Super Shield Sustainable Boxes Attracting Market Interest

 

A report this Tuesday by the Press Herald, Portland, Maine, USA, pointed out that a respected businessman is not often heard to say he took a cue from drug dealers in marketing his latest product. But Derek Volk, CEO of Volk Packaging, a manufacturer of boxes and packing materials in Biddeford, told the newspaper that it was "exactly the right approach" in getting Super Shield, a waterproof corrugated box his company makes, into the market.

"You give them the product for free and then they’re hooked and then you go back and make the sale," said Volk, chuckling over the reference. "It totally worked for us."

The box, developed by Volk using research from the Gulf of Maine Institute and a Canadian paper company, is designed to replace waxed boxes commonly used to transport food products.

Volk said the Super Shield boxes are being used by several of his clients, including Cape Seafoods, Inland Seafood and Cozy Harbor Seafood, to transport lobsters and other seafood. The boxes are designed to retain their strength no matter how wet they become.

And they appeal to companies adopting sustainable practices. The Super Shield boxes are 100% sustainable, giving them a market advantage over waxed boxes, which have to be separated from conventional cardboard in the recycling stream, he added.

The company did its beta testing and sampling last year according to the report. Volk said he expects Super Shield boxes will provide about 10% of the company’s revenue this year, and even greater growth as its reputation for sustainability and durability spreads among potential buyers.

"We spent three years working on it—there was a lot of trial and error," he said. "But the (market) reaction’s been great."