How Innovative Packaging Designs Are Helping To Reduce Waste

If you work in the packaging industry, then you’ll be aware that there have been huge changes in recent years which have contributed to packaging companies overhauling outdated packaging solutions.  The government and consumers have put pressure on packaging firms to not only reduce the amount of packaging used for a product, but to also use recycled components where possible as well as making sure that the packaging can be reused or recycled after its initial use.  Of course, whilst this has been happening, consumers also want to ensure that their product is sufficiently packaged so that it is not damaged by the time they wish to use it!

Redesign

With the changes in criteria which packaging firms need to meet, designers have really had to think outside the box in order to come up with brand new solutions which are not only environmentally friendly, but also fit for purpose.  They’ve had to cut any unnecessary materials from the packaging so as to reduce waste right from the onset, and in many cases this has helped to reduce the cost of the unit.  Just think about Easter eggs; in the past, chocolate eggs would be wrapped in foil before being encased in a plastic shell which was placed inside a cardboard box.  These days, the eggs are simply covered in foil and then placed inside the cardboard box which features an integrated cardboard base which the egg can sit inside to prevent it from rolling around the box.

Food Wastage

A recent report¹  stated that the UK has managed to reduce food wastage in the supply chain to just 3% - when you compare this to Russia whose levels are at 40%, you can see that the UK has had great success at implementing successful changes.  Food wastage is common and previously poor packaging may have contributed to high levels of waste, but this seems be being bought under control by some innovative packaging designers.

Celebrations

The packaging industry is one of the main industries which has had to make significant changes in recent years in response to public demand, and so far, the changes have been extremely positive.  However, no industry should remain complacent, and packaging designers should continue to come up with new designs and ideas which will help to continue to transport the way we see packaging in years to come.

If you require any help with packaging for your product or if you require advice on UK packaging legislation, please feel free to visit the Nicklin website.  

Source ¹: http://www.packagingeurope.com/

Why Are ISPM 15 Standards So Important For International Trade?

By law, all timber transit packaging must be compliant with ISPM 15 in order to be shipped internationally. ISPM 15 (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures for Wood Packaging) are the globally recognised standards for the treatment of all solid wood packaging materials. In order to be ISPM15 compliant, wood packaging must be heat treated. This means that wood is heated to a minimum temperature of 56 degrees Celsius for at least 30 minutes.

Roughly 95% of all international deliveries are made using some form of solid wood transit packaging, whether it be timber pallets, timber packing cases or timber crates. However, the international timber trade greatly increases the risk for the transfer of foreign pests or even wood diseases from one country to another if unprocessed. Understandably, this could have the potential to have terrible effects on native timber, as well as affecting a country’s ecosystem. In some cases, insects carried in timber packaging could even cause illness to humans.

ISPM 15 compliant heat treating is therefore essential to prevent the dangerous spread of pests and disease. By heat treating wooden packaging solutions, insects, bacteria, disease and other threats to ecosystems can be killed off, leaving wooden packaging safe to be transported. An ISPM 15 mark allows packages to be traced, and verifies that the wood used is free from any infestation.

At Nicklin, you can be sure that our wooden packaging solutions comply with international standards, as not only are our products marked as ISPM 15 compliant, you can trust that all timber is correctly heat treated as we have the facilities to do this on site. We have a specialist heat treating kiln on site, allowing us to take complete control of the ISPM 15 heat treating process of all of our timber pallets, cases and crates. Our customers can be confident that everything in our power is done to prevent the spread of pests and disease through global shipping.

If you are unsure about which countries outside of the European Union require timber transit packaging to be ISPM 15 compliant, you can view our global guide for more information.

5 Tips To Staying Safe When Using Wooden Pallets

Wooden pallets may seem harmless enough, but if not handled correctly they can cause goods to become damaged or people to become injured.  Here are our top tips on using wooden pallets safely:

1.       Ensure your pallets are constructed correctly

It may sound obvious, but a poorly constructed pallet can cause a fair amount of damage – just imagine a forklift truck loaded up with a large consignment, only for the bottle of the wooden pallet to fall out due to shoddy workmanship.  The goods could fall onto the floor and become unfit for use, causing unnecessary waste and expense.

2.       Avoid stacking the pallets too high

Pallets will have an optimum number to which they can be stacked – and if you go over this then you stand a good chance of causing the stack to topple over.  Whilst pallets have been designed to stack easily so as to reduce the amount of floor space needed to store them, take care not to stack the pile too high.

