DS Smith has set a new world record for sailing in a corrugated cardboard boat during the biennial ‘Blue Ribbon of the Weser’ event in Minden, Germany. The record was achieved by a crew of twenty-three who successfully paddled a fibre-based, Catamaran-inspired boat over a 250-metre distance on the River Weser.
The boat, measuring around twelve metres in length and three metres in width, exceeded expectations for performance and capacity. Only twenty people were required on board to qualify for the world record, which was officially submitted to the Rekord-Institut für Deutschland (RID) for validation after the event.
The DS Smith team also conducted boat-building workshops during the event, demonstrating construction techniques using corrugated cardboard. The structure featured a double wall made from Kraftliner paper, a material known for strength and tear resistance. The paperboard used included virgin wood fibres and recycled pulp, and was treated to be waterproof for a limited time.
“At DS Smith we specialise in developing and producing innovative, sustainable packaging solutions made from fibre-based and sustainable materials, including corrugated cardboard,” said Falk Höbel, Site Manager, Minden, DS Smith. “Constructing such a large boat based on a Catamaran design was a fantastic experience, and a challenge for us as a team, but we succeeded.”
The Blue Ribbon of the Weser, established in 1951, is a prominent water sports and cultural festival attracting participants from various disciplines including canoeing, rowing, and dragon boat racing.
In 2025, other teams also experimented with cardboard structures, including smaller two-seater boats. The DS Smith vessel may now be the longest corrugated cardboard boat of its kind to have sailed successfully.