There is a quote that reflects the nature of logistics, with a touch of ironic humour. Its author is Alexander the Great, famous for his world conquests, who took the time to poke fun at the people responsible for his supply chain. "My logisticians are humorless" - he said. "They know that if my campaign fails, they will be the first ones I kill."
Apparently they did their job well because Alexander's successes are known to this day. Properly planned logistical tactics - detailed knowledge of the terrain, enemy armies and harvest calendars gave him an advantage over unprepared opponents. He eliminated extra burdens from a marching army and, perhaps most importantly, Alexander forged alliances with conquered and friendly locals who provided his army with an uninterrupted stream of supplies.
Alexander the Great may have conquered the world he knew, but today's challenges involve the well-being of everyone on the planet. Today's management of supply chains is now even more important and far more complex. The entire global economy relies on the fluidity of supplies, and the more securely they are organised, the better for everyone involved in warehousing and transportation.
Is pooling, commonly known as packaging circulation, involved in improving quality and safety? Of course! Let's take a look at some of the significant advantages of this solution.
Why choose plastic pallets for pooling work?
In today's world of high quality standards, where profits depend on maximum efficiency, downtime in supply chains becomes unaffordable. Therefore, it makes sense to choose packaging carriers that are strong, dimensionally stable and suitable for use in automated warehouses and production lines. These challenging tasks will certainly be met by plastic pallets.
These are liquid-proof, specially designed transport platforms that meet the same dimensional specifications as wooden pallets. They are injection moulded so have no weight or dimensional variation, which could cause problems in automated warehouses. The smooth, non-absorbent surface of a plastic pallet makes it easy to clean between deliveries. The advantages of using plastic pallets in packaging pooling include the fact that many large retailers are pressing their suppliers to switch to this type of carrier in the future.
However, two things can be blockers in making plastic pallets part of your supply chain. One is the higher cost of plastic pallets than wooden pallets, or the upfront investment in pooling with wooden pallets and Euro pallets, for example. Let's discuss some of the advantages of pooling with plastic pallets to see if it would be the best solution in your supply chain.
Benefit 1. You don't worry about managing and pallets recovery
The pooling operator providing the packaging takes care of the delivered pallets so that they were in good condition and ready for use in your facilities exactly when you need them. Instead of buying your own pallets, you rent them from a shared pool. In practice, this means that you only pay for their use, with the pool operator taking care of the rest. You don't have to deal with the return logistics needed to recover pallets for reuse.
Benefit 2. Pallets are under control, tracked by special softwarePlastic pallets have a consistent construction and are free of loose parts. This makes them easy to track with RFID chips. Placed on plastic pallets, they tell you exactly where your products are moving in the supply chain.
Tracking technology enables companies to avoid lost loads and theft and gives them the ability to recall products quickly and accurately when needed. In this way, we become the controllers of your packaging ensuring all parties in the process work efficiently.
Benefit 3. Guarantee health and safety in food and drug logistics chains
Plastic pallets provide greater control over food safety as they are easier to disinfect and much more durable than wooden pallets. Plastic is water resistant, where microorganisms and pathogenic chemicals can be carried. Plastic pallets do not absorb liquids, but act as a protective layer against contaminants. They are also resistant to insects and other pests that can contaminate food and sensitive products with their presence.
Plastic pallets also require no heat treatment and ISPM15 certification, allowing export outside the EU without any additional documents or certificates. Pooling with plastic pallets will facilitate the delivery of goods in supply chains and ensure safe and hygienic delivery of food, medicine and other sensitive products.
Benefit 4. Energy efficiency and impact on company sustainability
Sustainability is not a slogan; it is a better way of doing business that can reduce costs and increase profits. In today's complex and fast-moving supply chains, it is impossible to reduce the environmental impact of logistics to zero. However, plastic pallets can help supply chains become more enclosed and efficient, and enable companies to reduce carbon emissions from transport, while reducing costs incurred in logistics operations.
Pooling enables packaging to be reused. In the packaging circulation process, pallets are collected from collection points to the production site, and after inspection and cleaning, they can be reused. In addition, regular pallet inspection guarantees high quality, which prevents the premature disposal of damaged packaging.
Plastic pallets are up to 35% lighter than wooden pallets. This can make a difference when optimising the carrying capacity of transport vehicles. Transport pallets, often overlooked in the supply chain, can reduce CO2 emissions in supply chains. In addition, because the pooling operator's 2Return warehouses are located throughout Europe, the transport of packaging is shorter, resulting in a significant reduction in the number of transports. Shorter distances mean reduced CO2 emissions, resulting in a reduced impact on the greenhouse effect.
Benefit 5. Reduce hidden costs in the supply chain
The long-term benefits of plastic pallets enable companies to make significant savings.Here are some of them:
- Firstly, robust plastic pallets reduce the amount of time needed to repair wooden pallets, for example. In addition, plastic pallets can be nested or easily stacked reducing the risk of injury, or operator error.
- Secondly, by reusing pallets, there is no need to invest in expensive packaging. Financial resources can now be used in other ways.
- Thirdly, the shipping cost of plastic pallets is lower. Plastic pallets are up to 35% lighter than common wooden pallets, which translates into an overall reduction in cargo weight during transport and lower fuel and transportation costs.
- Fourth - Easier tracking: Plastic pallets with embedded RFID chips can help track shipments throughout the supply chain, thereby increasing visibility and facilitating product recalls.
- And fifth, they are automation-friendly: unmatched durability and 100% dimensional repeatability lead to reduced downtime in automated environments.
For many companies, purchasing and maintaining a pool of pallets is expensive and requires additional time and labour. Implementing plastic pallet-based pooling can significantly reduce overall packaging costs. In addition, by getting rid of their own packaging inventory, operations managers can optimise a significant amount of warehouse space that is no longer needed to sort and store empty pallets.
Pooling packaging means positive changes in company logistics
Although the pandemic has clearly impacted logistics and the need for flexible response, it has not changed the need for companies to reduce expenditure. Implementing a plastic pallet programme will save you money and reduce waste throughout your supply chain. What's more, it enables companies to reduce transport costs while securing supplies in a flexible manner.
