, brothers Les and Gary Skinner moved their primary manufacturing activities to China.
The move to Asia left the company with a small specialty packaging facility, and a decision was made to convert the packaging division into an R&D facility to produce thermally insulated boxes, primarily for the seafood industry.
“We made good boxes but it was clear that the potential for boxes made from airpop® would always be limited by its physical bulk. If we could invent a way to make this material hinge and fold the box flat, then the market opportunities for this wonderful packaging material were endless,” MD Gary Skinner said.
“The secret ingredient was the skill and innovation of our people and, after four years of research and multiple failures, the world’s first fold-flat airpop® box was born.”
ICEE now sees opportunities in new markets, in particular the ecommerce sector with the phenomenal growth in the internet grocery market. Food is packed in separate compartments and food arrives fresh without the need for refrigeration. The box is then stored flat until the next delivery cycle, when it can be reused or recycled.
Although this sector is one of the fastest growing in the world, there is currently no ideal packaging solution for internet food deliveries. The ICEE Fold Flat airpop® box keeps hot things hot and cold things cold. Groceries, seafood, meat, fruit and vegetables, dinner meal kits – the ICEE box will do it all, solving that ‘last mile’ in the delivery chain.
And if you’re thinking of using drones, then the ICEE Box is ideal – much lighter than cardboard alternatives, wholly protective, and totally unaffected by the weather. Produce arrives security-sealed, cushioned and thermally protected from the elements.
The ICEE Fold Flat airpop® box will be exhibited in Australia for the first time at Online Retailer Show, Sydney Hordern Pavilion on July 20-21.
Global release will be at K Fair in Dusseldorf, October and Pack Expo Chicago, November and finally the world’s largest packaging exhibition Interpack Dusseldorf May next year.
ICEE holds global patents on the process and will license the intellectual property and manufacturing system to manufacturers worldwide. ICEE expects to be in commercial production later in 2016 so watch this space for this exciting Australian development in the last mile delivery.
For more information, visit us at booth 5044 at Online Retailer Show or click here for more information.
