Reduce, reuse and recycle is a mantra that is increasingly defining contemporary design.
As a global population we create two billion tonnes of waste every year, much of which comes from single use packaging that ends up in landfill.
According to the latest research, a growing number of consumers say they would pay for more sustainable packaging and are increasingly prioritising environmental factors when making buying decisions.
There is also a considerable commercial benefit to embracing a sustainable and efficient approach to packaging with increasing regulations and legislation aimed at encouraging businesses to reduce excessive packaging and adopt more sustainable materials.
To truly embrace packaging that is both sustainable and cost-efficient, it is important to consider the entire lifecycle of the packaging, marrying the benefits of sustainable materials and the very best in environmental design.
Raw materials
At Nicklin we are continually reviewing our product range to ensure that all the raw materials that we use are as environmentally friendly as possible, while also providing the best commercial option for our customers.
Plastic remains a critical material across the packaging industry, but it is hugely problematic environmentally, is expensive to manufacture and is also subject to the Plastic Packaging Tax – which applies to packaging where more than half the item’s weight is made up of plastic that contains less than 30% recycled content.
So at Nicklin our timber packaging solutions are manufactured with all our raw materials sourced from responsibly managed forests that are Chain of Custody certified.
Cardboard, which is primarily made from virgin fibres of wood pulp, also has one of the lowest carbon footprints of any packaging material and needs significantly less energy to produce than other packaging materials such as plastic.
While cardboard is 100 per cent biodegradable, timber also provides significant opportunities for reuse or can be recycled for new products or used as a more environmentally friendly energy source.
By selecting a cardboard and timber-based packaging solution, you are minimizing both the financial and environmental cost of your packaging from the outset while maintaining surety that your products will reach their destination safely and efficiently.
The cost-benefits of efficient design
Sustainability in packaging isn’t just about selecting eco-friendly materials.
Simply using less material is also key to ensuring that packaging is as sustainable as possible and when the financial cost of freight is fundamentally determined by weight and volume, a properly value engineered packaging solution also makes good business sense, while also minimising exposure to UK tax regulations.
Introduced in 1997 as part of the government’s ‘polluter pays’ principle, the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007 are a legal requirement for UK businesses and are essentially a tax on packaging usage.
Under the legislation, businesses are obliged to calculate the amount of packaging they use and, if they handle more than 50 tonnes of packaging a year, they must submit annual packaging reports and pay a levy which is used to fund recycling and minimising the impact of the packaging on the environment.
The regulations are designed to ensure that all packaging is fit for purpose with the threat of prosecution for companies who use an excessive amount of packaging around their goods.
Finding solutions through technology
At Nicklin we use the latest cutting-edge technology so that the packaging solutions we offer are fully optimised in terms of the materials that are used without compromising key factors such as flexibility and protection.
Through working closely with our customers in reducing packaging materials and empty space within the packaging, we are also encouraging our customers to consider ways to implement their own volume reduction strategies, further reducing the need for unnecessary packaging.
To design our packaging we use state-of-the-art CAD software and Finite Element Analysis simulation techniques alongside industry standard packages such as Pallet Design System to create the most efficient solutions possible.
Finite Element Analysis allows us to simulate the effects of real-world forces on packaging design within a virtual environment, enabling us to calculate the optimal packaging necessary when considering a wide range of external factors such as heat, vibration, moisture and load compression.
This technique has long been used across a number of industries including civil engineering, automotive and aerospace and we were one of the first companies to introduce its use into timber transit packaging design.
Through its use we can pinpoint any areas of potential stress that may cause packaging failure while at the same time identifying and eliminating areas within the packaging design that contain surplus material.
This approach is key to reducing costs, minimising product damage and increasing safety and speed throughout the unit load handling process.
Conclusion
As we seek to play a leading role in the battle to make the freight process as sustainable and cost effective as possible, we will continue to innovate and explore new opportunities in terms of the technology and materials we use.
We all have a role to play in embracing the circular economy and by being accountable for our actions and committing to driving the sustainable packaging agenda, we can all reap the rewards of a healthier planet.
