Tag Archives: Circular economy

Oversized Packaging
Industrial packaging

Oversized Packaging

Any goods can be moved from one side of the world to the other by sea, air or road. However, there are loads that, due to their volume or dimensions, require special packaging and modes of transport to be able to do so.

In this post we will talk about packaging for large loads, or also known as packaging for large dimensions or packaging for oversized cargo.

 

What is oversized cargo?

We refer to oversized cargo when, due to its size or tonnage, it cannot be transported in a conventional way, being necessary to resort to specially designed and manufactured solutions to be able to handle it safely.

For example, industrial machinery such as large engines, construction materials such as beams or pipes, as well as all types of packaging for aeronautical, automotive or renewable energy parts such as wind blades or solar panels.

Today, most of the companies in the industrial sector that operate at an international level need a goods protection service for large parts or loads.

Oversized Packaging

Packaging for oversized cargoes – Main considerations

In most cases, it must be approved for export, which means that it has to comply with ISPM-15 certification to avoid any problems at customs.

In addition, it must be reinforced to efficiently support the weight, and if we are talking about bulky goods, it may require a special platform to facilitate its movement.

Oversized Packaging

Phases when designing an oversized package

The first step is to conduct a preliminary study on the needs of the cargo: weight, size or other requirements. From production to delivery, each step is carefully planned and comprehensively oriented.

Our technical department develops the best type of protection taking into account factors such as packaging efficiency, use of sustainable materials and space optimization during transport, all from the best technical and economical point of view.

Mechanical considerations

At 360 Eco Packaging we are manufacturers, which allows us to offer ad-hoc packaging according to the needs of our customers.

The designs not only take into account the shape and size of the cargo, but also the use of products approved for storage and lashing in sea containers and trailers.

These are packaging aids, such as heat-sealable plastic and shrink-wrapped plastic, which act as reinforcement against external agents to protect items susceptible to damage by external agents, as well as retention systems to stabilize it, even if it has suffered some kind of impact during the logistics process.

Oversized Packaging

Economic Considerations

We also pay attention to the economic factor. We know that an excess of material and accessories could increase the cost associated with the process. Therefore, the custom design must be economically viable for the customer without compromising cargo safety.

 

Production and delivery

If necessary, we can carry out packaging of the goods at the customer’s facilities.

Please contact us without any commitment.

Types of warehouses and their characteristics
Transport and logistics

Types of warehouses and their characteristics

One of the objectives of logistics is the optimal use of the warehouse as well as the incoming and outgoing goods operations carried out in it.

There are many types of warehouses. Each has its own logistics requirements. The product they house, the location, functionality or handling technology are some of the criteria by which we can classify the different types of warehouses.

In a company there can be one or several types: raw materials, central, spare parts, etc. In this post we will focus on the most common types of warehouses, according to their location and logistic activity.

Warehouses by logistics activity

Production warehouse

This is the warehouse where the raw materials, parts or components required in the manufacturing processes are stored. The function of the production warehouse is to ensure that the manufacturing lines run without interruption, with no shortage of supplies. For this reason, many logistics supply centers are located close to factories.

Types of warehouses and their characteristics

Central warehouse

This is where finished products from one or more industrial processes are stored. It is usually located near the manufacturing site.

The central warehouse also acts as a distribution center, supplying other regional or local warehouses that carry out the final distribution to the consumer or point of sale. From the central warehouse, the product is conditioned for the next step in the distribution chain.

Types of warehouses and their characteristics

Distribution warehouse

The distribution or supply warehouse is responsible for receiving the goods from the production center and then sending them to the end customer. It usually covers a specific geographical area and is located close to the point of consumption.

Its purpose is to guarantee supply and meet product delivery times. It is a warehouse with a high turnover of goods.

Types of warehouses and their characteristics

Transit Warehouse

Occasionally, an interim storage point is required between the central and regional warehouse. The transit warehouse functions as an interim warehouse for goods, since its purpose is to expedite deliveries or to facilitate the grouping of goods to be shipped to the same destination.

Here the stock is not stored; the flow of receipts and dispatches is continuous. This type of warehouse is often used for e-commerce logistics.

