Savings from returnable packaging for major companies

Cost saving continues to be an important part of the process for companies, and one major change in recent times has been returnable packaging. This is not only cost efficient but plays a major role in pushing an eco friendly approach to the industry. So what is returnable packaging and what savings can be made?

Packaging is always going to be required as not only a way of storing but in order for transportation. It not only helps with the efficiency of this but to keep the products safe, and away from damage. Plastic pallets for example are just one of the forms of packaging that is now being used as a returnable. As the industry continues to grow this is becoming far more important to help with recycling. Packaging has gone through a huge transformation in the last decade as it continues to improve to tailor the need of the consumers.

This environmentally friendly approach to packaging (returnable packaging), helps with waste and carbon reduction and is an ever-growing solution in the logistics industry. There really can be some significant cost savings in comparison to the traditional single trip method of packaging. These being the likes of cardboard and polystyrene, which will lead to far greater costs having to be purchased each time.

Returnable packaging can be used continuously for years on end, which is shown in the below cycle. This starts with the packaging being used and then returned, cleaned and thus starting the cycle again with no waste. This is a positive for all parties involved and the environment.

So what savings can be made? Here we cover two case studies.

• Fish Merchant moving to returnable packaging

Supplies 1000 boxes of fish per week and had been using polystyrene. Transferred over to the same size returnable containers. This led to them saving around 30% p.a, which was an overall cost of £16,000.

• Meat producer change to returnable packaging

Dispatched 12,000 cardboard boxes per week before moving over to the more efficient and environmentally friendly, returnable plastic crates. This led to 35% savings to an overall cost of £150,000 p.a.