7 Tips for a Greener Shipping Strategy: Eco-Friendly Packaging, Methods and More
- By Cory Levins
- 25 ago 2019
“Green commerce” is no longer just a buzzword. Consumers want to see businesses putting real effort into creating more sustainable strategies in all areas of their operations. Logistics is one area where many businesses can significantly improve their sustainability—but it can be hard to know where to start, as taking steps to make your shipping practices greener isn’t always totally intuitive.
Fortunately, you don’t have to go it alone. Air Sea Containers has always helped our customers find the most efficient shipping solutions—now, that can mean the greenest solutions as well. Not only do we have a wide variety of eco-friendly packaging options available, but we’ve also got the expertise that comes with over 20 years of experience in shipping and packaging solutions. In packaging and beyond, these seven tips will help you create better and more eco-friendly shipping practices.
Air Sea knows how important it is for businesses to embrace sustainability, so we’ve carefully put together the best selection of eco-friendly packaging materials around. Our green shipping materials create the perfect balance of cost and eco-friendly performance:
Remember that anything shipped has to get there via some sort of vehicle. Whether you use your own fleet or not, it’s always worth considering whether there’s a greener way to get your cargo where it’s going. Rail shipping, for example, is an increasingly popular option with significantly lower emissions. Switching fuels to biodiesel is also a great choice, as it doesn’t require any special modifications and is widely available.
Packaging waste is a serious obstacle to creating greener shipping processes and, what’s more, it can increase fuel costs as well because vehicles work harder to haul the heavier packaging. Air Sea offers custom box design and manufacturing, complete with a wide range of box designs, custom printing and lower minimum orders than many of our competitors. Plus, if you need to ship hazmat goods, we offer UN-rated custom hazmat shipping boxes!
Make sure that your logistics partners share the approach to sustainability that you want to cultivate. Many third-party logistics providers are now making big investments in green technologies that help them consolidate loads more efficiently, run vehicles with lower emissions and generally take on a greener role. Make these discussions a regular part of your RFPs and discussions with 3PLs.
Shipping goods using the Opus Bio 8”x4” Inflatable Air Pillow.
Reconditioned polycarbonate or steel storage drums can be a great alternative to buying new ones. Air Sea offers reconditioned used drums that have been professionally cleaned, tested for integrity and UN certified. (Note that if you need food-grade, FDA-approved drums, reconditioned drums probably aren’t for you.)
While dry ice isn’t terrible for the environment, it requires special training to handle safely, and some logistics providers won’t ship it. Instead, consider using Air Sea’s eco-friendly refrigeration gel packs that are non-toxic, safe for handling and comparable to dry ice in performance. What’s more, they’re easy to refreeze and use again, so you can put less waste into the environment.
Thrift, efficiency and building for the long term are principles just about everyone can get behind. When you’re designing sustainability strategies, remember that these should be your guiding principles—and that they’re the same principles you should already be following to streamline your operations.
Green logistics can be a win-win proposition. When your business is helping the Earth, you’re also helping yourself by creating more robust and efficient shipping systems. That’s why Air Sea offers a full range of solutions for eco-friendly shipping—because when our customers can ship more sustainably, they create a better business world for everyone.
Fortunately, you don’t have to go it alone. Air Sea Containers has always helped our customers find the most efficient shipping solutions—now, that can mean the greenest solutions as well. Not only do we have a wide variety of eco-friendly packaging options available, but we’ve also got the expertise that comes with over 20 years of experience in shipping and packaging solutions. In packaging and beyond, these seven tips will help you create better and more eco-friendly shipping practices.
1. Use eco-friendly packaging and void fill materials from Air Sea Containers.
Air Sea knows how important it is for businesses to embrace sustainability, so we’ve carefully put together the best selection of eco-friendly packaging materials around. Our green shipping materials create the perfect balance of cost and eco-friendly performance:
- The Opus Biodegradable Air Pillow system is one of the only totally biodegradable air pillows, with high-performance pillows to protect your goods that are also constructed from 100 percent biodegradable plastic.
- Biodegradable Sealed Air Peanuts demonstrate that packing peanuts don’t have to be bad for the Earth! These peanuts are highly cost-effective, biodegradable and actually offer better performance than polystyrene foam.
- Air-Lock Truck Dunnage Air Bags are designed to prevent your cargo from shifting in transit, reducing breakage and waste while also offering a totally biodegradable and reusable option.
2. Decide whether it makes sense to invest in fleet improvements and use alternative fuels.
Remember that anything shipped has to get there via some sort of vehicle. Whether you use your own fleet or not, it’s always worth considering whether there’s a greener way to get your cargo where it’s going. Rail shipping, for example, is an increasingly popular option with significantly lower emissions. Switching fuels to biodiesel is also a great choice, as it doesn’t require any special modifications and is widely available.
3. Design your own custom packaging to reduce waste.
Packaging waste is a serious obstacle to creating greener shipping processes and, what’s more, it can increase fuel costs as well because vehicles work harder to haul the heavier packaging. Air Sea offers custom box design and manufacturing, complete with a wide range of box designs, custom printing and lower minimum orders than many of our competitors. Plus, if you need to ship hazmat goods, we offer UN-rated custom hazmat shipping boxes!
4. Discuss sustainability strategies with your logistics partners.
Make sure that your logistics partners share the approach to sustainability that you want to cultivate. Many third-party logistics providers are now making big investments in green technologies that help them consolidate loads more efficiently, run vehicles with lower emissions and generally take on a greener role. Make these discussions a regular part of your RFPs and discussions with 3PLs.
Shipping goods using the Opus Bio 8”x4” Inflatable Air Pillow.
5. Opt for recycled packaging such as storage drums.
Reconditioned polycarbonate or steel storage drums can be a great alternative to buying new ones. Air Sea offers reconditioned used drums that have been professionally cleaned, tested for integrity and UN certified. (Note that if you need food-grade, FDA-approved drums, reconditioned drums probably aren’t for you.)
6. Consider an alternative to dry ice for refrigeration.
While dry ice isn’t terrible for the environment, it requires special training to handle safely, and some logistics providers won’t ship it. Instead, consider using Air Sea’s eco-friendly refrigeration gel packs that are non-toxic, safe for handling and comparable to dry ice in performance. What’s more, they’re easy to refreeze and use again, so you can put less waste into the environment.
7. Embrace the principles of efficiency and doing more with less.
Thrift, efficiency and building for the long term are principles just about everyone can get behind. When you’re designing sustainability strategies, remember that these should be your guiding principles—and that they’re the same principles you should already be following to streamline your operations.
Green logistics can be a win-win proposition. When your business is helping the Earth, you’re also helping yourself by creating more robust and efficient shipping systems. That’s why Air Sea offers a full range of solutions for eco-friendly shipping—because when our customers can ship more sustainably, they create a better business world for everyone.
