Recycling, Reverse Logistics and?..Candy

The candy box is a container for all your favourite chew bars, gum and all your other favourite candy. A must-have for all kids and a great fashion accessory! The marketers are desperate for kids to user their box - so much so that they will soon be giving them away!

There will be more about this new development later in this article, but before we get there, please consider HOW we get there:

Pressure to Recycle

The pressure for us to recycle and reuse goods has been steadily building these past few years and shows no sign of abating. Producers can no longer simply place goods on the market and then forget about them.

In many parts of the world, legislation is being introduced that will obligate producers and users to reduce packaging waste.

If companies are to comply with these rules and remain efficient and competitive, they must seriously and actively consider Reverse Logistics. In other words, as well as sending materials to customers they will need to take some of them back, even some waste materials.

What a Waste...

Whether you agree with this approach or not, this is the way that the world is heading. So, if you can't fight it, why not embrace it? Get the most from these changes.

Take Reusable Transit Packaging. "What is that?" I hear you ask. Well, take baked beans as an example. The beans are carried in Primary Packaging - the tin can. The tin cans arrive at a store in a box - this is secondary packaging, but can also be termed Transit Packaging as it is the main unit handled by the warehouses and trucks. At least that is how things used to be. Nowadays there is a tertiary level and that is the pallet on which the boxes are carried - this is also transit packaging. Just go back to the box that the tins are carried in. Is it logical that the producers continuously purchase corrugated boxes and shops throw them away?

This is not just a waste of the earth's finite resources - it is also a waste of money for everyone apart from the box producer.
RTP is typically a container that is filled with products and once emptied at a store, is sent back again to be re-filled.

Now, packaging may not be the most exciting thing to ponder over, but just imagine what kinds of packaging could be reused. In fact, think of any packaging item, box, bag, bottle etc. Is there any that cannot be reused?

The box your PC came in? Yes! If you took the box and any filling back to the store, they could send it back, using Reverse Distribution, so that it gets back to the point where new PCs are packed into it.

Plastic Detergent bottles? Yes! They can be refilled. There may need to be some changes in the materials used, but in principle, this can be done.

Containers for Drugs? In many countries, the medical services offer to take back unwanted drugs. It is surely conceivable that the packaging could be returned for reuse.

Bottles? Well a few years ago, it was common for us to re-use milk bottles - in fact we still do in many places. In fact, many bottles, used for all sorts of products, used to be returned regularly. It was done, is still done in some places, and can be done in the future.

Jars and pots? Take them back to the shop - reverse distribution again. Yes, many will need to be sterilised and we may need to revert to glass instead of plastic in some instances - but it can be done.

What about that Candy?

Those that skipped from the top paragraph to this one have missed all the fun! We are talking about reusing packaging or even doing away with it. So how can this be done with smaller items? There is no doubt that it would not be possible to reuse smaller varieties of packaging such as candy wrappers where there is only a small amount of flimsy packaging.

But why, if the packaging is so small or flimsy, do we need packaging at all? I'll play devil's advocate here: we need packaging on these items to i) reduce damage and ii) help the customer and retailer identify the brand, iii) improve the presentation of the product. I'll agree (with myself) that packaging helps contain a product, and thus - even flimsy packaging - can prevent damage. I am not convinced about the other two arguments. Products can be marketed in a variety of ways. The images on the wrapper are only one of many outlets for the marketing message; and presentation - what better presentation than to see the product itself, rather than an image of the wrapper?

So how would the customer get these naked products from the store to their home? Well, why not have a little box for these items? Rather than take the empty used pack to the store for the producers to re-use why not let the customer reuse their own box? This could be their own personalised container? Why not a pasta box, a cheese box and ..... a candy box of course.

OK, so the candy box does not exist. However, if it did, just think of the benefits:

i) Zero packaging means lower costs for the producer. They would pack these items loose into reusable transit packaging to the store

ii) The store could sell or even give away their own candy boxes branded with their logo, or a candy producer could do the same

iii) The candy boxes could be used as a de facto redemption voucher as an encouragement for the customer to return to the same store

iv) Of course, the first company to do this will have a wonderful PR coup.

v) Less trash to be collected, less street litter and a better environment

The best people to help get this idea off of the ground will be kids who simply love new ideas and novelties and are not daunted by change - so, bring on the candy box and next time you throw a candy wrapper away, just think of the alternative.

Vernon Stent is the author of "Waste Watchers" and an authority on Global Reusable Transit Packaging and Reverse Logistics. He is an Environmental Packaging Consultant for many companies, such as Fly Killers specialists Arkay Hygiene.

