The word “sustainability” probably doesn’t mean much to those working outside of packaging or manufacturing industries. But for those that do work in the packaging/manufacturing industry, sustainability is a colossal issue. In short, sustainability refers to the reduction of resources and a better utilization of all materials used to package and manufacture merchandise. Back in 2007, Wal-Mart initiated sustainability as a factor that would be heavily weighted in regards to their suppliers. Wal-Mart made it known that if their suppliers did not meet their expectations for sustainability, Wal-Mart would no longer carry the supplier’s products. In short order, thousands of companies began implementing modifications by which they could adjust their sustainability ratings and still remain suppliers of Wal-Mart.
- Wal-Mart stated vendors need to improve sustainability
- Need for green efforts without sacrificing integrity of product
- Green stretch wrap
- Sustainability without sacrificing integrity of product
Not only does sustainability improve the environment, but it also equals cost savings. Stretch film is a primary example of how numerous corporations have improved their sustainability. Stretch film is used to help stabilize loads in addition to keeping products intact during shipping. It’s vital to understand that although suppliers desire to better their sustainability, they also don’t want to sacrifice the integrity of their products by allowing their customers to receive truckloads of damaged goods. Although stretch wrap was previously viewed as a simple packaging component, many significant improvements have been made, transforming stretch wrap into a complex and versatile tool.
Stretch wrap comes in various different gauges determining thickness. Although using a thinner stretch wrap may be cost effective, film breaks are more likely to occur when using a thinner wrap. Luckily, a number of thinner stretch wraps have been introduced to the market; these have proven to be viable alternatives to previous versions. Another component involving stretch wrap that can considerably improve sustainability is the ability for load tension to be adjusted.
Load tension refers to the tension of the stretch wrap around the product on the pallet. If a load is wrapped too tightly and the tension is too great for the fragile merchandise, product damage will occur. If stretch wrap is too loose, pallets will topple over and damage to the merchandise is likely to take place. The dilemma that companies face is finding a stable, middle ground. Today, some corporations offer variable tension control that can monitor pressure or strain on different points of the load. Tension control makes it simple to recognize how loads have been wrapped and promptly allows for alterations to be implemented.
As stated in the aforementioned paragraphs, sustainability is a crucial issue for all packaging and manufacturing companies hoping to improve their performance and truly experience cost savings and optimization. Stretch film is just one example of how companies can tremendously advance in the area of sustainability. Continually seeking for evidence that suppliers are improving their sustainability and keeping up-to-date on current packaging options and upgrades is particularly essential.
