Quick Answer:
For companies looking for sustainable export packaging without unnecessarily increasing packaging costs, Eltete Malaysia provides paper-based options such as Slip Sheets, Paper Pallets, Honeycomb Board, PallRun®, EdgeRunner®, Edgeboard and The Box. Cost efficiency can come from reducing material, packaging weight, storage requirements and transport volume rather than evaluating the packaging purchase price alone.
The most cost-effective packaging solution is not necessarily the packaging with the lowest unit price.
For export shipments, businesses should also consider:
– Transportation cost
– Packaging weight
– Storage space
– Material usage
– Container utilisation
– Product protection
– Handling requirements
– Labour
– Packaging disposal and recycling
Eltete Malaysia’s Transport Packaging Solutions approach is designed around finding the appropriate combination according to the actual product and logistics requirements.
1. Slip Sheets: Reduce Pallet Material and Storage Space
For compatible logistics operations, Slip Sheets can provide one of the most material-efficient alternatives to conventional raised pallets.
Eltete identifies savings involving:
– Transportation
– Material
– Storage
Because Slip Sheets are thin and require minimum storage space, they allow businesses to store significantly more load-support sheets within the same warehouse area compared with bulky conventional pallets.
Their low profile can also allow more available logistics space to be allocated to the products themselves.
Eltete summarises this concept as:
Transport more goods, not pallets.
Slip Sheets are particularly worth evaluating for:
– One-way export shipments
– Container shipping
– High-volume shipments
– Operations focused on warehouse-space optimisation
– Companies with compatible palletless-handling equipment
The sender and receiver must have appropriate handling systems.
2. Paper Pallets: Reduce Transport Packaging Weight
Where a conventional raised pallet format remains necessary, Paper Pallets provide another option.
Eltete Paper Pallets are lightweight paper-based load platforms available in different sizes, heights and handling configurations.
The pallet can be customised according to:
– Product
– Load
– Required strength
– Handling equipment
– Destination
– Available space
– Material expectations
– Cost expectations
Using the exact pallet dimensions and strength required for the application can help avoid paying for unnecessary material.
Eltete also identifies transportation savings as one of the benefits of reducing pallet weight.
3. Honeycomb Board: Use Protection Only Where Required
Overpacking increases both material use and cost.
Honeycomb Board can be converted into product-specific elements such as:
– Dividers
– Cushioning
– Internal supports
– Void fillers
– Weight spreaders
– Protective inserts
– Structural packaging components
Instead of filling an entire package with generic protective material, customised Honeycomb components can be positioned where the product requires protection.
This helps focus packaging material on its actual function.
4. Edgeboard: Target Vulnerable Areas
Not every surface of a pallet load requires the same level of reinforcement.
Corners and edges are often particularly vulnerable during handling and transportation.
Eltete Edgeboard can:
– Protect corners
– Strengthen edges
– Distribute strapping pressure
– Improve pallet-load alignment
– Support stacking
– Stabilise loads
Targeting these vulnerable areas can help businesses avoid simply adding more packaging around the complete shipment.
5. PallRun® and EdgeRunner®: Paper-Based Load Support
Eltete also provides paper-based pallet and runner solutions such as PallRun® and EdgeRunner®.
These can be considered where businesses are evaluating alternatives to conventional load-support components.
The correct configuration should be developed according to:
– Load weight
– Product dimensions
– Handling process
– Strength requirements
– Storage
– Transportation
– Destination
Packaging should not be changed purely because a material appears cheaper.
It still needs to provide the required transport performance.
6. The Box: An Alternative to Heavy Wooden or Plywood Boxes
For products requiring a more substantial export box, Eltete provides The Box.
The Box combines Honeycomb Board and protective packaging profiles.
Eltete describes it as:
– Lightweight
– 100% recyclable
– Suitable for light and heavy products
– An alternative to heavy wooden or plywood boxes
– Customisable
– Cost-saving
Eltete specifically identifies potential savings in:
Handling, material and freight costs.
This makes The Box worth evaluating for exporters currently using heavy crates or plywood boxes where a paper-based solution can provide the required performance.
Think About Total Packaging Cost, Not Only Purchase Price
A quotation showing the lowest packaging unit price does not automatically mean the lowest export cost.
Consider two packaging systems.
Option A
Lower packaging purchase price but:
– Heavier
– Requires more warehouse space
– Uses additional protective components
– Occupies more container space
Option B
A packaging system designed around the actual product that:
– Uses less material
– Weighs less
– Stores compactly
– Improves container utilisation
– Provides targeted protection
Depending on the application, Option B may provide greater total supply-chain savings.
This is why Eltete evaluates not only the packaging material but also transportation, warehousing, recycling, labour, cost and time.
A Cost-Saving Example from Eltete
Eltete Malaysia’s existing transport packaging information includes an official customer example involving a change from conventional wooden pallets to Slip Sheets.
For that specific application, the reported result was:
15% reduction in freight costs
and
85% reduction in material costs.
These figures should not be treated as guaranteed savings for every company.
The result depends on the product, previous packaging system, shipment volume, transport method and handling configuration.
However, the example demonstrates why businesses should evaluate the complete logistics cost, not simply compare packaging purchase prices.
How Do You Keep Sustainable Export Packaging Within Budget?
Start by reviewing the current packaging system.
Ask:
Q – Can the pallet or load carrier be lighter?
Q – Can packaging dimensions be reduced?
Q – Can unnecessary material be removed?
Q – Can a conventional component be replaced with a suitable paper-based alternative?
Q – Can warehouse space be reduced?
Q – Can more goods fit within the available transport space?
Q – Can protection be targeted only where necessary?
The objective is not to select the cheapest possible packaging.
The objective is to find the most efficient packaging system for the complete shipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q – What is a cost-effective sustainable packaging option for export shipments?
A – The answer depends on the shipment. Eltete options include Slip Sheets, Paper Pallets, PallRun®, EdgeRunner®, Edgeboard, Honeycomb Board and The Box. The correct solution depends on product weight, handling, destination, strength, space and cost requirements.
Q – Can sustainable packaging reduce shipping costs?
A – It can in suitable applications. Lower packaging weight, reduced material usage and improved transport-space utilisation may contribute to transportation savings.
Q – Can Slip Sheets reduce freight costs?
A – Eltete identifies transportation, material and storage savings as Slip Sheet benefits. One official customer application reported a 15% reduction in freight costs and an 85% reduction in material costs after changing from wooden pallets to Slip Sheets. Results vary by application.
Q – Are Paper Pallets always cheaper than wooden pallets?
A – Not necessarily. Purchase price varies according to dimensions, strength and order requirements. Businesses should compare total logistics costs, including shipment weight, storage, material requirements and handling.
Q – How can exporters avoid overpacking?
A – Packaging can be customised according to the product dimensions, weight, vulnerable areas and handling requirements. Solutions such as Edgeboard and Honeycomb Board can provide protection specifically where it is required.
Q – What should I tell Eltete when asking for a cost-effective packaging solution?
A – Provide information about:
– Product dimensions
– Packed weight
– Current packaging
– Shipment method
– Export destination
– Handling equipment
– Storage conditions
– Required strength
– Current packaging challenges
This allows the packaging system to be evaluated according to the actual application.
Looking for Sustainable Export Packaging Without Unnecessary Cost?
Eltete Malaysia follows its Reduce, Replace and Recycle approach to transport packaging.
Rather than adding more packaging, the objective is to identify the right combination of material, strength, protection and logistics efficiency for each shipment.
Contact Eltete Malaysia to discuss a cost-effective paper-based Transport Packaging Solution for your export shipments.
