eCommerce newsletter 07-2021 – ENGLISH

July 2021

Machines, Boxes and Integration.

Scale your business with height size automation The exponential growth of eCommerce has seen increasing costs, packing complexity, and a higher demand for manual labour to meet fulfilment needs.

Nedim Nisic eCommerce Manager at Mondi CrS

In monitoring the common pain points in eCommerce packaging, we found the main needs are to curtail the complexities in fulfilment for higher productivity, reduce package volumes and optimise the production lines to operate consistently with less assistance from human labour. In striving for productivity, flexibility, cost-effectiveness and sustainability, we are addressing the following issues with the use of automation in corrugated solutions.

As a result, the desire for packing machines in eCommerce is more prominent than ever before. In wanting to help customers tackle these challenges, Mondi provides a solution with height sizing automation for package volume reduction.

Issue 1. Decreasing manual labour demands The demand for warehousing and fulfilment personnel has skyrocketed to numbers beyond the availability of workers.

There are not enough people to hire to fulfil the positions and increasing pressure to retain workers. Automating parts of the packing process means overcoming the labour shortage and streamlining operations to achieve consistent output without manual labour.

The implementation of automation machines will help customers to scale their production and grow. If there is a high increase in turnover, the machine will make it much easier to fulfil automated packaging lines instead of hiring enough people to reach the same level.

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Image Amazon: Frederic Legrand - COMEO / Shutterstock.com

Issue 2. Reducing the complexity in fulfilment Millions of product Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) run through fulfilment centres every day, made more complex by the varying sizes and shapes of packaging types. With such complexity comes the higher risk of error, which can be costly to rectify. Automated height reduction, which assembles and closes parts of the packing process, can help reduce the number of SKUs in the box range by optimising the volume of shipping packages to fit each product.

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Issue 3. Reducing cost In streamlining the fulfilment process, there is a further opportunity for cutting costs by reducing the number of SKUs to manage, reducing the overall volume of shipped packages and limiting the need for void-fill material.

Cost-effectiveness also comes from limiting excess packaging materials.

Issue 4. Maintaining sustainability in automation More than 25 % of the shipping volume in eCommerce boxes is empty space, requiring extra void-filling material to avoid damage. In height sizing automation, the height of the box is reduced to fit the product, overcoming the biggest problem of eCommerce: shipping air. The less air shipped, the more boxes can fit in trucks, minimalising the fleet and positively impacting the environment in lowering CO2 emissions in transportation.

Our product solution for package volume reduction Mondi has devised a solution that works with new or existing manufacturing lines and packing machines in eCommerce, enabling package volume reduction via height sizing automation.

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Facts:

+T he closing process is automated with three convenience options with hotmelt glueing of lid: easy open top, easy open front and the multi-way easy open and return closure.

Our three packaging footprint sizes assemble the box or tray and adapt its height through scoring and creasing to snuggly fit the volume of products inside. The lowest height is 2 cm.

+ The packaging has more strength and protection, including a higher vertical strength than Fefco 0200 and tamper-evident construction. +M ade from 100 % recyclable materials and eliminating unnecessary air volume in the box and the need for filler material, it has a positive environmental footprint.

Packaging and automation in sync.

Mondi partners with B+ Nedim Nisic eCommerce Manager at Mondi CrS

With these automated processes in place designed for maximised order fulfilment, we can save two-thirds of the manual labour time needed for the erecting, filling and packing processes.

Us #Challen ge –

Mondi chose B+ as a core partner because of the company’s extensive track record in the automation machinery industry. The technological expertise of B+ forms a perfect synergy with Mondi’s innovative packaging solutions.

In 2000, after 20 years of experience designing automated industrial equipment in various businesses and implementing 1,500 + machines worldwide for customers, B+ expanded their operations to include packaging solutions for order fulfilment and distribution. Mondi‘s dedicated innovation team will work alongside B+ to offer design assistance, project management, cost calculations and service support.

get in touch with Nedim Nisic: nedim.nisic@mondigroup.com:

Working together for a better eCommerce business Together with our customers, we pride ourselves on unique, custom solution development, including synchronising machine functionality and packaging design. Through clever and responsible creation, we can enhance our products‘ contribution to a better world, making our corrugated boxes sustainable by design.

Let’s face the challenges of your eCommerce business together. We are happy to get in touch with you to find the right solution for your individual needs.

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MA RK ET

Amazon spurs more brands toward frustration-free packaging June 9, 2021 (Packaging Digest) – On June 1, 2021, Amazon announced an expansion of its Frustration-Free Packaging (FFP) incentive program to include millions of additional products that the ecommerce giant is asking to be supplied in packaging designed for efficient eCommerce distribution.

Thousands of new vendors will have to decide whether or not to develop packaging specifically for ecommerce. Will easing packaging frustration for consumers cause more or less frustration for packaging designers? In the short term, maybe more. But, in the long run, the overall benefits for brands that opt in may help them surpass the competition.

