Low-density Polyethylene

Low-density polyethylene is a protective sheeting material used for packaging food, textiles, and consumer goods such as electronics, toys, and cosmetics. It is preferred by forwarders for its durability and moisture resistance, yet its environmental impact is significant. The light weight of LDPE means that it can easily be carried away by the wind. Also, when left near water bodies, it can be swept away by moving water, whether from rivers, streams, or even stormwater runoff, because of its light weight. This can lead to environmental degradation as LDPE can take up to 1000 years to decompose.

High-density Polyethylene

High-density polyethylene is a widely used material for packaging heavy items and general chemicals. Due to its strength, it is ideal for packing heavy cargo such as construction materials and automotive components. Additionally, its high resistance to chemicals makes it suitable for extra wrapping around units or pallets with chemical products like detergents and bleach. This added layer helps prevent leaks and spills that could occur if the bottles or jugs are damaged.

However, despite its utility, HDPE also poses environmental risks. When discarded improperly, it is more likely to sink in aquatic environments. As its density is close to that of water, it becomes even denser when waterlogged and sinks over time. Thus, it can accumulate at the bottom of lakes, rivers, and oceans which leads to underwater pollution and smothering marine life and habitats. Additionally, HDPE can take 400 to 500 years to fully break down, depending on factors like exposure to sunlight, oxygen levels, and microbial activity. In deep-sea or buried conditions with limited light and oxygen, degradation can take even longer.

Polyvinyl Chloride

Also known as PVC, polyvinyl chloride is used for consolidating multiple items into a single unit. This is because its flexibility allows for efficient wrapping around multiple items to hold them together for pallet shipping or in large boxes. However, the environmental impact of using this plastic is also significant. Recycling PVC is complicated by the various additives it contains which often results in higher rates of disposal in landfills or incineration. Yet, PVC includes chlorine in its composition which can lead to the release of hazardous dioxins and other chlorinated pollutants when the material is burned or decomposes.

Polyethylene Terephthalate

Polyethylene terephthalate is widely used for packaging large shipments of bottled water, soft drinks, juices, and cooking oils because of its strength and lightweight nature. However, when discarded improperly, it often enters waterways where it fragments into microplastics and pollutes ecosystems. Moreover, it decomposes slowly, often taking 450 to 500 years to break down in landfills, and its widespread use contributes to plastic waste accumulation.

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Sustainable Packaging Materials

The shift towards sustainable packaging involves using materials that are either biodegradable, recyclable, or sourced from renewable resources. Materials such as corrugated cardboard, bioplastics, and plant-based packing peanuts are replacing traditional plastics and polystyrene foam, which signals a new era of eco-friendly solutions in freight forwarding.

At the same time, effectively integrating these packaging solutions requires understanding of the protective qualities of each type. Corrugated cardboard, for example, has shock-absorbing properties, which makes it ideal for shipping electronics and home goods like appliances, glassware, and ceramics. However, it may not be suitable for oversized cargo as its structural integrity can be compromised when used to package heavy items. Products that require waterproofing may also need alternative packaging solutions, as standard corrugated cardboard can degrade if exposed to moisture.

Similarly, bioplastics have both advantages and limitations. Advantages-wise, they are durable and form airtight seals that prevent the exchange of air between the inside and outside of a package. This is particularly important for shipping products like pharmaceuticals and perishable foods which require protection from air exposure to maintain freshness and prevent contamination. However, bioplastics may not be the best choice for environments with high temperatures as they have a lower tolerance for heat compared to heat-sealable films and metal containers.

High-Performance Barrier Films

High-performance barrier films offer superior resistance against moisture, oxygen, and other environmental factors that can lead to spoilage and degradation of sensitive products like pharmaceuticals and perishable foods.

To accommodate the diverse requirements of these products, the films are available in varying degrees of protection. For instance, ultra-high barrier films are essential for highly sensitive pharmaceuticals that require complete isolation from moisture and gases to maintain potency and prevent contamination. Moderate barrier films, in turn, are suitable for food products that need protection from moisture and air but do not require the stringent barrier properties that pharmaceuticals might. Such films are often used for dried foods, snacks, and baked goods where they help maintain freshness and extend shelf life without the need for heavy-duty protection.

