Page 26 - Packaging News Magazine Nov-Dec 2021

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E-COMMERCE PACKAGING | www.packagingnews.com.au | November-December 2021
Sustainable unboxing
As e-commerce growth continues to ramp up, packaging solutions that are flexible, scalable, and sustainable will improve performance this year. Peter Forsyth, GM Sales at Ranpak Australia & New Zealand, considers key trends
Tand makes the case for paper-based secondary packaging options.
likely to purchase from retailers who offer plastic-free packaging options, and 72 per cent are more likely to purchase from brands that ship sustainably.
A truly sustainable product must also come in sustainable packaging, and there is untapped opportunity to use plastic-free materials to ship and protect items.
Paper packaging is made from renewable resources and is biode- gradable and easily recycled. Paper outperforms many in-the-box pack- aging alternatives, especially when considering indirect costs, such as speed and handling, reduced storage as packaging is created on demand, employee safety, machine downtime, and facility cleanup.
3AUTOMATION WILL ENHANCE, NOT REPLACE, LABOUR
A 2020 Ernst & Young survey of 200
senior supply chain executives found nearly two-thirds believe the pan- demic accelerated the supply chain’s adoption of digital technologies, including robotic process automa- tion. Amid holiday demand coupled with the economic effects of Covid- 19, speed and efficiency will be crucial this year. Automation that enhances, not replaces, labour offers many benefits. Such tools can anal- yse and reduce consumables costs, reduce waste, quickly adjust for vol- ume peaks, and optimise freight and other contributors to costs.
Advancements in productivity will help streamline labour management and reallocate employees to high- value roles. The pandemic has created a shortage of warehouse workers that Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute estimate could last until 2028. Automation is critical to com- panies in need of around-the-clock operations.
While these trends will be partic- ularly prevalent during the holiday season, they also represent long-term shifts for the packaging industry, creating opportunities to differenti- ate with customers and gain market share. Companies that adjust now will be better prepared for long-term suc- cess in 2022 and beyond. ■
HE holiday rush is the most critical it shatters the experience. ABOVE: Paper
time for the logistics industry. This While plastic bubble roll has long outperforms
year, with the Covid-19 pandemic been the go-to solution, e-tailers could many in-the-box packaging
continuing to disrupt supply consider switching to a sustainable alternatives. chains around the world, extraor- and equally effective paper option.
dinary efforts will be required to Using a biodegradable and recycla-
keep goods flowing. ble alternative to single-use plastic
Specifically, here are three trends not only improves brand reputation,
the industry must grasp:
1E-COMMERCE IS NOT
SLOWING DOWN
The pandemic has accelerated the
rise of e-commerce worldwide as con- sumers seek out convenient, socially distanced shopping opportunities. Demand for secondary packaging for shipping in Australia is driven by number of factors, including aggres- sive Australian pandemic-related lockdowns and the distance we enjoy between our major cities relative those found in overseas markets.
An optimal unboxing experience is essential for e-commerce businesses, providing a way for brands to repre- sent their value and positioning, and make customers feel valued. Needless to say, when fragile gifts arrive broken,
but also offers a much improved in- the-box presentation and unpacking experience.
2
A January 2021 survey conducted by Ranpak with The Harris Poll found that more than two-thirds of Americans (68 per cent) are more
COMPANIES ARE MOVING AWAY
FROM SINGLE-USE PLASTIC
A truly sustainable product must also come in sustainable packaging, and there is untapped opportunity to use plastic-free materials to ship and protect items.”