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Reusable packaging is manufactured of durable materials and is specifically designed for multiple trips and extended life. A ''reusable package'' or container is “designed for reuse without impairment of its protective function.” The term returnable is sometimes used interchangeably but it can also include returning packages or components for other than reuse:
recycling Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. The Energy recycling, recovery of energy from waste materials is often included in this concept. The recyclability of a material depends on its ability t ...
, disposal, incineration, etc. Typically, the materials used to make returnable packaging include steel, wood,
polypropylene Polypropylene (PP), also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications. It is produced via chain-growth polymerization from the monomer propylene. Polypropylene belongs to the group of polyolefins a ...
sheets or other
plastic Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials that use polymers as a main ingredient. Their plasticity makes it possible for plastics to be moulded, extruded or pressed into solid objects of various shapes. This adapta ...
materials. Reusability of
packaging Packaging is the science, art and technology of enclosing or protecting products for distribution, storage, sale, and use. Packaging also refers to the process of designing, evaluating, and producing packages. Packaging can be described as a c ...
is an important consideration of the environmental credo of “reduce,
reuse Reuse is the action or practice of using an item, whether for its original purpose (conventional reuse) or to fulfill a different function ( creative reuse or repurposing). It should be distinguished from recycling, which is the breaking down of u ...
, and recycle”. It is also important to the movement toward more sustainable packaging. Returnable packaging is encouraged by regulators.


Shipping containers

For many years, several types of
shipping container A shipping container is a container with strength suitable to withstand shipment, storage, and handling. Shipping containers range from large reusable steel boxes used for intermodal shipments to the ubiquitous corrugated boxes. In the context of ...
s have been returnable and reusable. These have made most sense when a
reverse logistics Reverse logistics encompasses all operations related to the upstream movement of products and materials. It is "the process of moving goods from their typical final destination for the purpose of capturing value, or proper disposal. Remanufacturin ...
system is available or can be readily developed. A return, reconditioning, and reuse system can save money on the cost per shipment and can reduce the environmental footprint of the packaging. Manufacturing, particularly the
automotive industry The automotive industry comprises a wide range of companies and organizations involved in the design, development, manufacturing, marketing, and selling of motor vehicles. It is one of the world's largest industries by revenue (from 16 % ...
, has used heavy-duty returnable racks for shipping hoods, fenders, engines, dashboards, etc. from suppliers to final assembly plants. The racks are then returned for the next shipment cycle. Bulk foods, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals are often shipped in reusable and returnable containers. These need to be carefully inspected, cleaned and sanitized as part of the reuse cycle. An effective
Quality Management System A quality management system (QMS) is a collection of business processes focused on consistently meeting customer requirements and enhancing their satisfaction. It is aligned with an organization's purpose and strategic direction (ISO 9001:2015). I ...
is necessary. Wooden
pallet A pallet (also called a skid) is a flat transport structure, which supports goods in a stable fashion while being lifted by a forklift, a pallet jack, a front loader, a jacking device, or an erect crane. A pallet is the structural founda ...
s are often made to be expendable, for a single shipment. Others are heavy duty and intended for multiple shipments. Some are in “pallet pools” which are used, inspected, and refurbished for extended usage. Often reusable industrial shipping containers have
bar code A barcode or bar code is a method of representing data in a visual, machine-readable form. Initially, barcodes represented data by varying the widths, spacings and sizes of parallel lines. These barcodes, now commonly referred to as linear or on ...
labels or
RFID Radio-frequency identification (RFID) uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects. An RFID system consists of a tiny radio transponder, a radio receiver and transmitter. When triggered by an electromag ...
chips to help identify and route the containers. Image:Keg1.jpg, A typical keg (half-barrel) with a single opening in the center of the top end File:Compressed gas cylinders.mapp and oxygen.triddle.jpg, Industrial compressed gas cylinders Image:Drum (container).jpg, steel drums can be reconditioned and reused Image:Innerspace cases stormcase.JPG, Plastic molded transit case with pre-cut foam interior Image:Serie r klt 6429.png, Returnable/reusable plastic tote box, Euro container File:JNR Vegetable-oil Container.jpg, Container for bulk vegetable oil File:A1210.jpg, Heavy-duty reusable wooden
pallet A pallet (also called a skid) is a flat transport structure, which supports goods in a stable fashion while being lifted by a forklift, a pallet jack, a front loader, a jacking device, or an erect crane. A pallet is the structural founda ...
Fruit field bin 5180.JPG, Reusable field bins for fruit File:Versandturm voll.jpg, Stackable
plastic container Plastic containers are containers made exclusively or partially of plastic. Plastic containers are ubiquitous either as single-use or reuseable/durable plastic cups, plastic bottles, plastic bags, foam food containers, Tupperware, plastic tub ...
s File:Meny supermarket grocery store Tønsberg Norway carrots gulrøtter tilbud plakat 2017-09-20 01.jpg, Carrots on display in returnable plastic bins


