When we started our company in 2007 and our blog in 2008, we could not help but notice the great variety of packaging solutions people were touting as the best way to “Go Green” and “Save the Earth”. The idea of reducing and minimizing corrugated board usage made sense but we noticed most everyone was overlooking the most obvious solution which is simply to use less. The best way to accomplish that quickly and easily is to use the correct and smallest possible size box. This thought process of reducing box dimensions became known as “right sizing”.
One State Down, Forty-Nine to Go
On July 16th, many news and industry sources, including The Fibre Box Association newsletter announced that the New Jersey State Senate passed a bill requiring shippers to minimize their corrugated boxes dimensions to twice the size of the product they are shipping. You may read that and say, who in the world ships in packaging larger than that? Why would anyone buy and use a box larger than absolutely necessary? The answer to that question is closer than you think. Just look out your front door to see some of the largest culprits in the country delivering your web purchases. They include e-commerce giants such as Amazon, Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and Staples to name just a handful. Over the years, we have often written about these companies and shown photos of boxes we have received that are outrageously oversized.
Why do these e-commerce companies do this?
The truth is that efficiency and space are the primary drivers. If you have ever visited a major distribution center, you are amazed at the sheer volume of products being shipped on a daily basis. Not only the number of outbound packages but also the incredible variety of products. We have toured a local Amazon facility, and it was a mind-blowing experience. You cannot help but to be impressed by the speed and efficiency.
Some of these companies operate their own DCs and others use a third-party logistics (3PL) or co-packer. No matter who does the work, it is virtually impossible to have as many different box sizes as may be needed for the tremendous variety of product dimensions. There is a limit to how many boxes can be made readily available at any or every pack station. Keep in mind, the people or companies doing this packing are often required and possibly incentivized to process orders as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, if someone considers efficiency, space and sustainability, they are usually prioritized in that same order. In other words, using the right size box is not at the top of the list.
So why is this bill such a step forward?
Simply put, it is going to make people think about sustainability and that is always a good start. The sad fact is that most of us tend to do the right thing when it is legally required and/or someone is watching. Will some companies get a free pass or ignore this bill? Probably. But it is on us to keep them honest. That is the reason why right sizing has been one of my favorite subjects to blog about. I can’t change the waste in e-commerce, but WE can. Send me your photos to [email protected] and I will try to include them in my next right-sizing post.
Keep in mind that I make and sell boxes for a living. It is probably good for my company to sell the largest boxes possible. However, it is also our responsibility to ask the simple question – what are you shipping? Let us help you and you can help us. Call us at 630-551-1700 or contact us through this web site. We look forward to working with you to make the most attractive, lowest cost, and smallest boxes possible.
Related posts:
https://www.salazarpackaging.com/seriously-amazon-right-sizing-your-boxes-is-the-right-thing-to-do/
https://www.salazarpackaging.com/save-big-money-by-not-buying-stock-size-rsc-shipping-boxes/