Collapsible and Foldable Packaging

Collapsible and foldable packaging solutions are made from flexible materials such as durable plastics or lightweight metals. They can be easily reduced in size when not in use which helps optimize space. This makes them particularly useful in return logistics where empty containers often occupy the same amount of space as when they are full. By using packaging that minimizes its volume after use, companies can transport large quantities of empty containers. This reduction in volume decreases the number of trips required and lowers fuel consumption and emissions.

At the same time, there might be a need for investment in specialized handling equipment or training for staff to manage the folding and unfolding processes efficiently. Forwarders must evaluate the trade-offs between the higher initial costs of these packaging solutions and the long-term savings in transportation and storage.

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With hundreds of planes grounded for months, virtually all airlines have been hard hit. But even operating at full capacity, 8,000 Boing 747 cargo planes would be needed to deliver vaccines globally to each of the world’s 7.8 billion people. Not only this but shipping costs will increase substantially due to the current volatile state of the freight market and the strict cold chain requirements. The question of who will pay to ship vaccines is becoming a global problem. Railway freight could be one of the solutions to aid the global vaccine delivery effort but are we there yet?

Feasibility of Using Railway Freight

Given the current restrictions on air freight, using the railways to aid the operation of the vaccine supply chain is one possible solution. There are several obstacles to this, however. One is the instability of RNA vaccines which have different temperature requirements for storage and distribution. Shipping also requires advanced real-time monitoring capabilities to preserve the integrity of vaccine doses. Additionally, specially trained staff is needed for the transportation, uploading, and loading of shipments.

The China – Europe Express

The China – Europe Express has been involved in cold chain transport since 2015. Cities in the northwest and northeast use temperature-controlled transport to ship vegetables, fruits, and other perishable commodities to Russia and other countries. Thermo-tanks have been also used to ship IT products, seedlings, and flowers. Yet, the development of a full-scale cold chain is still in a nascent stage. Temperature control inside the containers varies from -29 ℃ to +27 ℃. Controlled atmosphere transportation is mainly used to keep commodities at the intermediate or lower temperature ranges. Vaccines, on the other hand, are sensitive to temperature variations and require more advanced capabilities. A related problem is the fact that the China – Europe Express has little experience shipping vaccines. The delivery of biopharmaceutical products between Europe and China is still in an initial testing stage.

Rail-Born Reefers

Another solution that has been proposed is to load vaccine shipments into rail-born reefers. The railway industry in Europe has extensive experience with specialist cargo. The scope of the global project and the urgency to complete it are major challenges. What experts say is that we already have the reefers but they are simply not enough.

Using railway freight for integrated transport is one solution that has been proposed in Great Britain. Two deep-water ports are connected with freight rail terminals at Southampton and London Gateway. Vaccines can be imported from Europe via short sea services and then shipped by rail. The idea is to utilize specialist freight operations and super-refrigeration facilities for land transport.

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Warehouse Control Systems

As advanced software applications, warehouse control systems help manage and oversee real-time activities in distribution centers and warehouses. Software applications direct multiple processes such as planning, balancing workflow, controlling handling equipment, and monitoring performance. Warehouse control systems also enable businesses to manage and monitor technologies such as put and pick to light, automated storage retrieval systems, conveyors, and carousel systems.

Inventory Management Systems

Inventory management software has multiple functionalities that allow users to track equipment and thus reduce downtime and improve efficiency. Software with advanced functions helps track the availability, maintenance status, and location of equipment. There are also systems with functionalities for new order forecasting, budget optimization, and inventory optimization. Some inventory management systems have tools for overstock analysis to help minimize inventory costs. A number of factors are analyzed, including available stock, intended coverage, lead times, and future demand.

Inventory management systems also enable customers to move inventory, track vendors, and monitor order statuses and stock levels. Some advanced systems even allow businesses to monitor inventory across different locations and transfer inventory between warehouses. There are also tools to reorder stock, make stock adjustments, check inventory aging, and monitor stock availability.

