We are currently facing rising prices in perhaps all areas of life and business. This situation has not escaped the packaging industry, logistics and e-commerce. There is therefore increasing pressure to reduce costs, which can be achieved by automating operations and reducing transport costs by optimising the bulk weight of shipments. Appropriately chosen packaging can save companies up to 15% on shipping costs.

According to RAJA’ s surveys, there is a steady increase in the demand for packaging material reduction. “The main reasons for our customers are ecology, safety and, in view of the constant increase in inflation, also cost reduction,” says Gabriela Fabianová, RAJA’s country manager. “Transport is becoming more and more expensive and as a result significantly reduces profitability. Many retailers don’t realise that costs can be reduced by choosing the right type of packaging and choice of filling material,” she adds.

Reducing costs by automating the packaging process

There are machines on the market that allow the production of customised packaging. These reduce the consumption of packaging material in particular. Filling machines also speed up the packaging process. In addition, optimal packaging technology and packaging machines increase the efficiency and productivity of the packaging process. A great help is, for example, a paper filler machine, which folds the paper in a specific way, thus saving around 15% of the material, while efficiently filling the same space. Air cushion filling machines also save overall costs. These not only save weight, but also material consumption – 90% of the filling is air. The pads can be plastic, paper or starch-containing and therefore compostable.

Reducing transport costs by reducing the bulk weight of the packages

Bulk density is the density of a parcel, which is the amount of space a parcel occupies in relation to its actual weight. Transporting 20 kg of feathers can therefore be more expensive than transporting 20 kg of iron. The right packaging, chosen to fit on a truck or pallet, can reduce transport costs by up to 10%.

The volumetric weight is calculated according to the dimensions of the packages: width x length x height / 5000. The result gives us the volumetric weight, which is compared with the real weight of the package. Carriers charge the higher one. The optimum volumetric shipment is therefore one that is as close as possible to the real weight. It is therefore advisable to always reach for packaging that corresponds to the size and needs of the packaged goods.

Tailor-made packaging is both an environmentally friendly and economical solution

Instead of a one-size-fits-all packaging strategy, it is more worthwhile to try individual packaging tailored to the product in question. If the product range is very varied, the use of height-adjustable boxes or telescopic packaging suitable for flat products, for example, is ideal. These are easily adapted to the size of the contents.

By optimising the packaging, savings can be made in the long term in all aspects. Many packages contain up to 40% empty space in the box that needs to be filled with something. Thus, a poorly chosen box size not only costs money, but also puts a strain on the environment. It takes up more space in transport vehicles and consumes an unnecessary amount of material. It is therefore worth taking the bulk weight into account even if the transport company does not charge anything for the larger dimensions.

Reducing costs while maintaining packaging quality

According to RAJA, material costs account for an average of 60 to 80% of total packaging costs. In some situations, savings can also be made by choosing thinner-walled boxes, which save some of the weight for the same volume. However, here it is necessary to bear in mind that the overall strength of the packaging is also reduced. Reducing costs should not be at the expense of packaging quality, but through sensible solutions. For example, the price of packaging can be influenced by any of the following factors:

• the height and weight of the product
• packaging design
• packaging material
• the volumetric weight or the space taken up by the product during transport