Helping AquaChile switch from EPS foam to paper-based salmon packaging for a more sustainable supply chain

AquaChile is one of the world's largest salmon producers and the largest in Chile. With a long-standing commitment to sustainability, the company is continually looking for ways to reduce its environmental impact across its operations. One opportunity was to replace its expanded polystyrene (EPS) packaging with a more sustainable solution while maintaining the high level of product protection required for fresh salmon.

Working closely with our client, we developed a more sustainable corrugated cardboard alternative that met the same high standards for freshness, food safety, durability and logistics performance without compromising insulation. Through a collaborative design and testing process, we created an innovative packaging solution that protected fresh salmon throughout the distribution journey while significantly reducing environmental impact. The new packaging was designed to maintain product quality throughout transportation and support AquaChile's broader commitment to driving sustainability and innovation throughout it's distribution network.

The project reduced CO₂ emissions by 21 tons, cut storage costs by 80% and transportation costs by 27%, and increased the amount of salmon shipped per container by 30%, improving efficiency and profitability. By replacing expanded polystyrene (EPS) with corrugated cardboard for fresh salmon distribution, AquaChile became the first salmon producer in Chile to adopt this type of packaging solution.