Facts:

+E nhance brand equity by meeting consumers’ requests for less packaging. +C ontribute to their own sustainability goals. +L ower packaging and inbound transportation costs. +L ower damage rates and returns.

eCommerce brings ‚opportunities for greener solutions,‘ DHL Express US CEO says June 7, 2021 (Aol.) – “We started to dig in and look at a couple of key areas in the paper where we think the trends in eCommerce would have an impact on sustainability,” Greg Hewitt, CEO of DHL Express USA, told Yahoo Finance Live. “That was the last-mile delivery, first and mid mile, warehousing, packaging, and returns. All of those areas have opportunities for greener solutions.”

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Image DHL: Bjoern Wylezich / Shutterstock.com

It’s time to bust four paper myths about eCommerce packaging As eCommerce grows, so does the chatter. You’ve likely heard all manner of facts and fables about paper packaging, its recycling properties and its carbon footprint compared to plastic. But what’s true, and what’s not?

We are about to bust some common paper myths, and you might be surprised by the facts.

To be sustainable, we should only use recycled paper products.

Fresh in packaging not needed because paper can be Wefibre should onlyis use recycled recycled 25 times or more.

paper products to be Fact: According to industry estimates, paper can be recycled on average sustainable 4 to 7 times.

We can recycle paper, but only to a limit because fresh fibres naturally degrade over time, compromising paper strength, quality and availability.

Also, if you are shipping food and hygiene products, fresh fibre is needed to meet legal requirements.

Fresh fibre is not needed.

Paper can be recycled 25 times or more

It’s all about sourcing fresh fibres from sustainably managed forests to maintain the paper cycle. A minimum of 40 % fresh fibre input is needed to make the global fibre cycle work and, without the input of fresh fibre, the production of paper would cease after roughly 6 to 18 months.

SIGN ME UP!

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paper products to be sustainable Paper has a higher carbon footprint than plastic, so it’s better to continue using plastic mailers.

Fresh is notin aneeded.

Fact: Paperfibre can be sourced sustainable way that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, maintains zero deforestation, Paper can be recycled and safeguards biodiversity and water resources. Mondi commits to these targets to lower the carbon footprint of 25 times paper products.or more It depends on the application of the material – how it is sourced, processed, transported, used and disposed of at the end of life. For example, paper-based solutions from renewable, responsible sources are often fully recyclable at scale and in practice. On the other hand, plastic solutions often have very high material efficiency in being lightweight and strong but usually are not recycled at scale. So the product carbon footprint is one of many key considerations when choosing a packaging solution.

There are no ‘good’ and ‘bad’ materials since sustainable approaches in packaging are often a trade-off depending on each application. Our approach is to use paper where possible, plastic when useful.

But, it’s worth noting that the European paper industry has cut carbon emissions by 27 % since 2005. It’s also the largest industrial generator and user of renewable energy in Europe.*

Many products are recyclable, so it doesn’t matter what I use.

Fact: Paper is the world’s most recycled material.

The current recycling rate in Europe for fibre-based packaging is 84 %, compared to 66 % globally.** Why? Consumers know how and where to recycle paper. Second, the collection and sorting techniques are more mature. Overall, it’s an easy process.

Ideally, all packaging and materials would be recycled or reused to keep materials in circulation and retain their value. It’s just that the level of knowledge across the entire supply chain for flexible plastic packaging isn’t as developed, and there is a need for a harmonised approach to developing the collection, sorting and recycling infrastructure needed.

All paper products have high environmental impacts

Forests are shrinking. If all packaging is switched to paper, forests will disappear. if you print your return label, you’ve Paper has higherEven carbon killed a tree.than plastic,so better footprint

to continue Fact: Forest areas using in Europe plastic expanded by 19.3 million hectares over the last 30 years.*** mailers.

Deforestation is indeed a critical challenge across the world, contributing to global warming. European paper producers should focus on sourcing from Sustainable Working Forests to produce fresh fibre responsibly.

Only 11 % of the world’s forests are certified to date. 100 % of our own forests are FSCTM certified, and more than 90 % of the wood that Mondi purchases is sourced domestically where our mills are located.

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Sources: *https://www.mondigroup.com/en/newsroom/press-release/2019/paper-where-possible-plastic-when-useful/ | **Eurostat und International Council of Forest and Paper Association (ICFPA). Nachhaltigkeitsbericht 2019s | ***https://foresteurope.org/wpcontent/uploads/2016/08/SoEF_2020.pdf

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#ChallengeUs – Ask us anything!

We know it can be hard to decipher the good from the bad in a complex supply chain. From material sourcing to product recycling, we are here to support you in finding the ideal solutions to reach your sustainability goals. By being sustainable by design, you can enhance your brand value.

More about this topic was covered during the Lets Paper the World webinar in May.

Let’ s Paper the World TO THE WEBINAR

MA RK ET

Protect goods and the planet June 4, 2021 (PackagingNews) – The term protective packaging may well evoke images of plain, unattractive and bulky packages but brand awareness/aesthetics is increasingly important in this market, as is sustainability, and suppliers and designers have to consider these factors in order to create effective, attractive and environmentallyfriendly packs.

“Packaging has a functional as well as an aesthetic role and protecting the product, be that fresh produce or a high value whisky or perfume, is critical” says Jes Crossley, business development manager at packaging post-press trade house ACA. “At the same time there is increasing pressure on retailers and businesses of all kinds to provide sustainable and environmentally responsible solutions.”

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