Top Benefits of Returnable Plastic Crates

In today’s world, most businesses are concerned about their total costs as well as their carbon footprint. Using returnable plastic crates that last for years not only helps them go green, but the benefits extend beyond the environmental advantages.

The market is abuzz with the trend of replacing expendable, single-use, and disposable crates with multi-use RTP (Returnable Transit Packaging) made of wood and plastic. More and more companies, especially in the food and farming industry, are using packaging which is 100% recyclable and reusable.

The agricultural industry is expected to provide lucrative opportunities with regard to rising demand for bulk packaging of horticultural products and fresh produce. The rising transport of poultry, meat, and seafood in developing nations is set to create much demand for RTP in developing countries.

RTP has the following benefits that make it highly functional and popular:

Financial benefits

When a company invests in returnable packaging, it can benefit businesses financially in the medium and long term, impacting the bottom-line favourably. Consider the example of a plastic pallet with medium-duty that can last 10 times as long as a single-use pallet. It can also generate revenue in a self-owned pallet pool. Pallets can be treated as assets and not as disposable tools.

Enhanced protection

An RTP is meant to be durable and robust to withstand repeated use. Thus, it lowers the risk of product damage in the transport process.

Hygiene

In the case of the pharmaceutical and food industry, it is vital to opt for plastic RTP that can be cleaned and washed easily. Some companies even offer pallets featuring sealed and smooth surfaces that can be used in clean rooms and hygienic applications.

Transport savings

RTP is typically designed to stack, nest, or fold down, reducing transport and storage space and related costs.

Reduced costs of labour

Single-use pallets demand more labour than RTP, all through the supply chain.

Low costs of disposal

Plastic RTP can be used many times. Costs of disposal are minimal with plastic pallets, returned and recycled for producing fresh and sustainable plastic pallets. In contrast, the process of disposal for single-use pallets is costlier because after one use, these are sent to the landfill or recycling plants.

Consistent

RTPs are associated with consistency with regard to automated scenarios of handling. The pallets made of plastic are moulded under high pressure in well polished moulds. This means they provide 100% consistency in strength and size, rendering them perfect for handling automated systems.

Tracking

RTP can be connected with several tracking devices like IoT sensors and RFID, such that clients can easily keep track of goods via the supply chain.

Bespoke solutions

An RTP can be flexible to the demands of clients for specific material handling needs. Many RTP companies provide bespoke solutions from pallet labelling to thermal and screen printing. They are also available in a choice of colours.

Environmental benefits

Plastic RTP features a low carbon footprint. Compared to single-use pallets that choke landfills, RTP can be used multiple times, saving money, effort, and pollution.

Freshness

Today’s customers are quality savvy and have several shopping options. They know what to look for, from the simplest items (tomatoes, lettuce) to exotic varieties (papaya, mango, avocado). They know how to select the best quality.

When food items are packed in RTP, they will remain fresher for a long time. Thus, a maximum amount of fresh produce can be sold.

Safe transport

Returnable plastic crates have well-ventilated walls and sides. Hence, fresh produce gains enough air to prevent the onset of mildew and mould. The smooth walls of the interior are best for preventing scratches on the surface of the most vulnerable products.

In sum, these are some of the benefits of using returnable plastic crates. RTPs can enhance profitability by prolonging the shelf life of fresh produce and reduce the total quantum of damaged products.