Tag Archives: sustainable packaging

How Just in Case logistics Works
Industrial packaging, Transport and logistics

How Just in Case logistics Works

Just in Case logistics (JIC) is an inventory management methodology that consists of having enough product in stock at all times.

Compared to Just-In-Time logistics, where products are manufactured and stored on demand, Just-In-Case logistics is based on having more inventory than necessary. In this way, the company ensures that products are always available to be able to cope with increased demand or any type of eventuality.

This “just in case” management will imply, among other things, a greater investment in warehousing.

In which sectors and companies is Just in case logistics used?

The Just in case methodology is usually used in sectors with volatile demand, and in particular, in those that manufacture products with a long shelf life. For example, pharmaceuticals, where it is important to have availability of medicines and where stock-outs can have serious consequences.

In recent years, however, due to pandemics, war and the materials crisis that have strained supply chains, companies have turned to this strategy in order to maintain supply in all sectors.

How Just in Case logistics Works

What are the advantages of just-in-case logistics for companies?

From an inventory management point of view, one of the main advantages of just-in-case logistics is that it allows for greater flexibility. That is, by having a larger volume of products than necessary, companies can respond quickly to changes in demand without fear of running out of stock.

On the other hand, although it may seem that companies incur higher costs with this type of stockpiling, the truth is that this method can generate considerable savings in the long term. 

First, by buying in larger volumes, they benefit from better prices. In addition, they have sufficient stock to ensure sales and respond to customers more efficiently than their competitors.

How Just in Case logistics Works

Just in case logistics packaging

More stock, more storage. For this reason, the unitization of cargo is one of the pillars of just-in-case logistics. Through palletizing, we manage to group and arrange the goods in the warehouse in higher loading units. In this way, we make maximum use of space.

How Just in Case logistics Works

In addition, since the products are palletized and sorted, they are kept in perfect condition while they remain in the warehouse for a long time, they can be located more quickly and the loading and unloading task is more agile.

Finally, the EPAL Euro pallet is a key element in this process. Thanks to its standard dimensions of 800 mm x 1,200 mm, the EPAL europallet can be adapted both to the dimensions of transport logistics (trucks and railroad wagons) and to those required in intralogistics (lifting, transfer on conveyor belts, handling of cardboard and wood packaging, etc.).

In short, packaging must meet the requirements of today’s supply chains. At 360 Eco Packaging we can help you find the best storage solution for your just-in-case operations.

How Just in Case logistics Works
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:

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Trending packaging
Circular packaging, Ecology, Industrial packaging

What will be new in Packaging in 2023?

 

The way companies distribute their products is constantly evolving. Aspects as diverse as legislation, profitability, innovation and consumer preferences condition the changes to which logistics processes are subjected in order to meet quality, safety and efficiency requirements.

 

As far as packaging design is concerned, everything indicates that packaging in the year 2023 will continue to follow the path of sustainability it has taken in recent years, albeit under the imperative of regulations that will entail new fiscal obligations.

Packaging

As manufacturers of packaging solutions, we review the main innovations that 2023 will bring to the packaging sector.

 

Plastic tax

The Law on Waste and Contaminated Soils for a Circular Economy, which was passed last year, aims to improve the management of waste generated in Spain. Among other measures, it has established a “green tax” on plastic, in force since January 1.

 

According to this, all non-reusable primary, secondary or tertiary packaging containing plastic will be subject to a charge of €0.45/kg. This amount may be reduced if part of the product comes from recycled material.

 

Ecodesign

Spanish companies have been working for years to incorporate sustainability into their production processes in order to reduce their environmental footprint.

 

In fact, last year more than 2,000 Spanish companies implemented 4,632 sustainable design measures to reduce the environmental impact of their packaging.

Packaging

Achieving the EU’s reduction, reuse and recyclability objectives means knowing the principles of ecopackaging and knowing how to apply them to the design and development of sustainable packaging.

 

The trend will continue to be to opt for packaging that, with the minimum amount of material possible, guarantees product protection throughout the distribution chain, reducing environmental impact and the economic cost associated with transportation, while meeting consumer expectations.

 

Growth of online commerce

Online commerce will continue to grow, which will have an impact on packaging and logistics. Demand for packaging solutions such as corrugated boxes and products for protecting and cushioning goods will increase, and new specialty packaging and customized shipping options will emerge.

Ecommerce

Smart packaging

The use of technology applied to the field of packaging is driving a new generation of packaging. We are talking about smart packaging, which is increasingly being applied in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries.

 

Packaging that will change color if the product is about to expire, or that emits particles for preservation, will see the light of day throughout the year.

It is becoming increasingly common to integrate smart labels, RFID, QR codes and NFC chips into packaging. These devices provide more and better information on product quality, storage conditions and traceability.

 

Automation with “Pick and Place” robots will also be extended to more industries in order to bring more efficiency and flexibility to packaging processes.

 

What do you think of these changes, and would you add any more to the list?

Cardboard Pallets
Circular packaging, Ecology, Transport and logistics

Ecological Cardboard Pallets: Are they the alternative to wooden pallets?

The pallet is one of the most widely used elements in the packaging industry. Its use facilitates the handling, loading, transport and storage of goods.

Due to its resistance to support any type of load, grouping of goods and ease of handling, the wooden pallet occupies most of the market, being one of the most widely used packaging systems for export.

However, it is indisputable that wood is an increasingly scarce resource. In recent months, supply problems have led to a rise in the price of wood, which, together with a growing environmental awareness, is driving companies to look for sustainable and cost-effective packaging solutions. One such solution is the cardboard pallet.

 

What are the characteristics of the cardboard pallet?

The cardboard pallet is composed of corrugated cardboard sheets and solid cardboard blocks that are inserted as pillars. This manufacturing system gives it a stacking strength similar to that of a wooden pallet, since it can carry loads of over 600 kilograms.

It is also much lighter. A cardboard pallet weighs up to 10 times less than a wooden pallet. This reduces the risk of occupational accidents during handling and damage to palletized products.

Cardboard pallets are manufactured with the same dimensions as a traditional pallet, so they are suitable for use with forklifts.

 

What are the advantages of cardboard pallets over wooden pallets?

The demand for sustainable transport packaging has sparked interest in the cardboard pallet, especially in the food and pharmaceutical industry, where its advantages over traditional palletizing systems have not gone unnoticed:

  • Stronger and lighter than the wooden pallet. A cardboard pallet weighs between 1 and 5 kilos compared to 10-25 kilos for wood. This facilitates handling during transport and storage and reduces warehouse space.
  • It is valid for export without the use of phytosanitary treatments, which are mandatory for wooden pallets for international transport, according to ISPM15 standard.
  • Easy recycling, in any common paper container.
  • It is customizable.
  • Reduces CO2 emissions.

The search for sustainable alternatives for packaging all kinds of goods is one of the trends that will mark the packaging industry in the coming years. Cardboard packaging, and in particular the cardboard pallet, meets the requirements of quality, efficiency and recyclability demanded by an industry committed to efficient resource management and respect for the environment.

Did you know about this type of packaging? Which of its qualities do you find most interesting?

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.

 

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