less ismore
Packaging: Less is More How the Courthauld Commitment means a struggle to keep packaging materials down but protective properties up
Stuart Roberts is european director of marketing at Sealed Air. For more information visit
www.sealedair.com
With the pressure on to hit packaging waste reduction targets under the Waste and Resources Action Programme’s (WRAP) Courthauld Commitment, retailers and brands face the ongoing challenge of effectively protecting their products during storage and transportation while keeping materials to a minimum. With this in mind I attempt to explain how companies can work towards reducing packaging waste while still providing the best possible protection for their products.
S 28 Packaging Gazette
ustainability is big news in all walks of life. With environmental issues becoming
increasingly prevalent in the political arena and consumers being encouraged to do all they can to minimise household waste and carbon footprints, it stands to
reason that businesses should act more ethically in this regard.
THE COURTHALD COMMITMENT The Courthald Commitment has made all companies that rely heavily on the distribution of products think much more carefully about their practices at all points within the supply chain – particularly the use of consumables, such as packaging material. A simplistic approach to reducing packaging material could simply be to cut back on the amount of material used. However, if this means goods are damaged during delivery and returned, it could end up costing the company and the environment more as time, energy and fuel will need to be reinvested in developing and delivering replacement products.
CRITICAL CONSULTATION To help companies achieve significant savings and avoid
By Stuart Roberts
unnecessary damages during handling and distribution, an expert packaging company should be consulted to carry out a comprehensive testing process to find the right balance between providing maximum protection and minimal packaging. Rather than simply offering a ‘one size fits all’ approach to the delivery of goods. Testing often involves inspection
of the product including size, volume and surface area. When a product arrives for testing at Sealed Air, for instance, the technical team carry out an initial inspection of the product. It is at this stage that the most
appropriate form of packaging should be evaluated – whether it is paper, plastic or foam. Arriving at this decision involves analysis of several variables, including the cost of packaging against the cost of damage. To calculate this, it is advisable to have a packaging
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