Types of warehouses and their characteristics

Temporary warehouse

Used to store stock of products for seasonal consumption, in order to meet peaks in demand.

 

Other types of warehouses

We have reviewed the most common warehouses, but we can find other classifications of warehouse, according to:

  • The building:

Open-air or outdoor warehouse and covered or indoor warehouse.

  • The type of product:

Raw materials warehouse, semi-finished products and finished products warehouse, spare parts and/or accessories warehouse, and containers and packaging warehouse, where the packaging of the final products is kept.

  • Level of mechanization:

Conventional warehouses, with a low level of automation or the so-called intelligent warehouses, with a high degree of automation.

Types of warehouses and their characteristics

What type of warehouse does your company use?

7 milestones in the history of packaging
Industrial packaging

7 milestones in the history of packaging

Since ancient times man has had the need to protect his belongings, hence the following post on the history of packaging and its evolution.

Over the years the evolution of the history of packaging has been parallel to the economic and social development of the time. As manufacturers of industrial packaging, these are for us the 7 most important milestones in the history of packaging.

1. From clay to wood for transporting wine

In ancient Rome, large clay containers were already used to store and transport wine. The clay amphorae and jars were airtight and protected the wine from oxidation. Upon conquering French lands, the Roman Empire discovered the wooden barrel; an easy-to-handle container, lighter and more consistent than clay for transporting wine from Greece, Gaul and Hispania.

This was the way it was done for centuries until glass arrived. In the 17th century the use of the bottle became widespread. However, wood continued to be a highly valued packaging in the logistics of the wine sector.

7 milestones in the history of packaging

 2. The emergence of corrugated cardboard

The Chinese are considered to be the first to use corrugated cardboard in the 16th century. However, it was the pleats of Victorian fashion in the mid-19th century that led to the development of corrugated cardboard.

In 1856 Healy and Allen patented in England the use of pleated paper as an inner reinforcement for stiff top hats. Years later, the American pharmacist A. Jones came up with the idea of wrapping fries in corrugated cardboard. Jones came up with the idea of wrapping perfume bottles in corrugated paper to protect them from knocks.

In 1874, Oliver Long improved Jones’ patent by adhering the corrugated paper to a flat sheet of paper and then to two flat sheets of paper. Liners were born, the structure of corrugated cardboard that provides the compression and strength of the cardboard boxes we use today.

In 1890 Robert Gair invented the corrugated box and the American Thompson and Norris Co. began manufacturing the first boxes.

Today the cardboard box is the preferred packaging for ecommerce due to its lightness, strength and low cost.

Corrugated cardboard

3. The arrival of the europallet

It was not until World War II that the use of pallets became popular for moving military equipment. Until then, wooden crates, skids or barrels were used to move the goods.

At the end of the war, the first American pallet patents were registered. However, train wagons in Europe had dimensions in which they did not fit well, so it was necessary to reduce them and regulate their manufacture so that they all had the same dimensions and could make better use of space. In the 60’s the Euro pallet was born.

Since 1991 the European Pallet Association (EPAL) issues licenses to manufacturers and under the EPAL seal certifies the quality of the pallet and identifies reliable suppliers.

European Pallets EPAL

4. The collapsible wooden box, a step towards packaging engineering

During World War II, the Allied side had to make a great logistical effort to get weapons, equipment and medical supplies by ship and plane to the places in conflict. One of the biggest challenges was shipping war vehicles.

The Jeep automobile company had designed the “Willys,” an agile and rugged all-terrain vehicle, the forerunner of the 4×4 we know today. For domestic shipments, vehicles were stacked on top of each other on pallets. But shipping them across the ocean required special packaging. And an innovative solution was found: the disassemblable wooden crate.

The “Willys” was stored in pieces and once at destination the crate was disassembled, allowing access to the vehicle and assembly in a matter of minutes.

Today, packaging engineering continues to successfully meet the challenges of the automotive sector.

7 milestones in the history of packaging
7 milestones in the history of packaging

5. The expansion of plastic

The origin of plastic is related to the game of billiards. An American company decided to award 10,000 dollars to whoever could create a material to replace ivory, which was scarce at the time, to manufacture billiard balls. In 1870, the Hyatt brothers chemically modified cellulose to produce celluloid, winning the contest and obtaining the first plastic in history.

