switching to returnable plastic packaging can help poultry producers reduce hidden costs

Returnable Plastic Packaging – Helping Poultry Businesses Cut Back Hidden Costs

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Poultry is one of the most in-demand foods. But the market is already crowded with large and small producers. Thus, despite growing demands, some companies are struggling to stay profitable. One of the less obvious way in which they are losing money is by using unreliable packaging. In this article, we will explain how adopting returnable plastic packaging can help poultry producers cut back hidden costs.

Cardboard Packaging – the Weak Link in the Poultry Supply Chain

From farm to store fridge, fresh or frozen poultry goes through several steps – from portioning, to packaging, storage in cold room and shipping to the store. At every step in this process, mishaps can happen, each caused by traditional cardboard packaging:

  • The packaging is not robust enough to withstand the weight of the products
  • The packaging is not compatible with low temperatures in the cold room
  • The packaging does not ensure stack stability during transportation.

These boxes are extremely fragile and unreliable and they cause ongoing incremental costs for producers. These costs are not initially obvious, but they keep adding up.

The fact is that returnable plastic packaging was developed as a solution to all the issues caused by old and unreliable packages.

The Logistic Packaging specialists explain some of the most important ways in which reusable plastic crates, containers and pallets help poultry producers save costs:

1. Reduced Product Loss Due to Packaging Failure

Loaded cardboard boxes often collapse, crushing the products inside. At best, they can be resold highly discounted to food processing plants. This is a significant and ongoing source of loss for poultry farms.

By contrast, returnable plastic containers have a very study build, with high tolerance values for stacking, dynamic and static load. Switching to using these containers will generate a significant decrease in written off merchandise.

2. Larger Volume of Products per Trailer

Trailers cannot be fully loaded with poultry packaged in corrugated boxes, because they do not form stable stacks. In this case, space of the trailer is not fully utilized, resulting in high transportation costs.

Thanks to their solid build and standard footprint, returnable plastic pallets and containers are ideal for creating high stacks. Poultry producers can now maximize the use of trailer space and optimize their transportation costs.

3. Increased Consumer Confidence through Better Hygiene

Let us face it, the image of a crushed and stained cardboard box filled with poultry packages is not appealing at all. When consumers see store employees unloading the products from these packages, they will lose trust that they are safe to eat.

Returnable plastic stack nest containers 180 can be properly sanitized and look clean and hygienic even after many use cycles. Seeing the products unloaded from these packages convinces shoppers that they were handled properly, according to all food safety standards.

4. Ability to Adopt Automation and Optimize Logistics Costs

Cardboard boxes cannot be used in automated systems, such as robotized material handling and conveyor belts. They break, they get caught in machinery elements, and bring the entire system to a halt.

By contrast, reusable plastic EURO containers and totes are designed for automation. They have smooth bottoms, struts and grips for handling, allowing automated systems to handle them smoothly. Thus, old packaging is actually holding companies back from implementing cost-saving and efficiency-boosting logistics solutions.

5. Increased Sustainability and Reduced Costs with Waste Disposal

Finally, old packaging is being phased out at all levels because it is not sustainable. Few used cardboard boxes are getting recycled, because they are contaminated by various liquids and fats at the end of their short lifecycle. The only option for companies is to pay to have them disposed of.

Returnable plastic packaging is made mostly from HDPE – a material that resists most fats, oils, liquids and chemicals. They have a long lifespan and are fully recyclable at the end.

Reusable plastic pallets and containers may have a higher initial cost, but they help poultry producers save many hidden costs in the long run. Contact the Logistic Packaging team today to learn how to optimize your operational costs and logistic processes. Send us an email to start discussing your packaging application with us!