Automated, Right‑sized Packaging
Article from MHI Solutions Magazine
Driven by continued growth in e‑commerce, U.S. parcel shipping volumes grew to 21.7 billion in 2023, according to Pitney Bowes’ most recent annual Parcel Shipping Index. The report, issued in April 2024, predicted continued growth reaching 28.3 billion by 2028. Its authors cite resilient spending by consumers across all categories—including business‑to‑consumer and business‑to‑business online retailers—and high demand for smaller, lightweight, affordable goods that match buyers’ desires to keep up with fast‑moving trends.
The upshot? More packaging will also be making its way to e‑commerce shoppers’ doorsteps. Not all of that packaging is environmentally friendly, however.
Sometimes the packaging—particularly pre‑sized corrugated boxes—is too big for the contents. That creates empty spaces within the carton that require void fill, such as kraft paper or plastic air pillows, to prevent items inside from shifting in transit. Without the fill, contents could be damaged, resulting in both product waste and a second round of carbon dioxide emissions from return transit…
