Paper or plastic?? These days, answering that question in any store will cost you 10 cents. In the world of boxes, answering that same question could cost you 7-10 times more depending on the material you choose. As paper boxes (and their competitive prices) are almost ubiquitous today, people are shocked when they see pricing for the same box in corrugated plastic. 7-10 times more!?!? WHAT THE HECK!
The fact is, in most applications corrugated paper works great. It’s available in thicknesses ranging from E flute (.07”) all the way up to Game of Thrones Ice wall thick. With the many coating options available, it has become a very diverse material.
I know what you’re thinking… Why are you singing corrugated papers praises…? Don’t you guys convert corrugated plastic? WE DOOOO! However, we can’t be honest without acknowledging corrugated papers place in the world.
Corrugated plastic has a place as well… though it’s a little more niche. It’s exemplary when durability, longevity, cleanliness, temperature swings or solvents and liquid exposure is a concern.
For example, the United States Postal Service uses corrugated plastic bins and mail totes because of the long-term durability. In the 90’s, Dole foods switched to corrugated plastic asparagus boxes to address recycling concerns surrouding wax coated corrugated. 20 years later, they realize that they handle the cold storage better than the original boxes. REAL D went with corrugated plastic collection bins for their 3D glasses since paper corrugated (even coated) couldn’t stand up to daily abuse in movie theaters.
Today, thousands of different products including medical vials and components, ESD sensitive electronic components, automotive parts, and products that require cold storage (medical and food), are all stored, shipped, and handled using corrugated plastic. Guess it’s a pretty big niche!
Now hold on a minute… What about the 7-10 times cost increase over paper? Well that’s an interesting one… Washington State Liquor Control Board had that same issue. When they started monitoring the tote usage, they stopped counting at 40 times the use of the previously purchased heavy duty, solid fiber totes. Quite possibly the implementing of corrugated plastic totes for USPS and WSLCB could be the only government programs that actually saved money over the life of the project. When you do the math, a reusable/returnable container costing 10 times its standard corrugated competition, lasting 40 times longer is actually a 75% reduction in actual cost. A 75% reduction in cost is something you can get a raise for! Of course, it must be a reusable, returnable application, otherwise it is just expensive packaging. How do you like them apples… or asparagus??
The three R’s… We all know them… REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE
This little jingle got its start sometime in the raging 70’s (wasn’t born then so I’m not speaking from experience). Many credit U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin for kickstarting this environmental movement that eventually birthed the EPA and subsequently the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976.
As the hangover from the 70’s wore off, America has been increasingly more conscious about what it’s using and how much it’s using. So much so, that those of us lucky enough to find ourselves in the People’s Republic of California have been relegated to paper straws that disintegrate as you use them! Given that there’s still an estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic thrown into the ocean on any given year, I think a normal person would agree that the three R’s are important to practice.But…
What if there’s an even better way…
Let me introduce the SIX R’s… REDUCE, REUSE, REUSE, REUSE, REUSE, RECYCLE.
My Grandpa used to tell me, ‘if three is good, six is better…’
Now, I know what you’re thinking… I’m mocking our local turtles for having straw issues… BUT, that’s not the case! At Kiva Container we have worked hard for the last 30+ years to create durable, functional, bespoke plastic packaging that absolutely can be and should be reused not once, not twice, but over and over again! Heck, we’ve got customers that are using the same product handling bins from nearly 20 years ago, you want to talk about multiple R’s! Much to the detriment of our bottom line, they’re not looking at replacing them anytime soon!
There are many ways to be conscious about your footprint on the earth, some people point to electric cars, some people point to metal or glass containers, some even point to wind and solar. We think one huge way is to buy quality products and use, reuse, reuse and reuse them. Don’t buy a new cheap trendy briefcase every two to three years, buy a quality, timeless one once, and be done. Same thing with shoes, wallets, cars, and jeans. Same can be said for material handling totes, bins, and packaging. And for that which you can’t reuse, make it out of something easy to recycle like PET, HDPE or PP. Or even better, make it out of RPET which has already been recycled at least once!! That way you’re still in the reuse stage!
