1. Packaging Materials Handling and Transportation Systems
Week 3
Packaging Materials
Handling and Transportation Systems

2. Required Readings for Week 3
Athalye article (see Campus Guide)
Week 3 Lecture Notes
Week 3 PowerPoint

3. Learning Objectives for Week 3
Examine various types of packaging materials.
Examine handling and transportation systems.

4. Assignments for Week 3
Week 3 Discussion forum: Discuss the use of pallets in a shipping system. What considerations must be taken when deciding whether or not a pallet is required for a specific shipment of boxes? What considerations must be made in determining the placement of boxes on the pallet and securing the boxes to the pallet?
Writing Assignment: Packaging Materials comparison - Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of a paper- based shipping container, a wood-based shipping container and a plastic-based shipping container for use as a distribution package (a non-retail shipping package). You must consider the entire supply chain in your response. Please see my slides later in this presentation that offer more explanation of this assignment.

5. Packaging Materials Paper-based packaging materials
Folding cartons
Paperboard cans
Corrugated Fiberboard boxes
Plastic packaging materials
Plastic Film
Plastic Bottles
Plastic Jars
Plastic Boxes
Plastic Trays
Plastic Tubs
Plastic Pallets
Plastic reusable totes

6. Packaging Materials (continued)
Steel Packaging
Cans
Metal Tubes
Metal Trays
Glass Packaging
Glass Bottles
Wood Packaging
Wood crates
Wood boxes
Wood pallets

7. Cushioning Materials Paper, Board, and Pulp Expanded Polystyrene
Commonly referred to as “Styrofoam”. Breaks apart easily.
Polyurethane Foam
Open-cell foam, same material that is used inside upholstered furniture.
Polyethylene
Example is molded white foam that is used for electronics (TV’s, etc…) that does not easily crumble or break apart.
Shredded Wood

8. Reusable Plastic Packaging
Many companies offer reusable plastic totes and reusable plastic pallets for distribution purposes.
This is a viable option in a closed-loop system where containers can be returned and reused.
This may not work well for companies who rely on common carrier trucks to deliver their product, they will have to pay to have the containers returned.
Plastic totes and pallets cost more up front than paper or wood-based packaging, but if they can be reused many times, the higher cost may be warranted.

9. Reusable plastic packaging

10. Reusable Plastic Packaging
Articles about reusable packaging:
Reusable_packaging_is_an_option_for_savvy_sustainability_strategies.php
=The-Pros-and-Cons-of-Reusable-Packaging---Plastics-Business
For more information about reusable packaging you can start with the following organizations:
Reusable Industrial Packaging Organization
Reusable Packaging Association

11. Week 3 Assignment
This week’s assignment asks you to compare several materials as distribution containers.
You should only be discussing distribution containers, not retail packaging.
Discuss all aspects of the supply chain. Some important considerations might include:
Manufacturing of packaging
Storage of packaging
Cost of packaging material
Weight of packaging in the shipping environment
Disposal of packaging
Reusable packaging (cost, feasibility, etc…)
Level of protection offered by packaging
Durability of packaging

12. Week 3 Assignment (continued)
The text is limited on information on the disadvantages of wood and plastic in the distribution environment. But you should be able to use common sense to determine some of the information (for example, which material weighs the most and will cost the most to ship?).
You should use outside sources if necessary. Be sure to properly cite and reference any outside sources used.
Remember that for wood, we are discussing packaging used in distribution including pallets and crates. Here is a good source of information on the advantages and disadvantages of wood crates:
Remember that when discussing plastics in the supply chain, we are not discussing retail packaging. Some examples of plastics used in distribution include plastic pallets and reusable plastic totes.

13. Week 3 Assignment (continued)
Be sure to use APA formatting on the paper and include an introduction and conclusion.
The school library has excellent resources on APA formatting. Please contact me if you have questions about APA formatting.

14. Additional Resources for Week 3
Barcode Registration and Barcode Standards
Flexible Packaging Association
Glass Packaging Institute
Paperboard Packaging Council
Petroleum Packaging Council