Packaging Materials Comparison

Packaging Materials Comparison Institution Date Introduction The choice of packaging affects logistics in term of costs and time. Effects of packaging on cost can be categorized as direct or indirect costs. Moreover Materials cost, administration, storage, and internal handling of the package are all intertwined with cost. Space during transport is also a factor to consider when looking at the packaging. Additionally The design of a package plays a very pivotal in the entire logistic chain. During transport, using a package that maximizes volume utilization. To further highlight the important role packaging play in the whole logistic cycle, one need to look into the cost of packing, transport, storing handling and also collection and recycling. The environmental aspect also come into play. The need to have a versatile packaging system that takes all the mentioned issues into consideration is imperative. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the pros and cons of paper- based shipping container, a wood-based shipping container and a plastic-based shipping container for use as a distribution package. Paper-based shipping containers Paper-based shipping containers have numerous advantages tied to them. Compared to other shipping materials, paper based shipping containers are relatively cheap (Lai et al., 2011). The cost of production for the paper-based containers are more affordable compared to plastics or wooden containers. The paper container is also advantageous because of its weight. It has low density and weight, and it makes transportation cheap as the low density and weight mean a lower percentage of the loads weight. Paper-based Containers are easy to produce in bulk, and mass productions ensure the containers are always in supply and increases profit because the manufacturers reap from economies of scale brought about by bulk production. The fact that papers are recyclable gives the cost advantage to the producers while the weight gives the advantage to end users (Ducruet & Notteboom, 2012). In designing papers, supply chain stakeholders usually ensure that papers used to make shipping containers are of high quality. This attribute makes papers easy to recuse during transportation. However, paper-based materials also have constraints. One of the main disadvantages of paper-based shipping containers is their low resistance value (Lai et al., 2011). When transporting sensitive thermal products, they may become less efficient as the papers may not protect the cargo from external temperature. Paper-based Containers are very fragile and also hard to use with an insulating material. When overloaded, containers made from paper may crack and separate. Customization of paper to suit cargo demand may be hard ...