Systems with Machine Learning Capabilities

Machine learning, which is a form of artificial intelligence, helps improve productivity, coordination, and efficiency. It is used across different sectors for demand forecasting, inventory optimization, and anomaly and fraud detection. Machine learning can be successfully used in supply chain management to analyze performance and identify aspects and elements that can be optimized. It can be used to optimize transport management, production planning, supply and demand, storage and distribution, and inventory levels. Machine learning algorithms help warehouse operators to forecast demand, especially during periods of peak demand such as Easter and Black Friday. Algorithms are also used to predict the amount of time required to perform tasks and adapt to changing conditions. Combined with advanced loT sensors and apps and analytics, machine learning has the potential to transform warehouse management and result in further automation. In the near future, robots are likely to perform the majority of tasks in warehouses and distribution centers.

New trends in warehouse management help improve operational efficiency, and IFA members constantly keep themselves updated on industry trends. The goal is to make the most of cost-effective solutions and better serve retailers and corporate customers. From parcel delivery, cargo storage, and distribution, logistics services providers offer a selection of specialized services by running and collaborating with distribution centers that use advanced warehouse and inventory management systems. Inventory and warehouse management solutions help automate processes and business execution, monitor transactions, and manage large volumes.

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More tech companies are working on designing and making unmanned aerial vehicles or use for storage and distribution by retailers, manufacturers and by international freight forwarders.

How can IFA benefit from the use of drones?

The companies from the European logistics network are always working on finding the most efficient solutions to make their international freight forwarding and their international freight services faster and less expensive for their customers.

With the use of drones in the special storage and distribution centers of the companies from the European network for transportation, the cost for setting up, configuring and use of complex and expensive conveyor systems will be cut drastically.

The drones in the warehouses of the freight forwarders association will be able to move around boxes and be efficient tools for automatized palletization of the goods and cargo being prepared for International freight forwarding, specialized transportation, small shipments, complete loads and for combining intermodal transportation services.

This will save a lot of time, minimize the need for human resources, and complex technology.  The result from these innovative systems for warehouse inventory management implemented by the European network for transportation is that the time for the preparation of the goods for shipment will be shortened, and the expenses will be lowered. Thus the cost of the forwarding, storage and distribution services provided by the forwarders throughout Europe for the customers will be much less expensive.

Such automated systems for palletizing are already being tested by numerous members of the international freight forwarders association and have been found to be very easy to implement with a simple switch in the programming of the drones used in the European logistics warehouses.

Also, the speed and efficiency of using inexpensive unmanned aerial vehicles have already become evident among those companies of the international freight forwarders network which have implemented such systems. The drones used in the storage and distribution centers of the freight forwarders association allow for much better flexibility and offer a perfect combination of speedy automated equipment handling and the limiting of the use of human resources for manual work.

The drones used by freight forwarders Europe are safe from any weather damage, as they are used indoors. There are of course special weather resistant aerial drones which can be used for distribution and inventory management outdoors as well.

Some of the problems with the use of drones by the European logistics companies

Before the drones can be utilized for making deliveries and shipping small packages to the end customers outdoors, the companies form the freight forwarders association need to work out the legal questions with their local and international military and commercial aircraft services.

Still, most national aviation associations are being very cautious about allowing the use of commercial drones, due to problems and risks associated with drones intervening with commercial and military flights in the area.

But surely, this problem will be resolved in the near future, and the forwarders throughout Europe will be able to provide their customers with cheap, efficient and fast door-to-door deliveries and other shipments via drones.

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Storage

The warehouses of the member companies of the European Network for Logistics Services are large enough to be able to store large volumes of different types of goods. The warehouses are located in all main destinations in nearly every European country, which allows us to offer storage and stock maintenance for providing regular deliveries to the end destinations to all traders in Europe.

