Give your cosmetics and pharmaceutical supply chains a facelift with returnable transit packaging

Around the world, more and more businesses are recognising the value of plastic returnable transit packaging (RTP) to meet their logistics needs. In the fast-paced, highly-regulated world of cosmetics and pharma, supply chains must be flexible, agile, and efficient so that products can hit the right distribution channels at the right time.

While single-use packaging like corrugated cardboard is a common sight in logistics, it is often far from the best solution. In contrast, plastic RTP can deliver for your business repeatedly by offering better protection, requiring less time to assemble and dispose of, and working out cheaper over its lifespan.

In a world where businesses are encouraged to think carefully about their impact on the environment, at first glance, plastic might not seem like the obvious option for packaging. However, the savings soon add up when plastic packaging is designed to be reused multiple times rather than discarded after a single use.

Purchased individually, units of single-use packaging may be cheaper than RTP – but the continual purchase of new inventory means the cost soon starts to add up.

The environmental impact of single-use packaging also tends to be higher than plastic alternatives. Although many single-use products can be recycled, there is a limit to how often this can be done; cardboard, for example, can typically only be recycled around seven times at most before it needs to be downgraded or discarded, with disposal incurring high costs in both time and money.

Schoeller Allibert returnable transit packaging solutions are designed with optimised lifespans of 10 years or more, meaning they can each be used an average of 250 times. Not only is this much more cost-effective in the medium to long term, but at the end of its life, our RTP can be recycled into new packaging, so it can continue to help businesses safely move their goods in the future.

When you need packaging to protect fragile cosmetic products or pharmaceuticals in transit, plastic’s durability provides further benefits. Plastic RTP is more hard-wearing than single-use alternatives, minimising the risk of costly damage, replacements, or delays meaning you can spend less on secondary packaging to keep goods safe.

Meanwhile, its lightweight frame and ergonomic design mean plastic RTP, with easily integrated handles or wheels, is still easy to load and unload. With hygiene of particular importance to the cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors, this design – with smooth, easily cleanable walls and bases – further reduces the risk of waste through contamination.

This enhanced structure can also help save space on your journeys. RTP, like our Magnum Optimum® range, can stack securely while in transit, taking up less space in delivery vehicles to maximise vehicle fill and ensuring goods move swiftly through the supply chain. When not in use, our RTP can fold away for easy storage, reducing its footprint even further.

The reusable nature of RTP means that, unlike single-use packaging, it can be equipped with tracking software such as SmartLink®. This has major benefits for cosmetics suppliers, in particular, where products can go in and out of fashion at the drop of a hat so fast, agile logistics are essential to keep things running smoothly. With SmartLink®, it’s simple to monitor your products’ journeys to make sure they are in the right place at the right time – or, in the event of a problem, locate specific shipments to withdraw them or take action if necessary.

That is not to mention the environmental benefits of using RTP. Our CircuLine® range is made from a minimum of 30% recycled material and can be recycled at the end of its life. Using RTP like this helps take virgin plastics out of the supply chain, meaning fewer need to be manufactured and disposed of overall.

With the global cosmetics and pharmaceutical markets accelerating, it’s never been more important to have packaging solutions that help your business stay ahead of the curve. Making the switch away from single-use packaging unlocks outstanding efficiency for your supply chains – from lower costs to time-saving solutions, 2023 could be the year you discard single-use packaging for good.