How RS Group and tesa engineered more sustainable sealing at scale

Crates, cartons, and boxes aren’t just used to protect products during transport, storage, and handling. They also represent a company’s values. Today’s consumers are critical of unnecessary packaging and expect less waste and more sustainability. At the same time, increasingly stringent regulations – such as the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) (opens in a new window or tab) – are raising the bar for recyclable, low-impact designs. The message is clear: sustainability has become a business necessity.

Companies can stay one step ahead of these trends by switching to sustainable solutions that conserve resources, reduce waste, and enable a circular economy. And the RS Group (opens in a new window or tab) is among those ambitious, first-mover organizations. The company supplies industrial and electrical products to customers worldwide. Their site in Bad Hersfeld is a logistics powerhouse that processes up to 45,000 orders and 20,000 packages daily. Speed and reliability are essential – but so is sustainability. The company has set itself the goal of lowering plastic consumption, reducing waste, and promoting the transition to a circular economy without compromising its customers’ unboxing experience.

In 2025, the RS Group and tesa – strategic partners for about 15 years – joined forces in this endeavor with a shared vision: to make packaging processes more efficient and sustainable. The result: an innovative sealing tape for shipping boxes that offers excellent adhesive strength and helps the RS Group make measurable progress toward achieving its sustainability goals.

Teams from both companies worked hand in hand and explored every possibility to find the optimal solution for the RS Group’s specific requirements. Scientists and engineers from tesa contributed their in-depth expertise and technical know-how to develop and test high-performance adhesive tapes. Their support did not end with the market launch; they also ensured a smooth transition, increased operational efficiency, and enabled improved sustainability.

These advances not only benefit the environment but also highlight the companies’ proactive approach to sustainability: By actively shaping the shift toward circular packaging solutions, both companies are setting new standards for sustainable packaging practices. Regulations such as the EU’s PPWR provide an important framework for this transition, but for RS Group and tesa, the real motivation lies in empowering customers and reducing environmental impact.