Searching for efficient ways to minimize supply chain expenses without compromising quality or customer satisfaction? One of the best and most affordable options is to convert to lightweight plastic bottles and flexible pouch packaging. Regardless of whether you’re hauling liquid or powder-filled plastic pill bottles, flexible pouch packaging is lightweight and can aid in reducing your freight costs, improving warehouse efficiency, and lessening product damage.
Let’s take a look at why lightweight packaging is becoming a necessary item, and how it can generate real savings throughout your supply chain.
Why Do Lightweight Packages Pay Off?
Shipping and material costs are expected to increase globally, and a significant portion of your overall cost is attributed to packaging. By utilizing lightweight packaging, brands will be able to benefit financially at each stage of the supply chain process, from manufacturing all the way through last-mile deliveries, due to the reduced weight and volume of their packages.
1. Decreased Freight Expenses
Shipping companies charge based on weight and volume. Lightweight plastic bottles and flexible pouches greatly decrease the following freight costs: Fuel consumption, Dimensional Weight (DIM) fees, and per-unit logistics charges. Even a little bit less weight can provide incredible annual savings for companies shipping in bulk quantities of liquid or plastic pill bottles.
2. Reduced Warehouse and Storage Costs
Flexible pouches are shipped flat; meanwhile, lightweight plastic bottles are stacked. Therefore, lightweight packaging allows for larger quantities of product to be stored in smaller spaces, leading to:
- Store multiple units on every pallet
- Reduce warehouse space
- Reduce the cost of handling labor
- Improve the management of stock
Utilize space better – lower operational costs.
3. Decrease Material Costs
All flexible films, HDPE & PET require lesser amounts of raw materials than Heavy glass or metal; thus:
- Cheaper to produce
- Lower inbound freight costs
- Faster lead time for production
Efficiency and lower cost.
Efficiency of Lightweight Plastic Bottles
Lightweight PET & HDPE Bottles have become more popular for nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, skin care & other products.
What Makes Plastic Pill Bottles Such an Added Value
Plastic pill bottles provide valuable advantages to the supply chain, including:
- High impact resistance minimizes loss of products
- Lightweight construction reduces freight costs
- Compatible with automated filling lines
- Customizable in shape, size & color
- Manufactured from low-cost materials
Brands shipping millions of units have saved thousands by using lighter-weight bottle designs.
Why Flexible Pouch Packaging Has Changed Everything
Flexible packages in permeate form- Stand-Up, Spouted, Zipper, & Refill Pouches- have become one of the fastest-growing packaging formats due to their efficiency & convenience.
How Does Using Pouch Packaging Decrease Costs?
Freight Costs Are Lowered Because Of The Weight Of Pouches
Pouches can be up to 95% lighter than rigid containers holding the same volume. That is a win on freight savings.
Pouches Require Less Floor Space to Store
The reduced costs associated with shipping flat (inbound freight, warehouse storage, and pallet usage) can have a dramatic impact on high-volume brands’ financials.
Reduced Use of Materials
Flexible pouches use only the film needed for packaging, avoiding bulky walls, metal lids, and thick glass. The reduction in materials used results in:
- Reduced manufacturing costs
- Reduced carbon footprint
- Reduced time to produce products
Convenience to Customers
A significant benefit of flexible pouches is that consumers prefer to have lightweight, resealable, and portable packaging options. Flexible pouches provide all of these advantages while keeping manufacturing costs low.
The Hidden Cost Reduction is Damage and Returns
Silent killers within the supply chain are broken and dented packaging. A poor packaging solution leads to:
- Loss of product
- Return shipping costs
- Bad customer experience
- Replacement cost
By utilizing lightweight plastic bottles and flexible pouches, the likelihood of damage and product return rate is reduced significantly. In addition, pouches cannot be broken, and new forms of PET packaging withstand much greater abuse than glass does.
“When packaging is lighter, stronger, and more compact, it makes sense to minimize costs associated with every step within your supply chain.”
Lightweight Packaging Supports Environmental Programs
Environmentally-friendly packaging does not have to be expensive; both lightweight plastic bottles and flexible pouches minimize:
- Transportation carbon emissions
- Usage of raw materials
- Waste associated with the production of goods
- Energy utilized for storage and shipment
As environmental consciousness continues to grow, it is becoming increasingly important in consumers’ decision-making processes to use lightweight packaging to support them.
How to Choose the Right Packaging for Your Product
The way you package your product is as important as the product itself! To help you get started, here are some things to think about:
- What type of product will you be selling? Are you selling a liquid, powder, capsule, or gel?
- What barriers does your product need for maximum protection? Do you require moisture, ultraviolet rays, oxygen, or even all three?
- How do you want to brand your product? Do you want a large area for printing? Do you need your product to look more attractive on a shelf?
- Where is the end destination of your product? Will it be shipped domestically or internationally?
- Are there any regulations that govern your product? Most importantly, are there regulations governing your product if it’s food, pharmaceutical, or dietary supplements?
Both options will provide significant savings; choosing the correct packaging option will ultimately depend on your product’s specifications.
Conclusion
When it comes to the choice of packaging, lightweight plastic bottles and flexible pouches are not only an improvement over older styles of packaging but also an excellent way to save money on your shipping costs! They all provide a substantial reduction in shipping costs and make warehouse operations more efficient. They help reduce the potential for getting damaged during shipping, as well as being environmentally friendly.
Lightweight options provide a simple and affordable means to streamline your supply chain, whether you choose to continue using Plastic Pill Bottles or transition to a Flexible Plastic Pouch.
If you’re looking for flexible plastic packaging solutions, as well as custom plastic bottles, contact Yiruixing Packaging for all your packaging needs.
FAQs
What benefits does lightweight packaging provide in transporting products through the supply chain?
Lightweight packaging reduces the total weight of your shipment and reduces the amount of warehouse space needed to store your product.
Can flexible pouches withstand the rigors of transit?
Flexible pouches are manufactured using multi-layer barrier films that resist tearing, puncturing, and leaking during shipment.
Are plastic pill bottles customizable?
Absolutely. Child-resistant caps, unique colors, shapes, and branding requirements can all be designed into flexible plastic pouches.
Do flexible plastic pouches provide an environmentally friendly alternative?
Because flexible plastic pouches have a much lower weight than rigid containers, they require far less material and therefore create far less transportation emissions, thus being more eco-efficient than most rigid containers.
Is switching to lightweight packaging expensive?
While some initial investment may differ, most companies can recover these costs quickly through decreased logistics, storage, and material costs.
