Packaging optimisation: the road to more rational and sustainable packaging

We want to shop online quickly and cheaply, and we also want the products to reach us at home as quickly as possible and in perfect condition. Our desires as consumers are, a priori, incompatible with the preservation of the environment and the rationalisation of goods distribution processes. However, a concept has emerged that advocates the achievement of online customer satisfaction without renouncing a green conscience: packaging optimisation.

what is packaging optimisation?

Packaging optimisation is a process that aims to use the appropriate packaging for each product according to its characteristics, its conservation needs and the route it will follow until it is delivered to the final recipient. To do so, it is based on three principles:

• Minimalism: the precise packaging formats and supplies will be used, in the right quantities and volumes for each order.
• Safety: we will always check that the products will travel correctly protected and that they will arrive at their destination in the best conditions.
• Sustainability: we will prioritise recyclable and environmentally friendly packaging options.

why go for packaging optimisation?

The volumes of paper, cardboard, plastics, etc., used to pack and package products have only increased in recent decades. In the United States alone, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency, which Supply Chain Dive reports, packaging waste generated each year increased by 185% between 1960 and 2015, from 27 to 78 million tonnes per year, of which, fortunately, around half is recycled.

To stop this spiral of waste multiplication, which is extremely damaging to the environment, it is imperative to take action. By optimising packaging, it is possible both to reduce the cost of packaging objects and to minimise the impact of distribution activities on the environment.

How to achieve packaging optimisation

Achieving packaging optimisation in your e-commerce business involves implementing a number of measures that affect the entire order picking chain. Let’s take a look at what they are.

1.reducing the use of non-recyclable packaging

When it comes to packaging optimisation, it is best to completely eliminate or at least restrict the use of products that are not biodegradable or cannot aspire to a second life. If your packaging requires them, at least try to strictly control their consumption in the preparation of your orders.

2.prioritise recyclable packaging options

A number of major international brands have set themselves the goal of working with 100% recyclable packaging in a few years’ time, such as Walmart and Mondelez, which have set themselves the target of achieving this objective by 2025.

3.fighting against excessive packaging

Excessive packaging damages your brand image, and also leads irremediably down the road to waste. To avoid this, you can make your operators’ job easier by introducing versatile and time-saving packaging solutions, such as variable-height boxes.

4.replacing plastics with more sustainable alternatives

The EU will ban the marketing of single-use plastics across the EU from January 2021, including plates, cups, straws and cutlery, in order to reduce the amount of plastic waste discharged into the oceans, which take decades to decompose.

The packaging sector also bears a great responsibility in this battle, as it alone consumes 40% of the plastics that are manufactured today. To reduce this dependence on plastic, at Rajapack we have a wide range of eco-friendly and eco-responsible packaging. Discover all the possibilities in our online shop!

Examples of packaging optimisation: Amazon Day for Prime users

In addition to intervening directly on the packaging, packaging optimisation requires that e-commerce deliveries be made in a sensible way by grouping products purchased in a short period of time and delivering them to the user in a single package, thus reducing the consumption of cardboard boxes, adhesive tape or padding material.

To encourage this practice, Amazon has activated an exclusive service for Prime customers, Amazon Day, which allows you to choose a specific day of the week to receive all orders placed on the platform on the previous days. In this way, the warehouse is able to pack several products together.

Embark now on the optimisation of packaging in your e-commerce: your customers, the environment and your bottom line will thank you for it. You have everything you need to achieve it in the Rajapack online shop!