Industrial packaging is an essential component of the supply chain, allowing firms to securely store and distribute products across borders.
However, with so much consumer demand for industrial products, it’s vital to consider where all this packaging goes. Steel drums, plastic barrels, and cardboard boxes are the most common forms of industrial packaging, but they can all be recycled.
If you’re searching for methods to reduce industrial waste at your business, ITP Packaging can help. Industrial packaging may be repurposed, according to the experts at ITP Packaging.
What Is Industrial Packaging?
Industrial packaging is used to safeguard items while they are stowed or transported. It’s designed for use on an industrial scale bench, allowing the safe storage of huge quantities of products or the bulk transport of items from one place to another.
Industrial packaging is built to UN standards and intended for use with a wide range of products. Industrial packaging, like its consumer counterpart, is highly adaptable and can contain anything from chemicals to hazardous waste to beverages and food items. In this regard, industrial packaging is extremely flexible because it meets stringent UN standards for all types of goods imaginable. How how improving technology can upgrade counting scales with Mettler Toledo ICS445k-3XS/f vs. Arlyn SAW-PX.
It’s also long-lasting, sturdy, and waterproof. This not only protects the items within, but it also ensures that industrial packaging is adaptable to being reused again and again.
The following are the most frequent examples of industrial packaging:
- Steel drums
- Plastic barrels
- Intermediate bulk containers
- Fibre drums
- Cardboard boxes
- Why Repurpose Industrial Packaging?
Industrial packaging has the ability to be recycled, which means it’s designed to be reused over time. The capacity to be repurposed means that a steel drum may be cleaned and reused to store either the same items or different things in the future.
The decomposition of an industrial packaging may be accomplished in many ways, with the most common methods being chipping, sawing (particularly if it’s difficult to access), and tearing. The process can continue until the end of its lifespan, at which point it can often be broken down and recycled or reused for brand-new purposes. There are several advantages a company may gain from reusing industrial packaging, but it’s also crucial to consider the environment.
The following are the most significant reasons to repurpose industrial packaging:
- Increasing the life of industrial packaging goods
- Reducing the need for more waste or landfill creation
- Reducing the amount of industrial packaging needed
- Reducing energy and material consumption
- Reducing CO2 gas emissions
- Overheads and saving money by reducing them
- Helping businesses develop their green credentials
- Benefiting the environment
How to Repurpose Industrial Packaging
The major takeaways are that repurposing stands to help the environment while also saving money is a win-win situation, but how can you begin repurposing industrial packaging in your company?
Here are the key steps involved in the process:
Identify The Materials Being Repurposed
The first step is to figure out what type of industrial packaging you want to recycle. There are numerous different forms of industrial packaging, and while this may seem like a no-brainer, you must determine what materials were used in its creation.
You can evaluate the box to see if it’s safe to repurpose it for your needs and how long it will last.
If you’re repurposing a container to store food, for example, you must first determine whether the container is food grade. If you’re repurposing cardboard boxes, knowing what type of cardboard was used is critical to determining if they’ll keep your stuff safe in the future.
Identify What Has Been Previously Stored In The Packaging
It’s critical to figure out what was put in the packaging before. This may influence or restrict how the packaging can be reused. It also influences how the industrial packaging must be cleaned or decontaminated before being recycled.
You must also consider the new use for industrial packaging and what items will be stored inside it. If, for example, a steel drum was used to contain hazardous waste, it would not be safe to repurpose that drum to store food and beverages in the future.
Identify Safety Or Environmental Hazards
All industrial packing must be cleaned and decontaminated before reuse for safety reasons. As a result, it’s critical to know whether a barrel of previously-stored chemicals or solvents may react with cleaning supplies.
In order to determine whether repurposing industrial packaging is a good idea, you must assess any potential health or safety hazards that may result from doing so. This includes assessing any damage the packaging has suffered, making necessary repairs if required, and determining if the packaging has reached the end of its useful life and is no longer fit for reuse.
Tips on What to Do With Old or Unused Packaging Materials
You’re now equipped to start recycling industrial packaging. Here are some of our best ideas for repurposing old or unused packaging materials that might be reused:
- Don’t waste it: old packaging may be reused.
- Keep yourself safe: check to see whether the container held dangerous, inflammable, or toxic products in its previous existence.
- Create something unique: drums and barrels may be transformed into water features, garden ornaments, or tiny homes, while shipping containers may also be used as offices or little homes.
- Remember to recycle: Even after its use is over, the repurposed packaging may be torn down and completely recycled.
To learn more about repurposing industrial packaging, contact ITP Packaging.
Industrial packaging is built to be reused, reducing waste and the need to produce additional items.
The most frequent sorts of industrial packaging are perfect candidates for repurposing, saving your business money while also assisting the environment.If you’re looking for ways to repurpose industrial packaging, ITP Packaging has a professional staff that can assist. Get in contact with our pleasant personnel right now to learn more.