Use in the automotive industry

Automotive OEM manufacturers use and encourage the use of returnable packaging to move components from their vendors to their factories. The components are placed in returnable packaging and are at times and arranged in a way that facilitates movement straight to assemble lines. Such packaging replaces traditional corrugated cartons, thereby helping companies cut costs by avoiding wastage and effort required in disposing the cartons. It also helps in reducing the environmental footprint of the automotive industry. Other advantages of using returnable packaging include avoiding damages to parts in while in transit. Parts are at times placed in specially designed receptacles for easy picking on the assembly line contributing to fewer mistakes and simpler inventory management. A few examples of returnable packaging in automotive industry:


Consumer packaging and containers

Several types of consumer containers have been in reuse systems. Reusable bottles for milk, soda, and beer have been part of closed-loop use-return-clean-refill-reuse cycles. Food storage containers are typically reusable. Thick plastic water bottles are promoted as an environmental improvement over thin single-use water bottles. Some
plastic cup A plastic cup is a cup made out of plastic, commonly used as a container to hold beverages. Some are reusable while others are intended for a single use followed by recycling or disposal. Disposable plastic cups are often used for gatherings ...
s can be re-used, though most are disposable. Home canning often uses glass mason jars which are often reused several times. Many non-food types of
containers A container is any receptacle or enclosure for holding a product used in storage, packaging, and transportation, including shipping. Things kept inside of a container are protected on several sides by being inside of its structure. The ter ...
, including
reusable shopping bag A reusable shopping bag, sometimes called a bag-for-life in the UK, is a type of shopping bag which can be reused many times, in contrast to single-use paper or plastic shopping bags. It is often a tote bag made from fabric such as canvas, natu ...
s, and luggage, are designed to be reused by consumers. With any
food packaging Food packaging is a packaging system specifically designed for food and represents one of the most important aspects among the processes involved in the food industry, as it provides protection from chemical, biological and physical alteratio ...
, proper cleaning and disinfecting between each use is critical to health. In September 2019, the UK Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee released a report claiming that the official intervention should encourage more shops to offer refillable options instead of traditional single-use packing. File:Lots of tupperware.jpg, Home storage containers File:MilkMan.JPG, Delivering milk in India in reusable stainless steel containers File:Glass milk bottles.jpg, Reusable milk bottles and carrier Image:GreenBag.jpg, Reusable shopping bag File:HotRedJam.jpg, Mason jars for canning File:Woda.mineralna.w.skrzynkach.jpg, Reusable water bottles in crates File:Ornaments in Boxes.jpg, Christmas tree ornaments in storage boxes Refill soap.jpg, Refillable liquid soap dispenser File:French kilner.jpg,
Flip-top A flip-top, swing-top, lightning toggle, or Quillfeldt stopper (after the inventor, Charles de Quillfeldt) is a type of closure frequently used for bottles containing carbonated beverages, such as beer or mineral water. The mouth of the bottle i ...
or bail closure on storage jar File:Gas grill 20170807.jpg, Gass grill with reusable LP gas cylinder


Reuse for other purposes

Used packages are often reused for purposes other than their primary use. For example, a single-use plastic shopping bag might be reused as a bin bag, a household storage bag or a dog faeces bag. Steel
drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair of matching drumsticks ...
can be reused as traffic barricades, dock flotation, and as
musical instruments A musical instrument is a device created or adapted to make musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can be considered a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. A person who pl ...
Image:Milk_Crates_Furniture.jpg#file, Furniture made from milk crates File:Working old man carrying buckets.jpg, Pails being reused to carry other items File:cmglee Container City 2.jpg, Architecture with
intermodal shipping container An intermodal container, often called a shipping container, is a large standardized shipping container, designed and built for intermodal freight transport, meaning these containers can be used across different modes of transport – from shi ...
s File:Jorena Pettway making flower decorations for her home in Gee's Bend, Alabama.jpg, Woman sewing chair covers, bedspread, and other things made from cotton flour sacks in Alabama.


Justification

Reusable packaging often costs more initially and uses more and different materials than single-use packaging. It often requires adding complexity to the distribution system. Not all packaging justifies being returnable and reusable. A thorough cost analysis is required. This involves all of the material, labor, transport, inspection, refurbishing, cleaning, and management costs. Often these costs may be incurred by different companies with different cost structures. The environmental costs and benefits can also be complex. The material, energy, pollution, etc. needs to be accounted for throughout the entire system. A Life Cycle Assessment offers a good methodology for this task.


See also

*
Pallet crafts Pallet crafts are crafts and projects which use discarded wooden shipping pallets. Wooden pallets are often used for shipping products, but when these get old, they are often thrown away. However, there are many ways to recycle old pallets. Issu ...
* * Resealable packaging *
Reverse logistics Reverse logistics encompasses all operations related to the upstream movement of products and materials. It is "the process of moving goods from their typical final destination for the purpose of capturing value, or proper disposal. Remanufacturin ...
* Shaker-style pantry box * Systainer * Closed-loop box reuse


References


Books, general references

*Design Criteria for Specialized Shipping Containers, US DoD, Mil-Std 648D, 1999

*McKinlay, A. H., "Transport Packaging", Institute of Packaging Professionals, 2004 * Yam, K.L., "Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology", John Wiley & Sons, 2009, Industry Associations
National Wooden Pallet and Container Association

Reusable Packaging Association

Reusable Industrial Packaging Association
{{packaging Brand management Product management Reuse Containers