About Corrugated Packaging

Distributing the Benefits of Corrugated Packaging

Whether for heavy industrial components, or a take-away meal, corrugated packaging meets the need.

The industry is constantly developing ways to streamline customer processes - transportation, stacking, storing, unpacking and even displaying goods using ingenious pieces of corrugated engineering.

In recent times, capabilities throughout the distribution chain have changed almost beyond recognition. At one end, high-street multiples offer customers a level of service and choice undreamed of twenty years ago. Fitted-furniture retailers, DIY superstores and garden centres deliver bulk products direct to consumers.

Computer-controlled logistics have revolutionised the home delivery business of mail order companies. At the other end of the distribution chain, corrugated packaging now handles heavy industrial products or wet substances more effectively thanks to advances in engineering design and to surface treatments that prevent saturation or leaching.

The packaging industry is focused on the distribution issues of the future, such as the development of intelligent packaging that is instantly identifiable, along with agreed standards for the sizes of the boxes, trays and other packaging to make products easy to stack, store and unpack. It is also introducing customer-led services supported by Just-in-Time and Efficient Consumer Response systems.

Corrugated packaging is a recognised hygienic solution but the industry continues to improve its standards through hygiene accreditation that meets the requirements of the food industry.

Everyone involved in the distribution of products looks for more cost-effective advantages. Corrugated packaging is delivering these in terms of tougher, lighter, single-piece packaging that eliminates secondary materials. This reduces storage space, material costs and ensures simpler recycling and disposal. The unique characteristics of corrugated packaging also enable ingenious, floor-standing point of sale displays to be erected by unskilled staff.

Logistics managers want more depot-friendly solutions. The industry is exploring these too with new advances in interlocking cases for delivering mixed loads to individual outlets.

More innovative systems have emerged for fast shelf-filling. The substitution of cartonboard using the new microflutes provides protection during transit with high-quality printing for shelf display - eliminating additional transit packaging. More efficient methods of collection and recycling are being examined. All are designed to minimise disruption, improve distribution and lower costs at every point in the retail chain.

From cases for the global trans-shipment of car components weighing hundreds of kilograms to boxes for take-away food, corrugated packaging is showing why it is the world’s most versatile packaging material.The corrugated packaging industry is bringing innovative solutions to every part of the distribution chain. Whether

creating single-piece packaging for the global movement of high value goods such as computer components or designing easier and quicker ways to fill supermarket shelves, corrugated packaging is making a difference.

A cost effective and versatile pack using all available space during transit, keeping pack size and transit cost to a minimum.

Cost-lowering shelf-filling innovations
The use of ‘upside down’ cases is a remarkably simple idea with far-reaching benefits. The lid is at the bottom so when the box is removed, the lid becomes a tidy tray containing and displaying products on the shelf. This makes them quicker and easier to handle than conventional packaging and they require less skill. They reduce the amount of packaging material and secondary materials required during distribution. They are also extremely easy to collapse for disposal or recycling. They combine the outstanding branding and printing properties of corrugated board with its proven protective properties, which are readily tailored to individual distribution and display requirements.

The complementary virtues of single-trip packaging
There is a time and place for everything. The economics of single-use packaging have been proven by FEFCO (the European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers) to be unrivalled. This is particularly true in circumstances that involve long journeys and where the complete distribution cycle cannot be closed.

One leading clothing retailer sought to create a completely closed multi-trip system between its various suppliers and retail outlets. When the company realised this was not a practical proposition, except between its own distribution centres and retail outlets, it avoided further high costs and management time by receiving goods in corrugated packaging from its numerous and frequently changing suppliers.

Corrugated transportation packs have the additional advantages of being easily printed, branded and can be used as display material at the point of sale.

Since legislation makes companies responsible for disposing of packaging wherever it comes out of the distribution loop, corrugated packaging remains the material supported by the most proven recycling system.

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