Page 14 - Warehouse Annual 2022

PACKAGING

savings throughout the supply chain. Not only are you • Minimal carbon footprint
saving on material costs, you are also saving on weight Materials like plastic, Styrofoam and even cardboard are
for transportation. It only takes a few centimetres of proven to be harmful to the environment as they produce
reduction in the primary packaging to translate into a lot of waste and take years to break down. In fact, one
savings along the supply chain. This reduction means of the biggest causes of environmental degradation is the
more boxes can be bundled into one shipment instead of plastic that is used in packaging. Unfortunately, materials
needing several truckloads. When you can accommodate like plastic are the most fl exible, durable and reliable
more boxes in secondary packaging, this leads to fewer options, and they meet the needs of quality primary and
trucks, fewer transit miles, fewer packaging materials and secondary packaging.
less fuel use.
Although it is unlikely that we will ever eliminate plastic
• Reduction in damages use around the world, it is possible to reduce how often
Package optimisation helps retailers choose the right you use it with your product packaging. You can reduce the
packing materials to protect the products they ship to size of the packaging, limit the use of non-biodegradable
customers. This leads to a reduction in damages because substances and opt for more eco-friendly products when you
fragile items placed in the wrong type of packaging can redesign your product packaging. Not only will these changes
be damaged during transit. Even a single damaged SKU minimise your carbon footprint and help the environment,
can lead to extra costs including replacement, additional but you will also win points with your customers, especially
logistics support, packaging waste and administration. those who are environmentally conscious.

• Improves effi ciency • Effective delivery
Depending on the types of products you distribute, you By proactively thinking about how your packaging can support
may be able to use the same size box for all your products. your product design, you can save thousands of rands every
This will reduce the complexity of your packaging process. year. Swedish furniture retailer IKEA saves approximately
However, if you have a variety of products, this won’t be an $1.36 million every year by rethinking product designs from
option for you. Trying to use the same sized boxes for your a delivery perspective. By separating its furniture products
different products will lead to wasted space and reduced into several components, it reduces packaging size by up to
effi ciency in your delivery process. It is important 50 percent. Customers then assemble the components to
to fi nd a balance between the complexity of your full-sized products in their living spaces, which makes
products and the effi ciency of your packaging the shopping, delivery and assembling process a win-
solutions. By reducing the number, size and win solution for both parties. •
shape of shipping containers, you can
achieve substantial savings in
your supply chain.

PHOTO BY
SHVETS
PRODUCTION
FROM PEXELS

12 Warehouse Annual 2022