Returnable packaging will be the focus of future logistics packaging development.

With the continuous development and improvement of Internet technology and the trend of the Internet of Things, the market competition continues to intensify, and the competition between packaging products is gradually evolved into the competition between supply chains. Packaging is not an independent product in the supply chain, but an important link throughout the entire supply chain. Formally changing this role with returnable packaging solutions, reducing the total cost of packaging in the supply chain has become an important means.

Recycling packaging has existed in the existing industrial field for many years and has also formed its own related ecological chain. We can try to define returnable packaging as protective packaging or containers that use durable and recyclable packaging materials, designed to complete multiple round trips or recycling, and can extend the service life through cleaning, disinfection, maintenance, etc., without changing the initial packaging structure and functional.

From a structural and functional usage perspective, loop wrappers can be divided into:

(1) Pallet: There are mainly wooden pallets and plastic pallets used in the field of recycling packaging.

At present, plastic pallets are mainly made of polyethylene and polypropylene, and the processes mainly include injection molding and blow molding. Because plastic pallets have good durability, are reusable, easy to clean, and have no pests, they are more and more widely used, and will gradually occupy part of the market share of wooden pallets.

(2) sleeve pack container box: The hoarding box is a packaging container composed of a pallet, an intermediate hoarding, and a box cover. There are two types of hoarding boxes: wooden hoarding boxes and plastic hoarding boxes.

At present, plastic honeycomb pallet pack containers have gradually become a trend product and gradually occupy the existing wooden hoarding box market, especially in the auto parts industry.

(3) Turnover containers: According to size, foldability, and usage scenarios, it is further subdivided into various types, such as small plastic pallet boxes, and medium and large bulk containers. According to the foldability, it is divided into collapsible pallet boxes, integrated pallet boxes, etc. There are also large bulk containers dedicated to liquids and powders.

(4) Shelves: In the field of reusable packaging, these racks are mainly metal, and most of them are mobile, which are very suitable for placing and turnover of parts and components in the automotive, home appliances, machinery, and hardware industries. Nowadays, many material racks are not only used for the online circulation of on-site products, but also for the logistics distribution and circulation between supply chains.

(5) Lining material: a general term for some internal materials of the packaging box used for product fixing and transportation protection. It mainly includes foam materials, plastic hollow boards, and some fabric materials.

Due to its multiple uses in the supply chain, returnable packaging will be regarded as a good packaging solution by most companies, which can help companies reduce the cost of the entire supply chain and achieve sustainable development goals.

Typically, when a business begins to consider returnable packaging as a primary mode of transportation, it can proceed through the following 5 steps for further evaluation:

(1) First determine the list of applicable products: a list of large-volume products or products of the same or similar type, size, shape, and weight.

(2) Cost estimation: Estimate the cost of using one-time packaging and the cost of using recycled packaging, including the initial cost of recycling packaging for a one-time investment.

(3) Plan and formulate a reasonable route: a reasonable reverse logistics route to ensure product customer groups and supplier groups, including warehouse operation centers (sorting, cleaning, maintenance, and management places); potential and feasibility of dissemination to new customer groups and supplier groups sex;

(4) Evaluate the cost of reverse logistics management: evaluate a series of costs of the entire reverse logistics.

(5) Financial evaluation: Comprehensive financial evaluation of Articles 2 and 4 to determine a reasonable return period.

Before making a more rational choice, it is necessary to fully understand the costs of the economic and environmental systems and measure the potential overall impact.

Undoubtedly, interpreting returnable packaging from a supply chain perspective is a packaging solution with growth and profit margins that can effectively reduce packaging costs for end users and achieve sustainable development. I believe that when more and more companies start to use returnable packaging, their circulation nodes will become denser and denser, there will be more and more products, the circulation speed will become more and more frequent, and the value space of returnable packaging will be greater.