Transportation Packaging & the Environment

Major manufacturers are saving millions of dollars -- and helping the environment -- by pushing forward with source reduction, recycling and use of reusable transport packaging in 1997. Transport Packaging & Environment 1997, an update of our original 1994 report, covers these issues and has been expanded to include European regulation, third party organization details, and European case histories.

We've also added new North American case histories.

The hottest news is on the international front, where 25 countries now have "producer responsibility" laws for packaging; 13 countries require recovery of transport packaging, and each country is a little different. The European Parliament is considering a proposal on marking that would ban the Mobius Loop and other symbols commonly used by North American exporters. The new report covers what to put on the box in detail.

Even though markets for recycled plastics have declined recently, there has been no slow-down in Fortune 500 efforts to reduce transport packaging. The report shows Europe will embrace reusable crates enough to put a dent in demand for corrugated packaging over the next five years. Plastic pallet use is growing 30% per year in the U.S.

Here are a few fresh case histories you'll find in Transport Packaging & The Environment 1997:

• Several Johnson & Johnson affiliates are getting paybacks of 3-6 months on a reusable gaylord system, filling gaylords in one plant with product, then either collapsing or shipping back with other products. This system is saving at least $500,000 per year for just three small programs, even on very long international trips between plants.
• Xerox Corp is saving at least $5-6 million per year US/Europe on packaging reduction programs that include standardization, source reduction and use of reusables.
• John Deere Co, featured in the 1994 report, made its full payback on its $20 million reusable crate program in just two years, and has expanded the crate system to its retail outlets in the U.S. The system also has saved on plant litter and workers compensation claims, because blades are not needed to open the crates.
• The electronics sector is favoring simpler paper-based dunnage systems to save money -- and reduce fees from Third party organizations in Europe; a case history is used from Apple Computer Corp.