PACKAGING In this way, advanced foam materials support
sustainability not only through protection, but through lightweight design and long service life, both central to reducing overall resource demand.
A key measure in these applications is
compression strength, which describes how much load a material can withstand before permanently deforming. In a returnable transit system, consistent compression strength matters. If cushioning performance declines from one journey to the next, components can be damaged. Stable performance over time reduces replacement frequency and lowers overall material throughput. Weight is another important factor. Lower-
density materials use less raw material for the same volume. When protective performance can be achieved at reduced weight, total material use falls. In high-frequency logistics networks, even small weight reductions per unit can accumulate across thousands of journeys. Lower packaging mass also improves
energy to move goods, which is particularly relevant where containers circulate repeatedly between sites.
DESIGNING PACKAGING FOR WHOLE-LIFE PERFORMANCE The tightening regulatory landscape does not prescribe one universal material for all case uses. Instead, it challenges businesses to think more clearly about how packaging functions in the real world. Where packaging is genuinely single- use and supported by established recycling infrastructure, designing for recyclability remains essential. But where packaging operates within controlled industrial systems, the priority often shifts from end-of-life recovery to performance across multiple cycles. The emerging agenda is therefore about whole- life performance. In many industrial applications, the most
sustainable option may not always be the one that is used once and recycled, but the one that is lightweight, engineered for protection and designed to be reused again and again.
Zotefoams
www.zotefoams.com
“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent
that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.” Charles Darwin
In an uncertain world diversifying energy drives sustainability and reduces our impact on the planet. Babcock Wanson has the widest
range of products and solutions of any boiler manufacturer, providing you with more choice and flexibility to achieve your decarbonisation goals and reduce your fuel bill.
Babcock Wanson UK Ltd. 7 Elstree Way, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire WD6 1SA, UK | Tel: 020 8953 7111 |
info@babcock-wanson.com
www.babcock-wanson.com
FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS | MARCH 2026 13
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