As many key stakeholders such as customers, investors, and team members show an increased interest in improving the sustainability of their operations, these forward-looking companies are recognizing that green policies are beneficial for all. They are good for the planet, appreciated by consumers and investors, and lead to cost savings and an improved brand image.
Raw materials and production processes are usually the main drivers of the carbon footprint, but the logistics chain and packaging used are estimated to represent around 10% of the total carbon footprint.
Transportation Costs Reduction: By rethinking the processes of packaging, loading, and unloading methods, companies can cut their supply chain expenses.
Competitiveness Concerns: The acknowledgment that a rising proportion of customers prefer companies that demonstrate a reduction in their carbon footprint in a credible manner.
Productivity Boost: Based on the knowledge that emissions-reduction systems can lower other costs and improve operations.
Transportation Equipment Optimization: By maximizing intermodal logistics that make better use of our rail infrastructure, fewer silo trucks are needed for long-haul deliveries by switching to containerized cargo. Existing silo truck inventories can then focus on making last-mile deliveries.
Traceability Improvement and Cross-Contamination Reduction: Silo-trucks long-haul deliveries can only be optimized when finding cargo for the return portion. When not (in many instances), empty back hauls happen, which are a disaster in terms of cost efficiency and carbon emissions. On the other hand, hauling back different materials must be done under strict cleaning guidelines for the silo truck, which often fail to safeguard the integrity of the product due to cross-contamination.
Research shows that supply chains can be responsible for up to four times the greenhouse gas emissions of a company’s direct operations, while transport is the 2nd highest emitter of greenhouse gases worldwide, as reported by Eurostat. Considering that transport represents such a significant share of greenhouse gas emissions in the supply chain, it is crucial for organizations to account for the impact of their logistics processes in the environmental analysis of their supply chains.
Container Liners provide a contamination- and leak-free environment to load and unload dry flowable bulk solids while using standard marine shipping containers. Some of its cost-efficient and environmentally friendly features are: 
Container Liners streamline the supply chain by eliminating product filling lines, warehousing costs, along with sea freight cost reduction.
Container Liners are designed for quick installation and ease of loading and unloading.
Container Liners are also an alternative for bulk and break-bulk vessel shippers if they want to reduce last-mile delivery costs and carbon emissions, as container ports are typically nearer to end users compared to bulk vessel ports.
Switching Truck Traffic to Rail – A silo truck that once carried 25MT of polymer resins can be replaced by loading the same volume in bulk inside a Container Liner, which fits into standard intermodal containers, such as 20ft containers. These containers can then be transported via rail for long-distance hauls, offering several benefits:
Lower carbon footprint compared to trucking.
Reduced highway congestion.
Lower transportation costs by eliminating the expense of empty backhauls for silo trucks.
Drastic Reduction of the Carbon Footprint Required for Packaging Production and Its Cost: A typical 20MT containerized bulk shipment in FIBCs on pallets in a 20’ marine shipping container would require the following amount of packaging vs. container liners:
In conclusion, container liners present a simple yet powerful solution for companies looking to reduce their environmental impact while improving cost efficiency. As businesses increasingly focus on their ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals, adopting container liners can be a key step in creating a more sustainable and responsible supply chain.
Want to learn more about FPS’s sustainability initiatives and our EcoVadis Platinum achievement in 2024? Read the full article here or download our latest Sustainability Report here.
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