There is only so far companies can go by using less packaging material. Once that point is reached, reuse offers another way to reduce the environmental impact of e-commerce shipments.
That is the thinking behind a new partnership between packaging specialist Topa and system operator Boxo. The companies have formalised their collaboration to make reusable shipping packaging easier to deploy at scale.
The underlying logistics challenge is straightforward. Packaging must protect goods throughout the delivery journey while minimising waste. Reducing packaging material is important, but if lighter or smaller packaging results in damaged products, the environmental and financial costs quickly outweigh the savings.
The two companies argue that once the lower limit for single-use material has been reached, reusing the same packaging multiple times is the next step in reducing its overall footprint.
Building the return infrastructure
The partnership combines Topa’s packaging expertise with Boxo Return, a system designed to manage the return logistics, deposits and data associated with reusable e-commerce packaging.
Boxo acts as the neutral system operator, managing both the digital and physical elements of the return process. This includes software integrations, collection through return points and the cleaning of returned packaging.
Topa, meanwhile, is developing high-quality shipping packaging that is compatible with the Boxo network.
The aim is to remove one of the biggest barriers to reusable packaging: the logistics required to get the packaging back.
Rather than individual e-commerce businesses having to create their own collection network, they can use the existing Boxo infrastructure. Customers receive their order in a reusable package, return it through an established collection network and the packaging can then be prepared for another shipment.
Making circular shipping easier
For e-commerce businesses, the model is intended to make the move towards reusable packaging considerably simpler.
Instead of building and operating their own return infrastructure, webshops can connect to an existing network and offer customers a reusable packaging option.
The partnership comes as European packaging rules place greater emphasis on reducing waste and increasing circularity. For businesses already reviewing their packaging strategies, reuse provides another option alongside material reduction, recyclability and more efficient packaging design.
The bigger shift is that packaging is increasingly being viewed not simply as something that protects a product on its journey to the customer, but as an asset that can make multiple journeys through the supply chain.
