Green Logistics

Sustainable
packaging solutions
for an eco-friendly
future

At Söhner Kunststofftechnik, we use the term "Green Logistics" to mean the alignment of the supply chain with economic and ecological goals. The task of green logistics is to make the packaging, storage and transport of goods and commodities not only economical, but also as efficient, resource-conserving and environmentally friendly as possible.

The aim is to reduce or prevent the negative effects of logistics processes on the environment, such as greenhouse gasses and pollutants, the use of fossil fuels and waste generation. The pursuit of sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions is an integral part of our corporate culture and guides us every day in the planning and development of reusable packaging concepts. The motto for our transport containers is: reuse, reduce, recycle, renew.

REUSE
Reusable
packaging systems

The path to Green Logistics begins with the switch from disposable to reusable packaging, such as with our plastic transport containers. This way you can tackle two environmental problems at once: resource consumption and waste.

Unlike single-use packaging, reusable packaging keeps packaging materials out of the waste stream and extends the life cycle of the original raw material. By not generating waste and eliminating the production of new packaging, resource consumption is reduced. The high quality of our transport containers guarantees the longest possible service life. On average, this lasts several years under industrial conditions with correct use of the large load carriers. At the end of their life, our packaging solutions can also be 100 per cent recycled.

REDUCE
Reduced transport
through reduced volume

In an increasingly interconnected world where global supply chains are the norm, environmental damage is also steadily on the rise. Increasing transport distances and volumes lead to higher CO2 emissions, particulate pollution and fuel consumption. In order to reduce the negative impacts, two factors play an essential role in Green Logistics: optimal weight utilization of the transport mode and minimization of empty runs.

You can achieve both with our foldable plastic large load carriers – from MegaPack ALPHA to MegaPack JUMBO. When folded, the transport containers ensure that up to 85 percent of the loading volume is saved. Only one truck is then needed for the return transport instead of, say, five. Less transport means less fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Due to the low weight of the plastic transport containers compared to transport packaging made of steel or wood, more weight can be added during loading. This advantage ensures a significant improvement in the CO2 balance, especially with large quantities and heavy products. And of course, foldable reusable packaging also saves valuable storage space in your logistics centers.

RECYCLE
Recycling of
packaging materials

The advantages of reusable plastic packaging are obvious. Multiple use conserves valuable resources and saves costs. But even after it’s been used, a plastic container can contribute greatly to resource conservation. Because plastic’s special properties mean it can be recycled very well. Old, unusable packaging is separated by type, shredded, cleaned and recycled so that it can be returned to the production process as a secondary raw material. In terms of quality and material properties, the reclaimed material is hardly inferior to comparable virgin material.

Our MegaPack large load carriers are made of single-type materials and are 100 percent recyclable.

This means that when a transport container has reached the end of its product life cycle, we are happy to accept it back from our customers. The returns are processed in an internal recycling loop and reused to produce new sustainable packaging solutions.

RENEW
Use of
renewable resources

Bioplastics

Another way to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels in packaging production is to use biobased materials. Biobased plastics, or bioplastics for short, are plastic materials that consist entirely or predominantly of biopolymers. In contrast to synthetic plastics, which are produced from petrochemicals (e.g. crude oil), bioplastics are produced from natural and renewable raw materials. These have the advantage of binding CO2 from the air during their growth, whereas petroleum-based plastics release CO2 into the atmosphere that was stored under the earth for millions of years.

We already use bioplastics on request to manufacture our foldable MegaPack JUMBO and MegaPack JUMBO X large load carriers. This is primarily a biobased HDPE made from sugar cane, which has comparable properties and quality to standard HDPE.

A bioplastic content of 50 percent is sufficient for our production to be CO2-neutral and for you to receive a climate-friendly transport container ex works.

Your benefits thanks to Green Logistics

Sustainable packaging solutions that can be reused several times, folded to save space and 100 per cent recycled after use make an important contribution to greener logistics. Logistics in which procedures and processes are designed to be environmentally friendly and economical at the same time. Our plastic transport containers also help you optimize your transport and storage logistics by optimizing the loading volume for full loads and reducing the number of empty runs. Folding the containers also leads to considerable efficiency savings in warehousing. This improves your carbon footprint and protects valuable resources.