Pelican™ Repeat-Use Packaging Makes the Supply Chain Green

Published August 22, 2007


Torrance, CA -

Corporate America is going green and it’s already having a positive effect on environmentally sustainable business practices. Those efforts are being passed along to the general consumer with the development of technologies such as hydrogen fuel vehicles, the increased interest in large-scale recycling, and the mainstream growth of “green” buildings.

Now Corporate America’s green ways are reaching all the way into the supply chain.

Pelican™ Products, renowned for their development and manufacturing of indestructible Protector™ Cases, is seeking to make the traditional Supply Chain process greener by changing the way electronics and sensitive equipment is shipped. They are doing this by providing companies with Repeat Use Packaging – a more effective shipping solution which has less impact on the environment while saving money and better protecting merchandise.

Product shipping materials contribute a significant portion of packaging waste globally each year. In the United States alone, corrugated fiberboard – the most prevalent packaging material – makes up more than 24 million tons of waste. According to a study done by the University of Nevada, much of the $15 billion worth of fiberboard sold in the U.S. is used in shipping, which has become a multi-billion dollar industry. For some companies, the internal shipping process alone – returning items to stock and shipping returned products – can amount to a million-dollar process with far-reaching impacts.

A recent study showed that a mere five pounds of waste was generated by 250 shipments inside a repeat use Pelican Protector™ Case (two cubic feet).  This was in stark contrast to the 375 pounds of waste generated by the equivalent amount of cardboard boxes necessary for the same number of shipments.

“Shipping is a billion-dollar industry that is having a greater impact on the environment each year,” said Pelican CEO Lyndon Faulkner. “Our company’s expertise in the development of high-quality, durable cases gives us the opportunity to provide companies with permanent shipping solutions and numerous benefits over traditional expendable cardboard containers.”

This is especially important with the constant growth of the technology industry, as items like computer equipment are packaged in materials that typically cannot be reused, separated, or recycled. Multiple-material packaging impedes recycling and some materials, such as polystyrene, are generally made without recycled content and may be non-recyclable. As a result, disposal of this packaging is costly and further taxes the landfill system.

In 2006, Pelican Products was able to develop shipping solutions for leading Fortune 500 technology manufacturers which suffered from many of their returns sustaining damages in-transit, resulting in increased repair costs and down time. Pelican provided themwith customized repeat use packaging solutions that better protected product and was reusable for a nearly endless amount of trips, eliminating the cost associated with replacing expensive short-term shipping materials.

The benefits of a more permanent shipping solution were immediate. Environmental impacts were reduced; cost savings were realized in a short period of time and continue to grow over the life of usage; and significantly fewer damaged goods has meant superior product presentation to the customer and reduced repair costs.

“By taking this permanent packaging model and replicating it across various industries, you realize the magnitude of difference this could make,” said Faulkner.

Pelican cases are different in that they use an open cell-core; solid wall construction for durability; a watertight seal for protection against liquids and dust; as well as an automatic pressure equalization valve to protect the contents during air or high-altitude shipping. This superior packaging technology means that it withstands countless shipments and products are less likely to be damaged in the shipping process. Additionally, reusable containers result in the cost-per-trip quickly becoming less expensive than expendable packaging. High disposal fees incurred by expendable packaging are virtually eliminated. Companies not only save money by not having to replace expendable packaging, but also reduce non-value added labor costs, as there is no longer a need to set up and break down packaging.


About Pelican Products

Pelican Products, Inc. is the global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance protective cases, temperature-controlled packaging solutions, advanced portable lighting systems and rugged gear for professionals and outdoor enthusiasts. Their products are used by professionals in the most demanding markets including fire safety, law enforcement, defense / military, aerospace, life sciences, industrial, entertainment, and in numerous outdoor markets. Pelican™ products are designed and built to last a lifetime. The company operates in 27 countries, with 23 international sales offices and eleven manufacturing facilities around the globe. In Europe, the company does business under the name Peli Products, S.LU. and the division which manufactures temperature-controlled packaging for the healthcare industry, does business worldwide under the brand Peli BioThermal. For more information, visit www.pelican.com.

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