Company reimagines the box for fresh-food delivery

Makers of the OtterBox phone case are targeting the fast-growing market for direct-to-consumer delivery of perishable items, unveiling its Liviri Fresh line of reusable containers at Home Delivery World in Philadelphia this week.

Fort Collins, Colo.-based Liviri said its reusable, insulated box is an alternative to corrugated boxes that often fail to keep foods at the right temperature and require customers to break down and dispose of bulky packaging. Liviri is targeting companies that deliver meal kits and other perishable items, including the e-grocery sector, company officials said.

Made of injection-molded polypropylene, Liviri's "super box" keeps perishable shipments in temperature range 80 percent longer than the top single-use packaging solutions in use today, the company said.

The Liviri Fresh box can be reused up to 75 times; once unloaded, customers attach a return shipping label for pickup and return via FedEx or another shipping service. The box is then delivered to a sanitation facility to be cleaned and prepared for reuse, the company said.

"We've spent two years developing the Liviri line of products, and Liviri Fresh significantly outpaces the most popular packaging out there," Liviri CEO Jim Parke said in a statement announcing the product launch. "We're bringing a reusable solution to the home delivery model that will help retain customers, improve the at-home experience and lessen the burden on our landfills. That circular mindset delivers a win for everyone."

Liviri is a brand of Otter Products, makers of the OtterBox and LifeProof brands. Home Delivery World is a retail logistics conference taking place in Philadelphia, April 3-5, 2019.