Media contact: Jerry Welcome

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Phone: 703-224-8284 Fax: 703-243-5612

Email: info@choosereusables.org

Web Site: www.choosereusables.org

2009: The Perfect Storm to Accelerate Adoption

of Reusable Packaging Systems

Arlington, VA, January 12, 2009 – In 2009,  the critical tenet of “reuse” will be embraced by businesses as they strive to reduce costs throughout the supply chain and address the global movement to mitigate damage to the environment, said Bob Klimko, Chairman of the Reusable Packaging Association (RPA) Board, and Director of General Industrial Marketing for ORBIS Corporation. 

“2009 is the perfect storm that will accelerate the reuse of materials throughout the supply chain across all industries,” emphasized Klimko. “The recession is driving businesses to reduce costs wherever possible. At the same time, there is a global awareness that businesses must truly change their practices that deplete the earth’s resources. These two forces are creating the perfect storm that will result in a significant increase in the adoption of reusable packaging, both as a solution to decrease costs and to drive supply chain sustainability.”

The concept of reuse is supported by the Environmental Protection Agency as a way to prevent waste from entering the waste stream.  According to www.epa.gov, “Source reduction, including reuse, can help reduce waste disposal and handling costs, because it avoids the costs of recycling, municipal composting, landfilling, and combustion. Source reduction also conserves resources and reduces pollution, including greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.”

For years, the EPA has encouraged recycling. Businesses and consumers alike have embraced the recycling concept, routinely sorting paper documents, plastic water bottles and other recyclable materials and bringing them to recycling facilities. However, businesses have been much slower to implement initiatives to reuse materials and the concept has received little attention from the media.

The RPA defines reusable packaging as pallets, containers and dunnage designed for re-use within a supply chain. These items are constructed for multiple trips and extended life. Due to their reusable nature, they offer a rapid return on investment and a lower cost-per-trip than single use packaging products, as well as efficient storage, handling and distribution of products throughout the supply chain. Their value is quantifiable and has been verified in multiple industries and uses.  Today, businesses are looking at reusable packaging as a solution to help them meet their sustainability objectives.

In recent history, many businesses have embraced ways to reduce primary, or end-user, packaging. By reducing the packaging that surrounds the product itself, companies have reduced the amount of energy and waste that is expended. In 2009, more companies will look to achieve similar savings in the packaging - like totes and pallets - that are used to move product from the manufacturer to the retailer.

“Many innovative companies, like John Deere, The Kroger Company and Pepsico, have already successfully implemented comprehensive reusable packaging systems. However, most businesses have been focused on primary packaging,” explained Klimko. “Today, businesses are more receptive than ever to reusable packaging systems as they look for new ways to reduce costs. To help them, the RPA will take the lead in demonstrating how these systems can quantifiably reduce costs throughout the supply chain while reducing a company’s environmental footprint through decreased energy consumption and the avoidance of solid waste.”

In 2009, the RPA will define and promote how reusable packaging systems can positively impact sustainability. It will provide businesses with examples, case studies, measurement tools, and resources to help them meet their sustainable packaging initiatives.

In addition, the RPA will continue to broaden its membership, adding more and more varied expertise to the association. During nearly a decade of existence, the association has grown significantly to include collaboration among all supply chain partners, including distributors and retailers, as well as educators and policymakers with a commitment to the value and message of re-use. This year, it will focus on bringing in other stakeholders including end users, government agencies, reusable packaging providers and suppliers, university leaders, and key environmental groups. Already this year, the RPA expanded the Board to include two additional Board seats.

“Many companies are struggling to truly understand, define, implement, and measure their sustainability objectives,” said Klimko. “The issues are exacerbated because there are many partners in a given supply chain, from suppliers to manufacturers to retailers. The RPA will be a leader in addressing these challenges by bringing together the collective expertise of all the players within the supply chain so that we can advance the entire industry. It is too difficult for a company to do this in isolation.”

The RPA is in the process of defining its complete list of initiatives for 2009. However, some of its initiatives currently under way include:

§         Publishing the results of the RPA RFID study that was started in 2007 and is entering its final stages of completion.

§         Creating a new End User Advisory group to help bring more packaging user perspectives to RPA programs and services.

§         Establishing a Public Policy subcommittee to serve as a focal point and clearinghouse for public policy issues impacting the reusable industry.

§         Seeking new working partnerships with municipalities, federal government agencies and other related trade groups to promote the use and understanding of reusable packaging and systems in commerce.

“The time is ripe for businesses to embrace the concept of reuse and to realize its potential to help them reach their sustainability objectives while strengthening their own companies through cost savings and improved efficiencies. Undoubtedly, the concept of reuse will be top of mind with businesses in 2009, and the RPA is prepared to provide the tools and strategies they will need to implement secondary reusable packaging systems.”

About the RPA

The Reusable Packaging Association (RPA) is collaborative effort between manufacturers, poolers, distributors, retailers and educators to promote the environmental, safety, and economic benefits of reusable packaging. The RPA serves as the collective voice of industry and uses its knowledge of the members’ products and services to advance the adoption of reusable packaging and systems throughout the supply chain.  The RPA is focused on promoting the expansion of reusables as the preferred packaging solution across supply chains in all industries. For more information, visit http://www.choosereusables.org or call +1 (703) 224-8284.