In 1907, Baekeland invented Bakelite, the first fully synthetic commercial plastic, described as thermosetting, insulating and resistant to water, acids and moderate heat. In the following decades, new plastics derived from the processing of fossil fuels, such as polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), were investigated.

At present, the applications of plastic are infinite, and it is a very common material in the manufacture of returnable containers and packaging for industrial use.

Plastic collapsible crate

6. The box that revolutionized the transport of goods: the sea container.

Since they made the first transatlantic crossing in the mid-twentieth century, sea containers have revolutionized the transport of goods. Before their appearance, ships were loaded manually, which meant long waits in port.

The businessman Malcolm McClean came up with a system whereby cargo could be stacked inside a large metal box and transported by ship or truck. Thus was born the container, which made its first trip in 1956, from New Jersey to Houston.

A decade after its first trip, the ISO (International Standard Organization) developed standards for its international use. Containerization led to a reduction in the cost and time of freight transport, giving way to intermodality.

7 milestones in the history of packaging

7. Ecopackaging and sustainable packaging

In the mid-twentieth century the packaging industry began its development and today continues to evolve.

With self-service, marketing, the computer and the internet, packaging began to spread, becoming a competitive advantage for companies and a lure for the consumer.

 

Foldable wooden crate

Today, the Circular Economy model and the preferences of an increasingly eco-conscious consumer force the industry to look for sustainable packaging solutions, designed from the source to reduce the use of resources and revalue their waste, without forgetting their original purpose: to protect the goods.

Cardboard, a strategic packaging for the Circular Economy
Circular packaging, Ecology, Industrial packaging

Cardboard, a strategic packaging for the Circular Economy

In a Circular Economy model where waste becomes a resource, the paper and board industry has a key role to play.

 

We know that the future of packaging involves incorporating sustainable materials, reducing the ecological footprint associated with its production and use, and that its waste can be revalued, without neglecting the purpose for which it is designed: to protect the product. In this future, cartonboard packaging will be a priority.

 

Cardboard as a sustainable packaging material

 

Cardboard is a natural, renewable, recyclable and biodegradable material. In recent years, it has been replacing other traditional packaging materials such as plastic.

Cardboard, a strategic packaging for the Circular Economy

Paper and cardboard fibers are also much stronger than previously thought. It has been shown that fiber-based packaging material – paper, cardboard, paperboard and folding cartons – can be recycled more than 25 times, retaining their mechanical properties for re-integration into the production process.

This makes it one of the most sustainable materials in the packaging sector and one of the preferred packaging solutions for the consumer.

Cardboard, a strategic packaging for the Circular Economy

Why is cardboard packaging preferred by consumers?

 

The way companies package their products is a matter of concern for consumers, influencing their purchasing decisions.

The European Association of Carton and Cartonboard Manufacturers reveals that 4 out of 5 consumers prefer cartons to plastic. In its report, it says that more than half of the consumers surveyed in Spain claim to have switched brands because the packaging was not recyclable or because they used unnecessary packaging. It adds that 82 percent would be willing to pay more for environmentally friendly packaging.

Cardboard, a strategic packaging for the Circular Economy

Most commonly used carton packaging

For companies interested in incorporating circularity into their packaging, cardboard packaging represents a zero-waste system of significant social, economic and environmental value.

Because of its versatility, it can be used throughout the packaging chain:

  1. Primary packaging, which is directly in contact with the product.

  2. Packaging for Ecommerce.

  3. Cargo units for storage and transport of consumer goods.

  4. Protective elements, such as interior fillers to pack merchandise shipments, or corners to avoid friction during transport.

The most commonly used cartons are:

Corrugated cardboard boxes

Can be used in standard size or large volume for packing and palletizing light and heavy goods. They are foldable, which facilitates storage, reducing space.

 

Pallet boxes

They are corrugated cardboard boxes placed on a wooden pallet or cardboard. Its use as commercial exhibitors has been extended by its profitability, since they serve both as product container shelf and advertising support, because the cardboard can be easily printed and incorporate gaps or shelves to place the product.

