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April 15, 2023
Retail Sector Feels the Blow of EU Packaging Policies
Retail Sector Feels the Blow of EU Packaging Policies
The EU's single-use packaging ban continues to incite rapid change in various sectors. Retailers will be heavily impacted due to their extensive use of single use cardboard packaging for shipping and logistics purposes. While most of the media attention is focused on product and food packaging, the packaging and packaging waste regulation(PPWR) also addresses bulk packaging used for logistical applications such as shipping, transporting, and handling. Policies set by the commission would dictate that 10% of all goods shipped within the EU would have to be packaged in reusable containers by 2030, with 2040 percentage goals increasing to 50% for ecommerce, 30% for transport, and 25% for stock-keeping. Experts note that these new regulations will impact the entire retail sector. They also mention that the substitute packaging for cardboard is likely to be plastic crates and containers due to their durability and reusability. The transition from carboard to plastic will cause a surge in demand for reusable plastic packaging. Experts estimate that the ecommerce industry alone will be looking at an increase of 700 million plastic crates and containers by 2030. Packaging policies continue to spur rapid changes in every industry. Learn more here.
April 30, 2023
Industry 4.0 Will Revolutionize Packaging Line Operations
Industry 4.0 Will Revolutionize Packaging Line Operations
Industry 4.0 is known as the next revolutionary leap in industrial plant operations. This next revolutionary step could improve packaging operations significantly by reducing spoilage, waste, and lost production. The biggest losses in a production facility are due to unplanned plant shutdowns. During a plant shutdown a company losses serious production time which contributes to costs and loss of value; however, Packaging lines are a peculiar case since unexpected shutdowns can also lead to spoilage and increased waste which have an even more pronounced impact on a firm's bottom line. Therefore the key to increasing the value of a packaging line is to predict unexpected shutdowns before they happen so that personnel can quickly address the issue, rather than having an unexpected shutdown that lasts all night or all weekend when personal are unavailable. Kuka robotics has already demonstrated a practical solution to this issue which can be applied to packaging lines as well as other processes. Their invention is an algorithmic recommender system which takes into account all data produced by robots and equipment and accurately predict when a faulty robot or worn out tooling will cause a shutdown and give personnel recommendations to address the issue before it happens. Learn more here.
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