Global trade flows, stricter legal requirements and growing sustainability demands require companies to find new solutions for packaging their industrial goods along the entire packaging and logistics chain.
In future, transport packaging such as pallets, drums and large load carriers should not only provide efficient protection, but also be an integral part of the circular economy. Pallet manufacturer Craemer, for example, is setting an example with the recycled raw material Zero Virgin: The newly developed E3-5 pallet is made from fully recycled polyethylene and still fulfils the standards of virgin material - a prime example of industrial recyclability.
The strapping industry is also showing how recycling solutions are becoming marketable. With the „Loop that!“ project project, manufacturer Mosca is launching a closed-loop system for strapping and is also inviting competitors to work together to create a standardised, industry-wide cycle. In the wood sector, the HPE association has launched HPECycle, a deposit system for pallets and wooden packaging. Packaging handed in regionally is checked, repaired and returned to the economic cycle.
Focus on materials: from steel drums to hybrid boxes
The trend in traditional industrial packaging is also clearly moving towards CO₂ reduction and a mix of materials. Greif recently expanded its sustainable EcoBalance line beyond plastics to include steel drums made from low-emission XCarb steel from ArcelorMittal, which produces 60 per cent less CO₂ emissions.
Meanwhile, Schütz combines steel and HDPE to create a particularly resistant combi drum with double leakage protection - ideal for aggressive or corrosive products.
Large load carriers such as the CabFold Hybrid from Cabka, made from 94% recycled material, offer maximum functionality with minimum resource consumption thanks to their foldable design and volume of over 750 litres. The range is complemented by Werit's Intrabox, a modular container system with a PP recyclate content of 40 per cent and ergonomic handling.
Smart labelling and seamless tracking
Digitalisation is also changing the labelling of industrial packaging. Herma and Cab are focussing on sustainable logistics labels without backing material - silicone-free, non-sticky but highly functional. At the same time, the digital product passport paves the way for intelligent traceability.
With the 100-watt REA Laser CL100 and the REA Jet HR NX inkjet printer, REA Elektronik is launching high-performance systems for direct labelling on plastics, films and new mono-material packaging. These not only fulfil new standards, but also support the implementation of the Digital Product Passport.
AI and 3D measurement in everyday logistics
The use of artificial intelligence in the measurement of packages is particularly innovative. Krones uses an AI-based system developed jointly with Telekom MMS for precise 3D measurement of the packages. The solution is based on state-of-the-art LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology and uses three time-of-flight cameras to fully capture the differently dimensioned packages. The AI-supported evaluation reliably recognises even complex and irregular contours and measures them precisely. The system achieves an accuracy with an average deviation of less than one centimetre.
Note: This article was written on the basis of a technical article produced by packaging journal for free use by interested media on behalf of interpack 2026. You can find the original article here. Find out more about packaging solutions for industrial goods live at interpack 2026 from 7 to 13 May in Düsseldorf.