 

The cardboard pallet

Consists of corrugated cardboard sheets and solid cardboard blocks that are inserted as pillars. Resistant and lighter than the wooden pallet, it is also valid for international transport, without having to undergo phytosanitary treatment.

 

The road map to a Circular Economy is written on cardboard.

 

Contact us if you are interested in adding reusable packaging to your logistics.

Packaging 2030
Circular packaging, Industrial packaging

How packaging can help achieve the 2030 Agenda goals

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a roadmap signed by UN member states in 2015 that seeks to achieve development that respects the planet and its inhabitants. That is, to do more with less.

This plan is articulated in 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), divided in turn into 169 targets, for which it requires the participation of the international community, including public and private entities such as companies, universities or governments.

This change involves all sectors and packaging was not going to be less.

 

Strategies for sustainable packaging – Agenda 2030

Packaging is a fundamental link in the organization of agile, efficient and environmentally responsible logistics chains.

Packaging manufacturers can help companies to be part of the change, developing strategies based on circular economy, which respond to SDG 12 “Sustainable production and consumption”, in line with European and state regulations. Among them:

  • Assess the environmental impact of our customers’ packaging and logistics processes and introduce improvement proposals to reduce the use of materials, energy and waste.
  • Prioritize the use of recyclable and/or biodegradable materials.
  • Work from eco-design to avoid over-packaging, adapting the packaging to the product or merchandise.
  • Optimize packaging processes, opting for reusable solutions that extend its useful life and contribute to minimize space, reduce transport flows and CO2 emissions.
  • Transparently communicate sustainability certifications and seals.
  • Establish alliances with suppliers committed to sustainability.

 

Our commitment to the 2030 Agenda

As a supplier of sustainable packaging, we have been developing comprehensive solutions in the field of logistics, transport and packaging for years. This has enabled us to make progress on several goals of the 2030 Agenda and to consider new ones:

Title

Goal 8: Decent work and growth

We believe in the labor integration of young people. Since our inception, we have collaborated with public services in training programs taught at our facilities.

We also collaborate in job placement programs, such as the Incorpora Program of La Caixa.

Title

Objective 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

We participate as a member of the Subcommittee CTN 192 SC 03 (UNE/ISO) for the development of a new regulation in the field of transport of dangerous goods, together with AENOR and the Ministry of Industry.

We belong to the Packaging Innovation Cluster of the Valencian Community and collaborate with technological centers such as AIDIMME or ITENE.

Title

Objective 12: Sustainable production and consumption

We subject our manufacturing processes to quality control systems. We are ISO9001, PEFC/FSC (chain of custody) and ISPM 15 (phytosanitary regulations for export) certified.

 

In addition, our flagship product, the Clipping Crate ®, is a reusable and removable crate model.

Title

Title

Goal 13: Climate Action

We design and manufacture sustainable and returnable packaging based on technical and economic feasibility studies, allowing customers to produce less waste and reduce CO2 emissions.

Title

Packaging 2030

Objective 15: Terrestrial ecosystem life

We are committed to the conservation and sustainable management of forests. We are a PEFC/FSC certified company, which accredits our products as coming from sustainable logging or recycling.

Circular packaging, Industrial packaging, Transport and logistics

Presenting our Sustainable Packaging at Intersolar Europe

Presenting our Sustainable Packaging at Intersolar Europe

On May 11, 12 and 13, 360 Eco Packaging Encaja Embalajes had the opportunity to present its packaging solutions for the solar industry at the Intersolar Europe Fair, the most important exhibition of the sector worldwide, held in Munich (Germany).

The meeting was attended by Jesús Álvarez, commercial director, and José Ramón Novoa (ASTUREX; Sociedad de Promoción Exterior Principado de Asturias S.A.)

Our participation was possible thanks to the Sociedad de Promoción Exterior Principado de Asturias S.A. (ASTUREX), which organized a joint stand with 8 Asturian companies that supply products and services related to the solar energy value chain.

With commercial actions such as Intersolar Europe, ASTUREX contributes to a greater presence of Asturian companies in international markets.

