Last Updated on July 19, 2021 by Evan Retallack
When expenditure increases or profit drops, many companies will look at their logistics operations to cut costs. Your first steps might be talking to suppliers and shipping companies to see if you have the best deal available to you.
But by taking a closer look at your shipping materials, you might find that you can cut costs with reusable plastic crates. Their durability makes them a long-lasting solution, providing savings between 40-70 per cent, according to GWP Group.
Should you use reusable plastic crates?
1) Reduce sourcing costs
With reusable plastic crates, you eliminate the costs involved in breaking down and disposing of single-use materials. Whether that’s in man hours or outsourced contracts, it could represent significant savings in your supply chain.
Of course, by sticking to reusable materials, you only have to purchase the plastic crates once, reducing the per shipping cost with immediate effect.
In addition, if you have a two-way logistics system, you don’t have to purchase containers for anything being shipped on the return journey. Your reusable items are being sent back to you anyway, so if you need to ship something with them, you only have to determine additional rates.
Buy your reusable plastic crates once, and get your systems moving.2) They improve internal systems
Plastic reusable crates work with automated systems, which so many companies are putting into place now. Knowing that your plastic crates will be reused allows automated systems to be set up appropriately and for the foreseeable future. Single-use options carry the risk that your supplier is going to change the size or shape of their product – requiring you to re-program your systems.
In industries such as food and pharmaceuticals, plastic generates less risk in terms of hygiene and contamination, as does being able to control the cleaning cycle of your plastic containers.
When compared to containers such as cardboard boxes, plastic pallets and crates can handle much heavier weights which may allow you to consolidate some of your shipping, and get around issues with what your workers can manually handle.
3) Can handle changes to your shipping journey
Unlike wooden pallets and many other bulk containers, plastic reusable crates can withstand a high degree of temperature fluctuation, which means they fit into different logistics systems. If your shipment needs to be in a cool room, or is being shipped to a hot country, your reusable plastic crates will stand up to the change. Knowing that you have a large supply of crates that can handle any changes you need to make to your shipping logistics is truly valuable.
Your reusable plastic crates can withstand changes to your shipping chain.4) Lightweight enough to reduce your shipping costs
Plastic boxes are lightweight when compared to wooden crates, reducing shipping weight and their rates. Investing in your own reusable plastic crates guarantees you consistent shipping costs which your business can plan for and factor into financial analysis.
To discuss which of our plastic pallets and crates can help your business reduce supply chain costs, talk to the Eco Pallets team today.
