For several years, the LivingPackets startup has been developing a connected parcel project, offering an alternative to the classic cardboard boxes that’s reusable up to 1,000 times. After several test phases, it is now being used by certain e-merchants, mainly in Paris and Nantes.
There have never been so many boxes in transit in the world, a direct consequence of the boom in online shopping, accentuated since the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic. The scale is such that authorities have started to legislate. In Europe, for example, 70% of packages will have to be reusable by 2030.
To replace these disposable boxes, LivingPackets has developed The Box, a connected package that can be used up to 1,000 times, before being recycled.
The Box features a host of sensors to monitor any shocks, as well as temperature and humidity inside the package, while also keeping track of its opening, remotely, from a dedicated application. Plus, a GPS tracker is on hand to locate the package in real time. Made of polypropylene, The Box is more rigid and durable than cardboard. It even has an automatic support system, so it does not require the use of filling materials such as bubble wrap.
In addition to saving cardboard, The Box requires no additional paper, since the label is displayed on an e-ink screen. Plus, orders can be easily returned via a simple, dedicated button. With the two formats currently available, The Box could theoretically handle nearly 80% of all online purchases.
After making a strong impression at CES, The Box will be coming to Paris’s Viva Technology event, Saturday, June 19.
See the development of The Box in this video: youtu.be/OlGfQaJrn7A
