As a logistics professional, you are most likely involved in sustainable business practices. Whereas this used to be the preserve of a select group of forward-thinking companies, it is now virtually impossible to avoid. Anyone who does not practise sustainable business is seen as ‘out of step’. Sustainable business practices in logistics aren’t just about having an energy-efficient warehouse or using sustainable transport. There’s also a lot to be gained from optimising the packaging process. For example, there are three simple steps you can take to make your packaging practices more sustainable.
Careful packaging
A logical measure, which unfortunately is not always pursued. Careful packaging leads to a reduction in DOAs (Defect on Arrival's). Since broken goods are usually returned, if DOAs are reduced, the number of returns will decrease. No extra transport is needed to return items, and so there are no additional emissions.
Size matters
The boxes in which products are transported are often largely filled with air. Transporting products in smaller, custom-made boxes leaves little unused space. So you need to drive less often for the same load. Moreover, the product can slide a lot if there is a lot of space left in the box. This can cause damage to the product. Therefore, keep the space between the contents and packaging as small as possible and, if necessary, use (recyclable) filling material to fill the spaces.
Find out where your packaging comes from
Packaging is a necessity. They improve the shelf life of food and protect products from damage during transport and storage. Nevertheless, you can check what your packaging is made of. Packaging and padding materials can be made from recyclable or even biodegradable materials. Check with the supplier you do business with what packaging they offer and what it is made of. Unfortunately, there is no hallmark for sustainable packaging. However, there are a number of packaging logos and labels, such as the Kiemplant logo. You can find these and other packaging logos on the Milieu Centraal website.
Editorial LogistiekProfs
