Well-known industrial and retail companies have developed a new reusable transport box together with GS1 Germany. The GS1 Smart Box is intended to be used in an open pool, reduce packaging waste and simplify handling in goods logistics.
Packing, unpacking, repacking: Before shampoo, soap and toothpaste reach the shop shelves, they change transport containers several times. In production, the products are repackaged in cartons and then placed on pallets. On the way to the point of sale (PoS), the products are often repacked in the retail distribution centres, picked for the stores and sent on their way. Transport boxes are also used here, but they are all different and therefore not suitable for exchange.
„This is highly inefficient, costly and produces a lot of packaging waste. That's why, together with other industrial companies, retail partners and GS1 Germany, we have developed a standardised and sustainable solution with the GS1 Smart-Box reusable container.“ Reinhard Wesp, Director Logistics DACH, Procter & Gamble Service
Several well-known brand manufacturers and retailers have agreed to use and exchange this transport box in an open pool. You want to minimise the number of boxes, films and containers and simplify handling in goods logistics.
Initially 100,000 GS1 Smart Boxes at the start
The go-ahead for the production and distribution of the reusable plastic containers has now been given with the decision to produce the injection moulding tool by the companies Georg Utz and IPP. One hundred thousand standard reusable containers will initially be available for the market launch.
„With the GS1 Smart Box, we are taking a decisive and progressive step towards more efficient and environmentally friendly retail logistics. For example, we will be able to achieve better utilisation of freight space further reduce emissions of climate-damaging greenhouse gases. The development of the GS1 Smart Box impressively demonstrates that cross-company approaches lead to intelligent and sustainable solutions.“ Christian Bodi, Managing Director Logistics dm-drogerie markt
In addition to dm-drogerie markt and Procter & Gamble, the first movers include Beiersdorf, Cosnova, Edeka, Henkel, Kao, L'Oréal, Migros, Müller Drogeriemarkt and Rossmann.
The aim is to, to test the container in practice from spring 2021. A new GS1 recommendation for action will, among other things, structure the open pooling planned for the future on the basis of a set of rules and GS1 standards. „Once again, the example of this solution shows that, how companies can find sustainable approaches on the GS1 Germany platform and drive them forward. In doing so, they are meeting both the requirements of the economy and those of environmental protection,“ emphasises Thomas Fell, Managing Director of GS1 Germany, emphasised the special nature of the project.
Initially, the GS1 Smart Box in the drugstore segment. Later, other goods from the fast-moving consumer goods segment are also to be offered. from production to the PoS. Clothing or confectionery could thus reach the shelf in a product-, environmentally-friendly and process-friendly way.
SourceGS1 Germany GmbH
