Industry Spotlight: Logtek
Historically, One trip or single use packaging has dominated manufacturing supply chains for many years. The recent pandemic, energy crisis and war in Ukraine have made the supply of goods more difficult and of course more expensive. We had a chat with Steve Matthews, Sales Director at Logtek. Logtek Limited are the UK division of Schoeller Allibert Services, who provide equipment rental, IoT tracking, repair, and maintenance for Schoeller Allibert’s returnable packaging solutions.
Steve is of the opinion that the increased costs and reduced availability of wooden pallets and cardboard packaging are forcing businesses rethink their approach to packaging. “I think everyone knows that single use packaging is bad for the environment but when it was cheaper it was seen as the only option; with rental, returnable packaging can be comparable or even cheaper. So better for budgets and better for the planet.”
Economics and Sustainability are determining the changes to the logistics industry
Companies using wooden pallets and cardboard boxes have started to feel the pinch financially and environmentally. Steve explains: “Even when cardboard is recycled, it is still a problem in terms of costs and natural resources. Logtek and Schoeller Allibert Services products offer a sustainable and circular solution to the problem. Our products generally have more than a 10 year lifecycle, after which we will regrind and reuse the material. So we are circular with the product and also circular with the raw material. In most cases after six trips returnable will be using less CO2 than single use in an end to end lifecycle analysis. There are also other advantages. Take our folding pallet boxes for example. With their stackability and folding ration they protect shipping contents while increasing storage capacity and reducing logistics costs”
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Making Plastic Packaging too good to waste, truly circular solutions
Schoeller Allibert has been developing, designing and manufacturing returnable transport packaging for more than 65 years and is a market leader in Europe. Jointly with Schoeller Allibert, our endeavour is to lead the way in improving the sustainability of transport and logistics. Consequently, we are developing intelligent and innovative returnable packaging to help our customers to swap single-use solutions for a circular delivery chain with a low carbon footprint.
The logistics of the future is already here
IoT solutions are the standard for Schoeller Allibert’s products. IoT, or the Internet of Things, involves not only connecting computers to the Internet, but also other types of objects, such as your logistics assets. The Schoeller Allibert SmartLink® system allows you to track your products. Not only can you find out where they are, but whether the package is empty, open or closed, stationary or moving: this gives full Supply Chain visibility enabling Continuous Improvement and Cost Saving
On the question of how logistics will be developed in the next 10 years, Steve believes that consumers will continue to push for a reduction of primary packaging
“I predict, we will be seeing liquids such as cosmetics and shampoo transported to stores in our Excelsior containers. Stores will have a bulk storage unit that is used to replenish reusable containers in order to handle consumables more sustainably.”