On this occasion, among all the participating companies, we have highlighted the potential of the region as a producer of goods and services in the value chain of renewable energies linked to solar energy.

We were accompanied by: Alusín Solar S.L.U., Distribuciones Solares del Principado S.L. (DSP Solar), Duro Felguera S.A., Ingeniería y Suministros Asturias S.A., Mecanizados CAS S.A., Procinsa Energías Renovables S.L. and Temper Energy International S.L. (Temper).

 

As part of the fair, 360 Eco Packaging – Encaja Embalajes informed attendees about the most efficient packaging for transporting solar panels, sustainable packaging and the reusability of wooden packaging and its impact on logistics costs, as well as the specifications that this type of packaging must meet for export.

 

Why Intersolar Europe?

Intersolar Europe is one of the most significant events in the energy sector calendar.

The event brings together more than 50,000 visitors and around 1,500 exhibitors interested in showcasing their innovative products, solutions and business models for the energy transition and security of supply in Europe.

 

The importance of Sustainable Packaging at Intersolar Europe

As industrial packaging manufacturers, we remain attentive to market demands in order to offer solutions that meet the needs of the supply chains of each sector and customer. 

It has been an honour for us to present our Sustainable Packaging at Intersolar Europe.

See you at the next edition!

Presenting our sustainable packaging at Intersolar Europe

Presenting our sustainable packaging at Intersolar Europe

Circular packaging, Ecology

World Environment Day

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

Yesterday was World Environment Day and we would like to remind you of the concept of Sustainable Packaging and its importance in preserving our planet. Because there is no Planet B.

 

Sustainable Packaging pursues greater planning in the life cycle of packaging. It is based on the principles of the Circular Economy: redesign, reduce, reuse, repair, renew, recover and recycle. In practice, this means minimizing the amount of raw materials in our packaging that can be recycled or reused.

 

We must not forget that consumers rely on environmentally responsible brands. Companies that use sustainable packaging are reinforced in their image and social reputation.

Circular packaging
Circular packaging

Circular Packaging for a New Cycle

It is a fact that the intensive use of natural resources and the volume of waste we generate have a huge environmental impact. It is also a fact that through a Circular Economy we can transform our throwaway model into a new, more balanced and respectful production system, able to provide value thanks to continuous and regenerative cycles.

At 360 Eco Packaging we are contributing to a sustainable economic model.

Our company has spent years helping companies in a wide variety of sectors to be more productive and reduce their environmental footprint through efficient, sustainable and profitable packaging systems.

And we do this from a circular perspective based on three principles:

  • Reduce and valorize our resources.

Our raw materials come from certified sustainable sources, as well as from our own manufacturing surpluses. We also apply circular designs to our packaging solutions, based on technical, economic and ecological feasibility diagnoses.

  • Extending the useful life of our products.

We manufacture returnable packaging that can be reused and recycled by companies, allowing them to save costs, produce less waste and optimize their logistics processes.

  • Identify opportunities for improvement in the supply chain of our customers.

We provide an advisory service and optimization of packaging processes, creating circular packaging solutions for every need.

With this work philosophy we have developed patents in returnable packaging, such as our Clipping Crate® and obtained certifications in ISO9001, PEFC/FSC chain of custody and ISPM15 (phytosanitary regulations for export), among others.

We also participate as a member of the Subcommittee CTN 192 SC 03 (UNE/ISO) in the development of a new regulation in the field of transport of dangerous goods, together with AENOR and the Ministry of Industry. We also belong to the board of directors of the Innovation Club in Asturias and collaborate in the development of new projects with leading technology centers and companies such as AIDIMME and Aglae.

 

For our company, being sustainable has become a competitive advantage.

For this reason, we want to share our knowledge and experience with companies and professionals who are still unaware of the benefits of the circular economy or are wondering how to implement a circular strategy in their packaging systems.

We want this blog to serve as a meeting point where we can provide resources on trends, regulations, programs and success stories that facilitate the practical application of a circular economy.

The future will be circular. And as in every cycle, there is always a starting point.

We hope that each post will be a source of inspiration that helps to see packaging in a different way.

 

X