Give us a call and let us help you design packaging that is reusable, returnable and ultimately sustainable. Because in the end with that kind of goal, we all win!
Take the opportunity to invest in your business by reducing costs over the life of your products with reusable/returnable plastic packaging.
Custom packaging and dunnage reduce product damage in three main ways:
Maximizes safe storage and shipping space in warehouses, decreasing overall handling.
Helps reduce inventory shrinkage, improves cleanliness, reduces losses from product handling and shipping damage.
Custom formed dunnage can take up to 70% less space in your warehouse compared to typical foam dunnage while exceeding product protection in shipping and handling.
Returnable plastic packaging increases profit by reducing the per/trip cost of packaging for those systems that can return the packaging back to the original source.
If the final stop for your product packaging is a landfill, you are losing money. Kiva designs plastic packaging specific to your product. We can utilize stock totes with custom dunnage or custom totes and dunnage. Many times, the best options is a combination of totes and formed parts, capitalizing on the benefits of multiple substrates, Kiva is the only manufacturer that handles multiple substrates – IN HOUSE!
Do your parts and supplies have all the right packages? Are your storage and shipping containers part of your Lean supply chain and ERP solutions?
Or, are you experiencing errors and reduced efficiency because you’re not using optimal storage solutions? Could new containers for shipping, storage, and parts transfer solve some of these problems? Kiva Container understands your challenges and needs. We’ve designed solutions for nearly every phase of the aerospace supply chain from manufacturing to distribution for over 25 years.
We’ll be glad to work with you to create reusable plastic solutions for your ever-evolving and changing needs, including:
Work in process storage
Inbound part containers
Outbound part containers
Device storage
Finished product storage
Delivery packaging
We hope we’re contacting you “just in time” to meet your needs for storage solutions and packaging that will significantly speed up and smooth out your supply chain.
If you’ve ever lost parts because of poor packaging — and if you’ve been thinking of ways to improve your efficiency and organization — Kiva Container has the experience you need. We can also partner with you as you plan and provide container and packaging solutions for upcoming and emerging projects and design changes.
Kiva Container has the expertise and skill to meet your needs for packaging and containers, from the smallest parts and sensitive electronics and display screens to large, bulky item packaging.
Contact us today to discuss your recycled plastic supply chain packaging and storage needs.
What does your business need to make and test? Kiva Container is a leader in Design-2-Part services. You can take your drawings and concept sketches to prototypes and samples that you can evaluate, measure, touch, and hold.
Kiva Container offers the following services for Design-2-Part that can support your parts in the development process:
Dynamic CNC milling
Urethane casting
CNC routing and finishing
Make samples as you need them or do first article production parts. Use Kiva Container’s resources and expertise to identify and mitigate any potential issues in production or performance and design.
Whether you’re developing and testing parts in the aerospace industry, working with prototyping for aerospace/defense, or are part of the automotive industry, Kiva Container’s services and experience will support your design, protype, and sample program.
Test your materials and validate your designs in an efficient, flexible, and affordable way. Kiva Container has served many manufacturers in the design, prototype, and testing process in aerospace, defense, and automotive industries. Whether you are still in the concept phase or are farther along in your development process, Kiva Container can help you to take your vision into production and reality.
From large bulk storage to handheld totes, reusable plastic packaging and storing is a great choice for your automotive business, parts business, or industrial plant.
What are some of the benefits of reusable plastic packaging in your operation?
Better access to parts at workstations
Reduced travel time in warehouses and work areas
Reduced loss due to damage
Maximized storage space and efficiency
Here are a few other benefits you may not have thought of, including safety and risk management. Reusable plastic packaging not only reduces damage to inventory and supplies, it also reduces the chance of workplace injuries or mishaps. Efficient stacking and storage methods using containers that are designed for your needs that also reduce weight on pallets.
