Around 30 per cent of corrugated cardboard consumption can be saved with customised shipping packaging. The automated 3D packaging systems from Packaging by Quadient produce customised packages.
The growth in e-commerce during the coronavirus crisis is driving up demand for corrugated cardboard shipping packaging. For this reason, online retailers in many countries are increasingly facing with longer delivery times and higher prices for shipping packaging.
„Because the e-commerce boom is forecast to continue even after the coronavirus pandemic, shippers would be well advised to switch to the production of customised packaging boxes made from continuous corrugated cardboard instead of continuing to send out oversized boxes. Companies can save up to 30 per cent of the valuable raw material. This reduces costs and is sustainable at the same time.” Claus Weigel, International Senior Sales Manager DACH at Packaging by Quadient
Figures from the German E-Commerce and Mail Order Association (bevh) show just how strongly e-commerce is growing. According to these figures, online goods sales rose from 72.6 billion euros to 83.3 billion euros in 2020. The corresponds to an increase of 14.6 per cent. As on average nine out of ten consumer goods are shipped in corrugated cardboard, the demand for shipping packaging made from this material grew last year.
In the fourth quarter of 2020 alone, the members of the Association of the Corrugated Board Industry (VDW) a Sales increase of 3.9 per cent compared to the same period last year. In total, the corrugated board producers organised in the VDW sold more than 2.1 billion square metres in the last three months of 2020. Paper prices are one of the cost drivers for manufacturers. They are the VDW by 12.9 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2020. Further price increases for paper have been announced.
„The demand situation is being exacerbated throughout Europe because in China closed some corrugated board factories due to environmental regulations and less corrugated board is now being exported to the European continent,” explains Weigel. Particularly sharp price jumps for corrugated board can be observed in the UK. The price there rose from £60 per tonne in December 2020 to £75.50 at the end of January.
Generate customised packages with 3D packaging systems
„Online retailers should not speculate that the prices for corrugated cardboard will plummet again. Because the IFH Cologne according to which e-commerce is set to grow by up to 60 per cent in Germany by 2024. The automated 3D packaging systems CVP Impack and CVP Everest have been developed to enable small and large shippers to produce customised shipping boxes and reduce corrugated cardboard consumption. And for customised parcels, there is no need for filling material because there is no more air inside the parcel,” says Weigel.
At the same time, users of the systems could save on transport and labour costs. A single operator can use the CVP Everest Produce up to 1,100 cartons per hour - This eliminates the need for up to 20 manual packaging stations. In the DACH region, for example, companies such as SportOkay.com and DeinDeal.ch use automated packaging solutions from Packaging by Quadient.
Source: Packaging by Quadient
