IKIGAI advances business adoption of reusable SmartBoxes with LI5 kick-off in Brussels

On 13 January 2026, the IKIGAI Project held the hybrid kick-off meeting of Logistics Innovation 5 (LI5) “GS1 SMART-Box pooling governance scaling up to Belgium and France” in Brussels and online. The event was hosted by GS1 Europe. LI5 addresses the specific business challenge of deploying reusable, standardised modular boxes on a large scale through open, economically viable pooling models.

Advancing reusable and standardised logistics assets

LI5 focuses on the GS1 SmartBox, a reusable, modular box designed for multi-actor logistics ecosystems. The objective is to demonstrate how shared governance, interoperability and trusted data exchange can enable scalable reuse models across retail, wholesale, foodservice, automated warehouses and e-commerce.

The meeting brought together retailers, manufacturers, logistics service providers, pooling operators, technology providers and research organisations to ensure business realities were embedded from the beginning. The hybrid format enabled broad participation and practical exchange from the outset of the pilot.

Key topics discussed

The agenda focused on aligning partners around a common implementation path and included:

LI5 objectives and work structure, including task organisation and upcoming milestones

Real-world use cases, covering automated distribution centres, shelf-ready packaging, display logistics and home delivery
Pooling and governance models, addressing ownership, cost allocation, clearing mechanisms and scalability
Digital enablers, such as event tracking, smart contracts and digital twins, to support traceability, transparency and operational efficiency

These discussions helped establish a shared understanding of both the opportunities and constraints linked to deploying the GS1 SmartBox on a large scale.

Building the foundation for pilot execution

A key outcome of the meeting was the consolidation of priorities for the next phase of work, including requirements for data collection, the design of governance and the preparation of pilots. Exchanging perspectives across sectors enabled participants to clearly define their requirements and contributions within the LI5 framework.

LI5 aims to contribute to more efficient asset use, reduced waste and lower emissions by combining standardisation, digital interoperability and collaborative governance, in line with IKIGAI’s broader objectives.

Following the kick-off meeting, LI5 will start detailed preparation and implementation of the pilot, continuously aligning with the Physical Internet principles and the IKIGAI pilot methodology. The insights generated will also inform wider discussions on scalability, replication and standard-setting at a European level.

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