BY SUSAN K. LACEFIELD, ASSOCIATE MANAGING EDITOR
PACKAGING materialhandlingupdate
NOW THAT SUSTAINABILITY HAS ENTERED THE
mainstream, more companies are looking at whether their
operations might be a good fit for reusable packaging.
Indeed, according to Jerry Welcome of the Reusable
Packaging Association (RPA), the industry has seen annual
growth of 10 percent over the past few years.
According to RPA, reusable packaging includes reusable
pallets, racks, bulk containers, handheld containers, and dunnage made of durable
materials such as metal, plastic, or wood.
(A cardboard box, although it could be
used more than once, would not be considered reusable
packaging.)
The benefits of using reusables are manifold, experts say.
They can reduce a shipment’s impact on the environment.
They are more cost-effective than buying one-way or nonreturnable packaging. They are typically stronger and easier to clean than their single-use counterparts. Finally,
www.dcvelocity.com SEPTEMBER 2013 DC VELOCITY 45
Reusable packaging has a well-earned reputation for being good for
the environment and the bottom line. But it’s not for everyone.
Is reusable packaging
right for you?
