The collaboration supports the launch of Hirt’s new online shop, enabling customers to purchase its award-winning beers, spirits, vinegars and lemonades directly online. DS Smith designed a bespoke fibre-based corrugated packaging solution that protects delicate 0.5 l and 0.75 l glass bottles during storage and transport.
The new packaging is 100% recyclable and made entirely from fibre-based materials. Using DS Smith’s Circular Design Metrics (CDM), the design team evaluated the sustainability performance across eight key indicators including carbon footprint, material reduction and recyclability.
Heimo Schader, Managing Director of Privatbrauerei Hirt, said: “Our new packaging combines functionality with design, ensuring protection, quick assembly and a great unboxing experience for our customers.”
The packaging design accommodates different bottle shapes and sizes, offering a cost-effective and flexible solution. “Our goal was to create a smart, sustainable pack that delivers premium protection and reflects the high quality of Hirt’s beverages,” added Dieter Glawischnig, Managing Director Packaging at DS Smith Austria.
The partnership comes as e-commerce for alcoholic beverages in Austria continues to grow, with online sales rising by nearly 10% annually between 2019 and 2024. With over 755 years of brewing tradition, Privatbrauerei Hirt continues to combine craftsmanship with innovation – now supported by DS Smith’s sustainable packaging expertise.
