Tag: cost saving

Why Packaging Waste Matters: New Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Updates

Posted on by definitionconsulting

The way we package our goods can significantly contribute to a better planet, so it’s no surprise the spotlight is now on sustainability in packaging practices, with updated regulations on packaging waste set to come in October 2025.
These regulations come in the form of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), a regulatory framework aimed at changing how we approach packaging waste. Whether you’re sourcing materials domestically or relying on imports, this impending scheme is set to reshape your packaging operations.
This blog serves as an informative follow-up to our previous discussions on the topic, providing the latest updates on EPR.

Understanding EPR

At its core, EPR shifts the responsibility for packaging waste management onto producers, requiring them to bear the full cost of collection, sorting, treatment, and recycling. Recent updates to EPR regulations have brought about significant changes, including the introduction of modulated fees. The payment year has also been deferred from October 2024 to October 2025, however, businesses are still required to declare their packaging waste for 2023.
This initiative is driven by the objective of incentivising producers to limit packaging waste and enhance recyclability. This shift inevitably carries financial implications, as costs are predicted to increase. Therefore, it’s important to understand how EPR will influence your packaging operations and how you can proactively mitigate associated expenses.

Aligning Packaging Practices with EPR

EPR encourages producers to rethink packaging choices and design, urging businesses to embrace recyclable materials and eco-design principles while reducing waste. As companies gear up to comply with EPR regulations, it’s clear that innovative solutions will be essential in meeting these new standards effectively.

How can Right Size Packaging Help?

Right Size solutions combine Ribble’s industry-leading Fanfold material and state-of-the-art technology to create the perfect size box for all products. This ensures every item of packaging fits the product exactly, negating the need for void fillers and excess packaging.
We have a simple 4-step process for our Right Size solutions:
1. Enter box style and dimensions.
2. Select how many are required.
3. The box is produced within seconds.
4. Products are packaged in the perfect-sized box.

As well as saving on EPR tax, businesses will save on fuel and transport costs, regain warehouse space and save on labour costs, all resulting in up to 30% savings on packaging costs.
If you would like to discuss EPR in more detail with some of the packaging experts at Ribble Packaging, you can contact us at info@ribble-pack.co.uk or visit our contact page.

Packaging Processes Have Moved On, Have You?

Posted on by definitionconsulting

Automation is everywhere these days, from self-driving cars to smart home devices, it seems like we’re all on a mission to make life a little easier. Which asks the question, when was the last time you reviewed your packaging process? And could you benefit from exploring the new automated capabilities they now hold?

Packaging Automation

Automation can be implemented across various stages of the packaging process, from box forming to labelling and palletising. The idea is to only get what you need, starting small with automation modules and expanding as needed, allowing for growth and adaptation to your changing business requirements.

Each Stage at a Glance

Measuring Station: Using sensors to measure dimension and weight.

Box Production: Corrugated or die-cutters will cut, fold and glue your box into the desired shape.

Box Forming: Taking flat card and shaping it into the desired form.

Coupling Box and Product: Utilising pick and place machines, robotic arms, or conveyor belts to handle the product in position.

Box Closing: Sealing the box securely.

Labelling: With sensors and actuators attached as predetermined.

Palletising: Stacking boxes onto pallets in a certain pattern, often with a control system to optimise the stack.

Benefits of Packaging Automation

Firstly, automation leads to substantial labour savings by reducing the need for manual intervention in packaging processes. This not only cuts down on labour costs but also minimises the risk of human error, resulting in higher quality outputs and reduced wastage, saving multiple costs around the business.

Automation will also drive increased productivity by enabling packaging processes to run faster and more consistently. Tasks that once took hours to complete can now be accomplished in a fraction of the time, helping to meet tight deadlines and customer demands with ease.

Is Automation Right for You?

Before you take the automation plunge, it’s worth taking stock of where you stand. Assess factors such as production volume, product variability, and budget. Conducting a thorough analysis of these factors can help determine the potential return on investment (ROI) of purchasing an automation packaging machinery and justify the initial investment costs.

Ribble Packaging are here to help

By leveraging packaging automation, businesses like yours can reap the benefits of packaging automation and achieve significant cost savings, improve productivity, and deliver higher quality products to customers. So why wait? Take the first step towards streamlining your packaging processes today.

If you want to speak about your packaging needs in greater detail, get in contact or call us at Ribble Packaging on 0161 284 9000. With over 80 years of packaging expertise, we help streamline your packaging processes to reduce waste and restore profits.

Are your shipping costs getting out of control?

Posted on by definitionconsulting

Reduce your overheads with Right Size packaging!

If you are looking to reduce your overheads, one often overlooked aspect of cost reduction is the choice of packaging, according to a study by the Guardian, oversized packaging leads to five million unnecessary delivery journeys every year. By adopting the principle of Right Size packaging, businesses can achieve significant savings in multiple areas.

For any business involved in transporting, handling, or storing products, adopting packaging solutions that perfectly fit your products can lead to a multitude of advantages.

Right Size packaging means fewer material costs, which then means fewer production costs and handling fees. It also results in a reduction of transport costs as more packages can fit on a pallet, or cheaper parcel brackets if you’re sending individual products. And finally, you can store more products for less, which also increases your buffer stock, building a more resilient supply chain.

How have we got to this point with excess packaging? Businesses often buy large volumes of stock packaging to reduce unit costs. This means they have just a few packaging options for all their products. This results in products being shipped in the nearest fitting packaging, regardless of their size. This practice is expensive and wasteful.

 

The benefits of Right Size

  1. Cost-Effective Shipping

The primary and most immediate benefit of Right Size packaging is cost effective shipping. When the packaging matches the exact dimensions and weight of the products, businesses eliminate the expense of excess materials. This translates into significant savings on shipping costs.

  1. Enhanced Storage Efficiency

Every square inch of storage space matters, especially in growing businesses. With Right Size solutions, businesses can maximise their warehouse space by using packaging that fits their products precisely. This optimisation means fewer trips to replenish stock, reducing labour costs and enhancing storage space utilisation.

  1. Efficient Transportation

Efficiency in transportation is a key driver of cost savings. Right Size packaging increases the density of products within each shipment, making the most of the available space in trucks, containers, and cargo holds. This means fewer trips and less fuel consumption.

  1. Minimised Damage and Returns

Oversized packaging often leads to products shifting and getting damaged during transit. By using Right Size packaging, products remain secure, and the risk of damage is greatly reduced. This not only cuts the cost associated with damaged goods but also lowers the number of product returns, saving money on shipping and restocking.

  1. Streamlined Handling

Efficient handling of packages is a critical aspect of logistics. Right Size packaging simplifies the loading and unloading process, eliminating the need for excessive handling. This not only saves time and labour during each shipment but also optimises workflow, resulting in reduced labour expenses and increased productivity.

 

How Ribble can help?

Adopting Ribble Right Size solutions can have a transformative impact on shipping and logistics, it’s the most effective and efficient packaging for your product.

Whether you are a manufacturer of one product or a retailer of many, it significantly reduces your overheads and shipping costs, optimises storage and transportation efficiency, and minimises damage and returns.

Ribble’s Right Size solutions combine industry leading Fanfold material and state of the art technology to create the perfect size box for all your products.

By prioritising Right Size packaging in your logistics operations, your business can unlock a host of benefits that ultimately contribute to long-term success and cost savings in a highly competitive environment.

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