This is the latest development in the London-headquartered packaging company’s Now & Next strategy.

DS Smith said the move comes as it responds to demand from businesses looking to drive a more circular approach to their supply chains.

According to the company’s research team, second harvest materials like straw and brewers’ spent grain have the potential to save up to 10% of the virgin fibres used in the papermaking process. They therefore present an important and viable means to supplement traditional sources.

NER, a West Sussex-based company, has created a process to transform agricultural waste into paper-making pulp with strengthening properties.

DS Smith is using its Kemsley research and innovation site in Kent to explore how the pulp, pioneered by NER from previously unwanted products, can be used to make sustainable packaging products.

DS Smith materials development director Nick Thompson said: “DS Smith has built a reputation for being at the forefront of innovation in the recycling aspect of its operation, in part demonstrated by the investment into the R&D Fibre & Paper Development Lab (based at Kemsley Mill) and our ongoing partnership with Nafici.

“Businesses are keen to understand how they can adopt more circularity into their supply chains and finding secondary uses for what are currently seen as waste materials are key to that.

“Our Now & Next Sustainability strategy drives us to be leaders in helping the transition to a circular economy, so working with customers and partners across the supply chain to keep materials in use for as long as possible is an important part of that drive.”

Florence Miremadi-Nafici, co-founder and CEO of NER, said: “Our work with DS Smith is crucial in addressing the sustainability challenges associated with the increased demand for packaging.

“Through the pilot programme at Kemsley we hope to prove that alternative fibres, and particularly second harvest materials, can and will play an important role in the future of sustainable packaging.”