Transport packaging Making the supply chain greener with reusable plastic load carriers

Related Vendors

ORBIS GmbH

HASCO Hasenclever GmbH + Co KG

AMPCO METAL Deutschland GbmH

DIPROFIL Diamantprodukter AB

In 2023, companies increased investments in sustainability to build more resilient supply chains, with nearly half focusing on this area, according to a global survey by Blue Yonder. Reusable plastic containers offer a greener alternative, reducing resource consumption and lasting over ten years.

In order to make their supply chains more resilient, companies invested more in sustainability in 2023. According to a global survey of 600 supply chain management executives conducted by Blue Yonder, almost half of the participants (48 percent) invested capital in this area. “New pressure is also coming from legal regulations such as the EU Packaging Regulation, which requires sustainable and recyclable packaging,” says Jürgen Krahé, Senior Commercial Director EMEA at Orbis Europe. “Companies have many opportunities to make their logistics processes greener. Switching to sustainable transport packaging is one of them.”

Under the right conditions, reusable plastic containers can help to make supply chains greener. With a useful life of over ten years and a high proportion of recyclate, they reduce resource consumption and the need for new transport solutions. These four steps should be considered when making the switch:

1. Analyse the supply chain

The first step is to assess whether it makes sense to switch to reusable plastic packaging for your own application. Using software-supported life cycle assessments, companies can determine the environmental impact of different types of packaging across the entire life cycle — from raw material extraction to production, transport, use and disposal. Based on information on transport routes and means, the Orbis Packaging Lifecycle Assessment Tool analyses whether CO₂ emissions, energy and water consumption and waste can be reduced by switching to plastic packaging. “Companies can only make well-founded investment decisions once the environmental impact has been translated into concrete figures,” says Krahé.

2. Concept development and performance measurement

Once all the requirements are known, companies need a concept to integrate the new transport solution into the existing supply chain. To switch to plastic, they must first determine whether a customised solution is required or whether a standard product will suffice. Then a decision has to be made: Is a test phase with prototypes necessary and if so, for how long? Will the roll-out of the solution be complete or staggered? What legal requirements need to be observed with regard to transport and storage (e.g. in terms of fire protection concepts)? Suitable key performance indicators help to make added value such as cost savings, reduced CO₂ emissions or energy consumption measurable.

3. Implementation and optimisation

During the roll-out phase, feedback from customers and suppliers is incorporated into the optimisation process. If companies then implement the finished transport box throughout the entire supply chain, the solution must be continuously adapted to changing circumstances: For example, if there is a new production process, a new working method or if the company introduces another product with a new design or size, it is necessary to check how this affects the transport packaging and what adjustments may be necessary.

4. Disposal/buy-back

At the end of its life, up to 100 percent of plastic packaging can be recycled and reused for new products. This reduces greenhouse gas emissions and conserves valuable natural resources. It also enables companies to offset the higher initial outlay and save on disposal costs. “Orbis Europe buys back obsolete or irreparably damaged plastic packaging at the material price so that companies don't have to deal with it themselves,” says Krahé. “In this way, the organisations contribute to an almost closed raw material cycle and benefit from economic advantages.”

Reusable plastic packaging is an ecological and economical alternative to materials such as wood, steel or cardboard. They can help to fulfil legal requirements and meet the increasing expectations of other stakeholders in terms of sustainability.

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