Reusable packaging can be an optimal purchase:
According to a 2019 study published in the journal of sustainability, industrial and systems engineers studied the benefits of reusable packaging for the automotive industry, concluding that they ultimately saved money and preserved the environment for short term, longer term, or permanent use. Customized packaging did save time and money on assembly lines, and according to the study authors, could be an “optimal” purchase decision. For cost and environmental benefits, GM, Hyundai, Chrysler, and Ford all use returnable, reusable plastic packaging.
Reusable plastic packaging for your business is a smart, sustainable idea that works financially and environmentally.
Whether at home or in your business, you’re probably thinking about cleaning up, organizing, and optimizing your space and products or supplies. Spring cleaning time is nearly here.
So, how can you clean up, organize, and still be environmentally friendly?
Reusable plastic packaging is one great way to get your spring cleaning and organizing done on time and with the good results you want for your business finances and management.
According to the EPA’s blog, businesses should “reuse whenever possible.” The World Economic Forum recommends increasing reusable packaging as an environmentally sound solution.
If your warehouse is using single-use plastic packaging or your logistics department has disposable plastic containers or packaging, spring is the perfect time to consider making a change.
Not only can you recycle single-use containers and packaging, you can optimize your space and rethink your shipping and storage solutions. In any location in your business, you can create a cleaner, neater, more organized environment with durable, clean, and neat reusable plastic packaging and containers.
While you’re doing spring cleaning, you may have a lot of waste you must dispose of. There’s no getting around that, but if you find a lot of single-use plastic containers or shipping and packing solutions, why not set yourself up for a sustainable year to come with reusable plastic packaging?
Next spring, you’ll find your cleaning will go much more quickly and easily. You’ll save money over time without the need to purchase disposable packaging, too. Keeping your business tidy and the environment clean is much easier with reusable plastic packaging. So give us a call at Kiva Container and make this spring cleaning the best for your business.
Have you heard how plastic is terrible for the environment? Single-use, disposable plastics aren’t green at all. Certain plastics can take up to 1,000 years to decompose. Throwing them away and burying them in a landfill almost guarantees disposable plastics will last ten or more lifetimes.
According to National Geographic, 91% of the plastic we put in the recycling bin doesn’t get recycled. Some of it is shipped overseas, and a lot of it ends up in the ocean.
What’s the solution? Don’t use disposable plastic. If you use plastic, it should be reusable. The durable qualities of plastic make it a poor choice for disposable packaging and an excellent choice for reusable packaging.
Reusable plastic packaging could be one of the greenest packaging solutions out there. Plastic’s toughness and durability makes it an excellent choice for reusable packaging.
Reusable plastic packaging is also designed to be fully recyclable when it’s time to be retired. Over 90% of single-use plastics aren’t effectively recyclable — the main reason why they aren’t recycled.
Taking advantage of plastic’s toughness and using it to benefit your business packaging needs could be one of the greenest and best financial decisions you make.
We’re sure you’ve heard the saying, “In order to love someone else, you have to love yourself first.”
You probably haven’t thought about your business the same way, but you can show your business some love through the benefits of reusable plastic packaging.
Reusable plastic packaging can show your business love in three different ways: bottom-line lower costs, environmental benefits (yes, really!), and corporate social responsibility.
You can cut your packaging, shipping, and storage budget by using reusable plastic packaging: Kiva Container is glad to work with you to show you how much you could potentially save.
Your business can also show some love to the environment with reusable plastic packaging. If you’re thinking that plastic can’t be environmentally friendly, you’re probably thinking of disposable plastics, like shopping bags and plastic straws. Durable, reusable plastic packaging from Kiva Container can be very environmentally friendly, and superior to disposable packaging.
The more people learn about the benefits of reusable plastic packaging, the more recognition it gets as a socially and environmentally responsible packaging solution. When you’re re-using plastic packaging, you’re not disposing of anything at all. And, when it comes time to retire your reusable packaging, your overall carbon footprint will be much lower than if you used any single-use packaging solution, including biodegradable, disposable ones.
Isn’t true love all about putting your loved ones first and doing what’s best for them? Why not love your business by using reusable plastic packaging?
