When businesses evaluate packaging, the focus is often on material cost. But the true impact of packaging extends far beyond the price of the pack itself.
A recent comparison on a shipment travelling from Milan to Rome highlights why packaging design can play a significant role in overall logistics efficiency.
Same Journey, Different Outcome
For a shipment weighing approximately 100kg and measuring 1200 x 800 x 700mm, two transport options were quoted:
Option 1: Product on a pallet with transparent stretch film
- Non-stackable due to the delicate nature of the product
- Transport cost: €120 + VAT
Option 2: Stackable protective crate
- Same dimensions and product weight
- Transport cost: €70 + VAT
That’s a reduction of over 40% in transport costs for the exact same journey.
Why Does Packaging Choice Make Such a Difference?
The answer lies in one word: stackability.
When products are shipped on a pallet wrapped in film, they often cannot be safely stacked during transport. This means they occupy valuable vehicle space that cannot be utilised by other shipments.
A well-designed protective packaging solution creates a stable, stackable load. Transport providers can maximise trailer utilisation, making deliveries more efficient and reducing the cost per shipment.
In this example, the savings achieved through improved logistics efficiency far outweigh the cost difference between packaging formats.
Looking Beyond the Packaging Cost
Too often, packaging decisions are based solely on the purchase price of the packaging itself.
However, the real question should be:
How does the packaging affect the total cost of moving and protecting the product?
Factors such as:
- Transport efficiency
- Load optimisation
- Product protection
- Warehouse handling
- Damage reduction
can all have a significant impact on the overall cost of the supply chain.
The Pacfort Approach
At Pacfort, we work with customers to develop engineered fibre-based packaging solutions that don’t just protect products—they help optimise logistics as well.
By designing packaging that is robust, lightweight, and efficient to handle, businesses can reduce transport costs, improve operational efficiency, and support their sustainability goals at the same time.
Sometimes, the biggest savings aren’t found in the packaging itself.
They’re found in everything the right packaging makes possible.
Interested in exploring how packaging design could improve your logistics performance? Contact the Pacfort team to discuss your application and request samples.