Advantages for using the storage network of the IFA member companies

• The customers’ goods are stored in accordance to the temperature, humidity and other conditions for maintaining their quality and their appearance
• All warehouses of freight forwarders Europe are guarded 24/7, so the goods stored there are safe at all times
• If our customer wants an inventory done, the network of freight forwarders offers a full inventory of their goods stored in our storages
• In addition to storage, we also offer loading and unloading, as well as controlling these operations for compliance to the requirements for quality and quantity
• In order to allow our customers to perform direct deliveries, we also offer cross docking
• You can organize the orders from your clients on the phone, or by e-mail or fax
• Managing the stocks of goods in our storages is easily done through modern management systems

Distribution of goods

Forwarders throughout Europe also offer to perform distribution services from our storages throughout Europe. Our customers can organize the distribution of any product, component, part or material in accordance to the desired frequency of distribution. You can take advantage of the following distribution services we offer:

• Distribution from warehouse to warehouse
• Distribution from storage to door
• Distribution of goods out of work hours and on weekends and public holidays
• Distribution of all kinds of goods which require special conditions in order to keep them safely stored
• Distribution of perishable goods with the help of specialised refrigerated trucks
• For flammable or corrosive substances and other dangerous loads, we can provide you with specialized vehicles and transportation means

Additional packing services

When the distribution requires packing and unpacking, the member companies of the European network for transportation offer to provide such services too. Our customers can take advantage of our packing services which can be done with different materials, depending on your needs and requirements, including:

• Packing with paper
• Packing with wooden boards
• Packing with shrink film

And other materials.

The European logistics companies offer:

• Packing separate commodities
• Packing and unpacking of entire pallets
• Packing each type of goods in suitable packaging
• Mobile printing
• Placing labels and barcodes

The post Storage and distribution of European freight forwarding appeared first on International Forwarding Association Blog.

The global striving towards lowering carbon emissions, along with saving resources and efficient energy use has an impact both on the shipping itself, as well as the storage and distribution processes.  The new challenges are leading factors for the storage and distribution activities for all freight forwarding companies, which are members of the European transportation network – the International Forwarding Association (IFA).

The new challenges include the optimization and automation of the storage and distribution processes, as well as applying other environmentally friendly approaches, which leads to their improvement and to better compliance to the global environmental trends and tendencies.

LEED Certification

Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design certification is a green building certification program for the design, building and maintenance of buildings.  These green buildings help save and use resources and finances efficiently.

LEED Certification can be acquired for existing building as well.  Most of the newly certified storage warehouses are of the 3PL (Third Part Logistics) type and are located in warmer climates where the investments in energy efficiency have the biggest return.

Modern requirements for storage warehouses and distribution

The contemporary requirements for the improvement of storage and distribution include:

• Requirements for the construction of the warehouses as well the surrounding infrastructure
• Requirements for energy use
• Requirements for the equipment and technology used
• Requirements for the work conditions for the employees in storage and distribution
• Requirements for packing
• Requirements for the cargo loading optimization of the transportation used for distribution

Requirements for the construction of the warehouses and the surrounding infrastructure

• The location of the warehouse must be in close proximity to public transportation routes.  Also, it must not imperil any endangered animals
• The construction work must not affect the condition of the flora in the area
• The irrigation of the landscape surrounding the warehouses must be minimized, and the water used in the building must be used efficiently
• The isolation of the storage buildings should improve energy efficiency.  Better isolated warehouses use up less energy for heating
• The materials used for the construction of the warehouses must be renewable.

Requirements for energy use

• The energy used in the warehouse must be minimal, and if possible green energy should be used
• The lightbulbs used in the warehouse should be energy saving.

Requirements for the equipment used

• The equipment used for storage and distribution must be energy efficient
• Process automation for the storage and distribution must be utilized for the improvement of their performance and efficiency.  Automated process use up less energy, lowers the risks of errors and reduces the number of employees necessary to perform these tasks.

Requirements for the work conditions for the employees in the warehouses as well as those in the distribution sector

The work conditions in the warehouses must offer comfort for the employees.

Requirements for the packing

The packing materials used for storage and distribution must be made from recyclable materials, when possible, and mainly from recycled cardboard.

Requirements for the cargo loading optimization of the transportation used for distribution

During the loading of the cargo to be distributed, the loading area must be used to the maximum possible.  This decreases the need of the use of more means of transportation, and also helps lower carbon emissions.

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