3.       Don’t stack different types of pallets together

European and UK pallets are not the same size, so avoid stacking them in the same pile.  Instead, separate the different types of pallets so that they stack evenly and safely.

4.       Maintain your pallets

Wooden pallets take a lot of knocking about from fork lift trucks when being moved from warehouse to lorries to ferries.  They are therefore at risk from being damaged or broken – but provided they are checked on a regular basis, most pallets can be repaired fairly easily meaning they can be re-used time after time. Inspect each pallet carefully to look for cracks in the wood or any nails showing and repair appropriately.

5.       Be aware of weight limits

Most pallets will have a maximum weight which they can bear – if you place goods on the pallet which exceeds this weight then be prepared for the pallets to break!  Pallets have a weight limit to ensure safety so it is important these rules are followed closely. 

If you need bespoke wooden pallets for your organisation or if you need any additional advice regarding using wooden pallets, feel free to visit the Nicklin website.

Are Foreign Pests Hiding In Your Wooden Pallets?

Those who have been working in the transit packaging solutions trade for a number of years will know all about ensuring that the timber used in the packaging meets ISPM 15 standards.  But if you’re new to the industry or if you are thinking about importing and exporting goods internationally, you may want to read a little more about what the ISPM 15 standards involve and why they are so important.

Firstly, what does ISPM stand for?  It is the acronym for the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures for Wood Packaging.  These are standards which are recognised all over the world and they prove that the timber used within the packaging has been treated effectively so as to reduce the risk of contaminated wood being transported.  Wood can harbour all sorts of pests and timber diseases, so it is vital that all wood is treated correctly so that it does not spread disease.

You may be wondering how the timber is treated and what the process involves.  It is actually very simple, the wood is heated up to a minimum core temperature of 56°C for at least 30 minutes.  This is sufficient enough to kill off any pesky pests or dangerous diseases and means that the timber is safe to be used for transport packaging. It has been said that up to 95% of all international deliveries will use a type of wooden transit packaging, which shows the potential for timber diseases and pests to spread if the wood has not been treated effectively.    

Once the wood has been treated and has become ISPM 15 compliant, it can be marked as below:

Image copyright of Nicklin

The image shows that the timber pallet or crate has been declared to be free from pests and diseases, and is safe to be used as a method of packaging for international use. 

Some transit packaging solutions providers are able to treat timber on their own premises, but others will need to purchase the timber from an external provider.  This can occasionally push the price of the timber up, but it is essential that only treated wood is used for international export. 

To find out more about the ISPM 15 standards or to contact a company which can treat timber on their own site, feel free to visit the Nicklin website.

Why Timber Packaging Crates Are So Popular

Timber packaging crates have been in use for a number years, primarily because they are extremely durable, they are economical and they are also environmentally friendly.  The wooden crates can easily be branded or stencilled so that they can be identified easily, which is particularly important if the packaging crates are going to be shipped overseas.

Although other packaging cases may be made from metal or plastic, wood seems to be the material of choice because of its number of huge benefits.  Timber is a sustainable material as long as the wood is derived from a source where for every tree knocked down to produce wood, at least one more tree is planted.  More and more individuals as well as businesses are trying to use products which are environmentally friendly wherever possible so as to try to reduce their carbon footprint.

Another advantage of using wooden packaging, such as wooden pallets, is that the products can be used again and again.  Although they may become a little damaged over time, the broken sections of the pallets can be repaired or replaced ready for the pallet to be used again on another consignment.  The fact that the wooden pallets can be recycled time and time again renders them extremely cost efficient and therefore very popular with businesses which are looking to reduce costs.

All sorts of products can be transported on wooden crates or pallets.  Those items which need extra protection either from weather conditions or perhaps for safety reasons should ideally be stored in a timber case.  A timber case will offer more protection than a crate or a pallet because it will have vertical as well as horizontal sheathing members on the six sides of the case.  However, a crate or a pallet may be sufficient depending on the contents of the goods.

Crates, pallets and cases can all be stacked one on top of another in a neat and logical way.  A fork lift truck should be able to manoeuvre the items to the relevant destination, whether they are in a warehouse or on the back of a lorry, so that they are stacked neatly and safely.

If you are interested in packaging crates or wooden pallets then feel free to visit the Nicklin website for further information.