---

The Professor Makes A Minus Power Move

If you think the power move has costs, consider the alternative. We are talking -- four friends -- bringing one another up to date on our personal... Read More

The Dark Side of Help Desk SLAs

You just signed a Help Desk Service Level Agreement (SLA) and now think things will get easier. However, you may soon be falling into one of these... Read More

10 Steps Towards A Stress-Free Introduction Into Management

Becoming a manager for the first time can be an unnerving and sometimes stressful experience. In many cases, organisations expect you to immediately jump into the role... Read More

How To Decrease Profits Without Really Trying

Hurting your sales efforts can be accomplished easily with the proper guidance. The following effective yet simple ideas are designed to generate results when implemented into your... Read More

A Leadership Lesson: Two Guys With Guns

PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in newsletters and on web sites provided attribution is provided to the author, and it appears with the included... Read More

Reducing the High Cost of Absenteeism

Employers pay a high price for absenteeism, often more than they may realize, in terms of both financial and production losses and employee morale. Managers may view... Read More

Safety Policy Sample Outline

Writing a safety manual is a tough job and most larger corporations outsource such jobs or they have someone on staff with the proper credentials in risk... Read More

Office Politics

Office politics! It's just another way of saying: "The employees are not getting along!"When so much of a company's success depends on the employees' ability to work... Read More

Maximizing Sales through the Ultimate Tracking Software

Every small to mid-sized business owner would love to know how to effectively keep a pulse on their marketing and customer service efforts. The common barrier that... Read More

Eight Skills of Highly Successful Consultants

With deference to Dr. Covey and his very popular Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (all habits that will make us better consultants!), here are eight skills... Read More

Smart Staffing: Replacing a Key Manager

Have you been in this situation? One of your top managers left suddenly and you're under the gun to replace her quickly. So you promoted her assistant.... Read More

Intercultural Management

The role of a manager is evolving in response to the needs of companies operating on the international stage. The complexities of globalisation brought to the area... Read More

How to use NLP for Business?

What is Neuro-Linguistic Programming?Neuro-Linguistic programme is nothing but the study of human excellence. It is an art. It teaches you to be at the very best. It... Read More

Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Creating a Culture of Empowerment

This article relates to the Culture & Climate competency, commonly evaluated in employee satisfaction surveys. AlphaMeasure defines climate as the effect an organization has on the employees,... Read More

The Challenges of Human Resource Management

IntroductionThe role of the Human Resource Manager is evolving with the change in competitive market environment and the realization that Human Resource Management must play a more... Read More

The Truth About Performance Reviews

Now that it is January, many of you are putting together, or have just finished putting together your annual Performance Appraisals for your staff. Feedback on performance... Read More

The Fairness of Office Politics... Integrity and Political Motivation!

I hear many complaints daily about the "unfairness" of politics in corporate America. Employees say that their managers "lie" or issue "personal attacks" against them. Indeed, based... Read More

Problem Solving the Problem Solving Meeting

We go to meetings to share information, to report on project status, to make decisions, to get the free lunch, and because we were invited. (Sorry that... Read More

Managing People - Why Is It So Difficult?

Managing, supervising, being a team leader is the hardest job in the world and I'll tell you why. Imagine what it's like to drive a car. You... Read More

Ten Business Reasons Why Asking for Help Works

In fact, bringing your people - any of them - into your confidence and asking for help, is a very powerful tool indeed. The form of words'... Read More

Stomp Out Leeches In Your Company

Recently, I felt appalled to see a political candidate running on the motto of "Demand More!" That motto oozes extreme nerve, and implies some people think it... Read More

Saying One Thing, Doing Another...

This week I was asked to speak at an internal conference for a bank. The subject was how to build a great customer experience. However, the reality... Read More

Coaching Can Get The Boss In Shape

Who tells the boss that they can improve their management or leadership? How do they look at themselves objectively and identify what areas they can improve and... Read More

Re-Discovery Procedures for Building Effective Management Systems: Phase V

Now we turn the corner to our final phase: Re-Discovery.Last year marked the 200th anniversary of the expedition of Lewis & Clark, and much has been written... Read More

Workplace Security Plan: Does Your Company Have One?

Consultant's Perspective...The threat of violence whether it emanates from a disgruntled employee or the threat of terrorism require both a concerted and an individual response. Terrorism in... Read More

Lets Flourish and Prosper!

Some say that in business as in sex: if it is good, it's great and if it is bad it's still pretty good. This does not happen... Read More