Sustainable solutions to lower waste in packing, unpacking area

Waste Management

Packing & Unpacking Area

The quantity of waste produced by packaging is an important one. For example, plastic packaging represents 26% of the total volume of plastics used (Ellen Mac Arthur Foundation).

Most of the time the use of pallets or cardboard as packaging is not well optimized and this results in an important amount of waste being created. Companies that aim to be more sustainable should tackle this issue and take action to reduce packaging waste and better manage it. It will also result in cost savings.

This part provides solutions that companies can put in place to reduce their packaging waste.

Pallets (wooden, plastic, metal) - Adopt a Sustainable Approach

Cost

EFFORT

IMPACT

Upstream:

Use wooden pallet with lighter wood (make sure it still fits load capacity requirements)
Use returnable pallets (typically plastic) - highly suitable for local and regular partners. More complicated for overseas operations but still possible.

Downstream:

Resell/Return excess of pallets to second-hand pallet suppliers
Contact neighbouring facilities to exchange pallets if possible
Send broken pallets to recycling

Cardboard (pad, boxes) - Adopt a Sustainable Approach

Cost

EFFORT

IMPACT

Upstream:

Use returnable packaging
Go from triple-wall to double-wall to single-wall cardboard box (if suitable for your product)
When managing products with variable size, use a 3D Packing Machine to optimise use of cardboard (see CMC Machinery)
Reuse cardboard pads from other suppliers
Use second-hand cardboard boxes

Downstream:

Reuse cardboard boxes from suppliers
Use old cardboard as fillers to remove the need for bubble wrap and plastic chips
Collect and sell to a recycler

Shrink Wrap (LDPE - plastic) - Adopt a Sustainable Approach

Cost

EFFORT

IMPACT

Upstream:

If your products are not susceptible to moisture, consider removing shrink wrap and use only pallet strapping
Consider using returnable pallet covers (particularly suitable for warehouses with low automation)
If wrapping manually, use a wrapping machine instead
Use a pre-stretched plastic shrink wrap (wrapping machine must be suitable)

Downstream:

Collect separately plastic wrap and sell it to a recycler

Improve Product packaging (upstream)

Cost

EFFORT

IMPACT

Upstream:

There are 3 or 4 types of packaging: primary packaging, service packaging, secondary packaging & tertiary packaging. For each of them, challenges and strategy to implement are the same... Start with the packagings you use the most regularly, with the highest volume or with the highest cost.

REDESIGN:‍

Redesign packaging to make it reusable (first objective), or recyclable, or compostable (not suitable at the moment for products destined to Singapore). Note that a change in the design of packaging will impact the customer's perception and requires a marketing exercise. Moving towards a returnable packaging might require a reassessment of the business model.
Use PREP from Label for Recycling (L4R) for assessing the recyclability of packaging.
Reduce the number of materials used (the more materials you use, the harder it is to recycle).

For high-level guidance on the overall sustainability of different packaging materials, check out the free online WWF Alternative Material Tool

To design recyclable packaging for Singapore, work with the Packaging Recyclability Evaluation Portal (PREP) of Label for Recycling

REDUCE:

Eliminate unnecessary packaging
Reduce the use of materials (= make it lighter) by shortening or thining down material, or by using lighter alternative materials.
Aim for packaging free

REUSE:

For B2B with high frequency local partners, implement a reusable packaging that you can pick up at the next delivery. Particularly relevant for daily food delivery in B2B
For B2C, it is more challenging and must be aligned with the company image. Consider outsourcing the management of consumer returnable packaging (see muuse model for example)

Recycle Product Packaging (downstream)

Cost

EFFORT

IMPACT

Downstream:

Collect, segregate and recycle materials from out of specs products.

Tackle Product Loss (from faulty machinery or products mismanagement)

Cost

EFFORT

IMPACT

Upstream:

If you have large volume of lost products, investigate the reasons and address them.

Downstream:

If possible repair, repack and redirect towards second-hand or refurbished branches
Collect and send to recycling

Buddies - Experience sharing

The « sustainability journey » may feel overwhelming sometimes, but you are not alone.

Our Buddies have tried, succeeded, failed to implement change in their companies. They share their experience so you can learn, take shortcuts, get inspired and ask questions.

Everybody can become a Buddy and give back to the community; if you are keen, get in touch with us.

Rémi Cesaro

Founder & Director - Zero Waste City

Founder and Director of the consulting business Zero Waste City, Rémi provides engineering consulting services to large commercial and industrial facilities on waste management, energy efficiency, and packaging design.

He has gained a strong experience as a consultant covering a wide range of industries and technologies in New Zealand, Australia, and Singapore.

He is a certified TRUE Advisor (Total Resource Use Efficiency) by the U.S. Green Building Council Inc. This certification recognised his knowledge in Zero Waste programs and his ability to support businesses to achieve the TRUE Zero Waste certification.

zerowastecity.com

Andrew Tay

Business Development Director - KGS

I'm a Director at KGS, a leading e-waste recycling company specializing in ITAD, e-waste recycling, data destruction, and battery recycling. My background is in Mechanical Engineering (BEng) and Management of Technology (MSc). I'm passionate about driving sustainability and helping others adopt more environmentally responsible practices. I believe in the power of technology and innovation to create a circular economy. I'm always looking for opportunities to connect with others who share this vision.

kgs.com.sg

Zofia Chlapowski

Stakeholder Engagement

I have more than 20 years experience leading change and transformation in Europe, Africa and Asia. I have had the privilege of managing and contributing to diverse industries, organisation (Humanitarian and corporate) to secure engagement and impact. In my last role I worked in a large MNC supply chain environment engaging external partners to increase our impact in sustainability.

Claire Quillet

CEO - TSB

I am a Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) humanitarian and development professional who worked for more than 20 years in Indonesia for International NGOs and UNICEF. I founded my consultancy firm 7 years ago to support private sector to develop their strategy, engage stakeholders and implement in the field their sustainability projects/programs. I have a extensive network in Indonesia, from the local community/NGOs to several ministries. I am also GRI copywriter.

tsb.co.id

Suman Majumdar

Sustainability Facilitator

I'm a freelance facilitator and I provide training, advisory and policy advocacy services to businesses on sustainability, climate change, ESG, circular economy, and related topics. With 33 years of experience, I held roles in India as a CSO in the JSW Group, Principal Counsellor on Sustainability with India's apex industry body CII, and Manager - Sustainability with Procter & Gamble.

Among other achievements, I pioneered Asia’s 1st Sustainability Awards, organised all events at COP-8, created the India Business & Biodiversity Initiative, set up the green building movement in India and co-created the world’s 1st ESG index for emerging economies (S&P).

I have a PhD and MTech in Environmental Engineering (IIT Bombay), and MSc in Environmental Sciences (JNU).

Vishnu Sridhar

Director - Sustainability & Innovation - Procter & Gamble

With 9+ years of experience at Procter & Gamble, I am a leader with a proven track record of working with C-suite and upper management to create and execute sustainability strategies for multimillion-dollar & billion-dollar business. I have experience in cross-cultural collaboration with people in different countries, with internal as well as external (vendors, retailers, etc) partners.

I have been recognised for identifying projects, creating, and leading teams to execute and enable value creation while continuing to decarbonise.

I have certification in SCR (Sustainability and Climate Risk) and GRI standards. I studied my Masters in Conservation Biology.