CHEP Australia’s returnable plastic crate (RPC) sys tem for produce has been found to deliver environ mental performance and financial value in the supply chain by an independent lifecycle study from RMIT University Melbourne.
The study found the CHEP RPC system generated significant benefits for customers compared with a single-use corrugated cardboard packaging system.
Based on the results of the study, the estimated benefits on a daily basis are: more than 175 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions saved; more than 1.2 million litres of water saved; and more than 20 tonnes of solid waste avoided.
The study complies with the ISO 14044 methodol ogy for environmental systems and has reportedly been reviewed by two independent industry experts.
The assessment took into account the environ mental impact of the entire product and system life cycle, including inputs to manufacture and the full end of life processes for both packaging systems.
The key results from the study highlight the sus tainability efficiencies of the CHEP RPC system when compared with a single-use corrugated cardboard system. The efficiencies identified include: green house gas emissions were 70% less than a single- use corrugated cardboard system; there was 95% less solid waste than the single use corrugated card board system because of a reduction in manufactur ing process waste, even if all cardboard is recycled after use; it takes 85% less water to wash RPCs than is required for the manufacture and recycling of a sin gle-use corrugated cardboard system.