HIVED Completes Online Delivery Reusable Packaging Pilot

HIVED anticipates growing consumer driven demand for the reuse-as-a-service model and plans on scaling the solution with other retailers.

Ecommerce delivery company, HIVED, has completed a reusable packaging pilot backed by Elemental Impact, a non-profit technology investor, to help address the problem of packaging waste.

Teaming up with the meal subscription service Field Doctor and Oakland International, HIVED trialled its circular packaging infrastructure and technology platform to deliver, collect, and return reusable packaging for Field Doctor through its all electric delivery network.

The pilot trialled Oakland’s reusable OakRA box that provides an alternative to traditional cardboard packaging. Field Doctor customers received their weekly meal subscription in an OakRA box delivered by HIVED. The packaging from the previous week was then collected and returned through HIVED’s streamlined and reliable technology platform and physical infrastructure.

Producers and retailers are increasingly considering reusable packaging solutions ahead of the introduction of the UK government’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) next year. The new scheme will see responsibility for packaging waste management shift from local governments to producers. HIVED anticipates growing consumer driven demand for the reuse-as-a-service model and plans on scaling the solution with other retailers.

HIVED’s Head of Impact, Gemma Neal, said, “Our mission to decarbonise ecommerce deliveries goes beyond electrification. Supporting the circular economy is a crucial development, and this trial is an exciting step toward becoming the go-to courier for circular business models.”

Oakland Strategic Innovation Manager, Luke Attwell said, “HIVED has given the opportunity for OakRA to make a full circle carbon neutral loop with collection from factory, to consumer door and back again being done via 100% electric vehicles. Our hope is this becomes a consumer driven model, where consumers and organisations drive the need for a sustainable option of delivery with suppliers.”

Co-founder and CCO at Field Doctor, Alex Brooks added, “We believe that reusable packaging has to be a big part of the future for customer deliveries – both D2C and B2B – which will help us reduce our usage of cardboard. The customer feedback on the pilot has been excellent and we’ve seen the OakRA box performing really well to help us deliver our meals in perfect condition.”

Elemental Impact VP of Portfolio, Danya Hakeem said, “HIVED’s pilot demonstrates how an innovative company is fundamentally rethinking logistics and reducing waste through circular packaging, all while proving the value of hiring from within their community.”