In the modern supply chain, packaging and material handling are often looked at as separate parts of the process. However, you can reduce a lot of waste in packaging when you have a streamlined material handling process that makes sure that no packaging is left behind and every box can fit within the constraints on the vehicle that’s been chosen.
Reusable Transport Packaging (RTP) has been designed to boost the speed of automated storage and retrieval systems, improving the efficiency of material handling. This and a combination of other factors have helped there be less wasted packaging within the industry, making businesses who deal with material handling more crucial with this step of the process.
This guide will explore how optimised material handling can help reduce packaging waste, so continue reading to find out more.
Reducing Packaging Waste with Material Handling
Handling Synergy
When those within the packaging industry choose a one-size-fits-all approach, it can lead to a lot of large gaps in a box which requires plastic air pillows or foam peanuts to prevent the product from moving around during the transit. This makes handling synergy very important for reducing packaging waste. Automated dimensioning systems can measure the exact size of a product before it moves along the conveyor, giving more accurate dimensions to reduce empty space. This allows more boxes to fit on a single pallet, reducing the carbon footprint of both the packaging company and the material handling business.
Reusable Transport Packaging (RTP)
Replace single-use boxes with durable plastic totes or foldable pallet collars. These types of units are designed for quicker automated storage and retrieval systems, unlike cardboard boxes, which can break and jam a conveyor. RTP provides a more consistent type of storage system for telehandler hire, so goods can be transported from one location of a construction site to another. While having higher upfront costs, RTP also offers long-term savings and eliminates disposal fees that are often associated with transporting packaging boxes. This significantly lowers the environmental impact of transit.
Improved Pallet Stability
The thin plastic film used to wrap pallets is one of the most pervasive forms of plastic waste in logistics. Most operations will over-wrap their boxes, as they don’t trust the stability of the stack they’re working with. There’s now software that can be used to calculate the perfect stack of boxes, which means material handlers can place heavier items at the base and lighter items on top to keep the pallet stable for the entire transit. Pressure-sensitive adhesive can also be put between boxes to keep the load from shifting during forklift maneuvers. This reduces the chances of anything getting damaged during the transporting of the pallet.
Damage Deterrent
A primary reason for over-packaging is to protect goods from dropping, tossing or improper stacking by human operators. Getting robots to do the packing into vehicles using automated technology will be far more consistent, as all the movements can be programmed for improved precision. When handling is controlled and predictable, you can safely transition to thinner primary packaging or even eliminate secondary boxes entirely in favor of lightweight mailers.
Staff Education
Material handling businesses can train their employees on using minimal materials and following proper recycling practices, which can help with reducing packaging waste. Having the right supplier partnerships can also be beneficial, as you can collaborate with them to reduce the packaging of incoming raw materials. This encourages them to provide products with minimal or reusable packaging, so none of it will be wasted by the packagers or material handlers themselves.
Final Thoughts
When packaging and material handling work together, businesses can cut costs and protect the planet at the same time. Having a strict process for your packaging, you can keep all of your goods safe and make the material handling more streamlined. This can result in a greener supply chain that isn’t just about better packaging, but rather improving the way we move the packaging from one location to another.