An Easy Way of Moving to Returnable Containers

Sooner than later, your largest clients will ask you if you use returnable containers. Why? Because their commitment to reducing Scope 3 emissions includes evaluating their vendors’ emissions reduction practices.

If you’re not already using returnable containers, you may be behind the starting line if you’re instructed to make the switch.

What are Scope 3 emissions?

The GHG Protocol Corporate Standard classifies a company’s GHG emissions into three scopes:

Scope 1 emissions are “direct emissions from owned or controlled sources,” which is to say the emissions you create yourself as a function of doing business.

Scope 2 emissions are “indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy,” referring to the emissions created in the production of the energy you use.

Scope 3 emissions are more nebulous. They’re defined as “all the indirect emissions (not included in scope 2) that occur in the value chain of the reporting company, both upstream and downstream.” In short, it’s the collective emissions practices of all the vendors you choose to work with.

This means your approach to emissions reduction affects your customers’ Scope 3 emissions reduction scores. Your approach can inform what they can and cannot publish in their annual reports. And it could stall their progress moving up the sustainability ladder.  

How do returnable containers and packaging reduce Scope 3 emissions?

A few ways, according to Reusable Packaging Association:

• Reduces solid waste by 86% — Returnable containers keep hundreds of single-use containers items out of the landfill.
• Reduces CO2 emissions by up to 60% —More returnable containers used means fewer single use containers going through the recycling/remanufacturing process.
• Reduces manufacturing energy by 64% —Far less resources are required to produce returnable containers.
• Reduces water usage by 80% — Even with regular cleaning of returnable containers, single-use containers systems still use far more water during their lifecycle due to production, recycling, and disposal.

So, when your customers come to inquire about your sustainable packaging, they’ll have a few good reasons to strongly suggest you make the move to returnable containers, if you haven’t done it yet.

What’s involved in making a move to returnable containers?

First you’d have to buy all the returnable containers. While certainly a sizable up-front expense, risking a derailment of your customer’s sustainability goals won’t pay off in the long run. But the long-term revenue earned by helping to elevate your customers’ Scope 3 emissions will pay the expenditure off over time.

Next is setting up stations in your facility for sanitizing, inspection, collection and warehousing. This probably means retrofitting a sizeable area of square footage rather than building new space. But it also means deciding what to pull off the floor. 

Then, there’s an investment in tracking software to keep tabs on your containers because (a) you’ll want to know where your containers are, and (b) part of your customers’ Scope 3 reporting will include demonstrating your effectiveness in reducing emissions.

The three preceding steps are the basics. You can’t consider moving to returnable containers without having the containers, a place to store them, wash them and track them.

Now come the decisions:

• How much extra can you invest in better equipment for cleaning and sanitizing, and would the bump be worth it to avoid the fallout from moving product to market in unsanitary containers.
• Are you prepared to cut floors, install drainage for solids and oil catchment? Does some underground work need to be done?
• How will you train and monitor staff to make sure the SOP is being followed and the software is being used. And where will that staff come from?
• Which of the many chemical suppliers and post-wash testing processes will you build into your SOP? How will you weigh the pros and cons of each option? 

As you can see, making the move to returnable containers is a big deal.

But it doesn’t have to be.

Make the move to returnable containers with one phone call.

Container Pros exists because businesses like yours are intimidated by what’s entailed in moving to returnable containers. We’ve already done all the up-front work mentioned above, which is why one phone call is all it takes. We have

• cleaning, repairing and sanitizing stations in our facility
• all the container storage you’d ever need
• comprehensive inspection processes
• the logistics capabilities to get your containers where they need to be, when they need to be there, and in in a state of readiness.
• a reverse logistics recycling program that takes empty packaging and pallets along with your empty containers onto the same truck. The program can also include a drop trailer service, closed-loop plastics recycling, recycling revenue sharing and a wood pallet rebate program.

You’re not spending money on equipment you don’t know how to use. You’re not reconfiguring your production floor. You’re not expending resources on the start-up costs involved to launch this type of undertaking. And you’re not buying new single-use containers anymore.

You’re doing your thing.

A Container Pro is doing your container thing.

And when your customer wants to know how you’re improving their Scope 3 emissions scores, you can show them you’re ahead of the game.

Speak with a Container Pro now.