Returnable Transit Packaging - why use it

10 Reasons to use Returnable Transit Packaging

Returnable Packaging -
Lowering the cost and Carbon Emissions

Thousands of tonnes of packaging have to be disposed of in the UK every year! This includes cardboard and polystyrene boxes used within the supply chain to transport food.  As environmental issues are becoming more and more important within our society companies are considering switching to returnable Transit Packaging (RTP). 

When making this move there are many things that they need to consider including whether they should buy equipment or opt for rental.

When looking into their options a lot of companies have come to PPS, who for over 10 years have been providing clients throughout the UK and Europe with rental and pooling solutions from our comprehensive range of equipment including plastic pallets, trays, crates and boxes.

RTP pooled equipment solutions from PPS offer a simple and easy to manage solution, with controlled online management and predictable one-fee cost with no hidden extras. PPS take the responsibility for retrieving the packaging from third parties, ensuring it meets hygiene standards and return it to the pool.
At PPS we have put together what we believe to be the top 10 benefits of pooling RTP

1.    Financial – RTP is very easy to budget for with one price per product (crate/pallet) for the full service that includes rental, wash, transport and management.  There is no expensive capital outlay needed when equipment is purchased.

2.    Environmental Benefits – Renting and pooling RTP is a sustainable way of conducting business and works towards reducing a company’s carbon footprint.  RTP replaces one-trip disposable packaging that has negative environmental and economic impact. A reduction in waste and possible landfill charges has immediate cost savings and increases overall profitability.

3.    Savings in Transport & Handling - Returnable packaging is usually designed to be stacked or collapsible, reducing storage and transport space and the associated costs.

4.    Improved Protection - Returnable packaging is manufactured and designed to be more robust and durable, helping to reduce the risk of product damage during transit and therefore decreases customer returns. Secure and rigid RTP are ideal for the transportation of fresh, perishable and valuable goods requiring optimum protection – and these can be hygienically washed and returned in to the loop. 

5.    Bespoke Solutions - Where customers require, tailored solutions can be provided to meet specific materials handling needs in terms of size, distribution and with health and safety issues in mind.

6.    Conservation - More socially acceptable as the conservation of energy and raw materials throughout the supply chain has both environmental and economical benefits. Lower energy consumption for washing reusable RTP should be considered against higher energy costs for recycling cardboard and timber.

7.    Pooling Benefits - This enables clients to concentrate their efforts, energies and resources into their core business and allows a specialist business to handle their returnable packaging.

8.    Hygienically Clean Product - On delivery, used plastic pool rented products can be collected and washed to BRC approved standards before being retuned into the supply chain for re-use. Most businesses operating strict hygienic standards can take the stock direct to factory floor.  PPS have two modern and hygienic dedicated wash plants in the Midlands and Grimsby for washing of all its own returnable packaging and also extends this service to third parties on ad hoc or contract basis.

9.    Tracking Systems - The success of a pooled rental system depends not only on fit-for-purpose packaging but also on effective control and management of the closed loop system.  PPS customers can access and monitor the precise location of all transit equipment using ‘ENABLE’, which is a bespoke PPS web-based online tracking system for management of product and unit distribution. Input of data can be integrated with customers own software systems or can be input directly via the PPS website. Receiving locations can also monitor deliveries to assess for collection needs.

10.    Flexibility of Service - Products are available in large and small volumes for long or short term periods and therefore provides the maximum flexibility to cater for seasonal peaks and troughs. Customers no longer need to hold on to high levels of stock during seasonal lows.

PPS can assist customers investigate the feasibility of replacing current single use packaging with bespoke reusable packaging and projects have experience and been involved in many industrial sectors including food, fish, meat & poultry processing, retail, automotive, electronics, etc.   


For more information about Returnable Transit Packaging contact Joanne Moss or visit our Website