Different market conditions in different countries mean that the demands retailers have to one way shipping packaging varies significantly. Retailers in high-wage countries such as Germany, France or the Netherlands demand packaging which can be put onto the shelf right away, without having to take stock out of the box first. Retailers in low-wage countries such as Portugal or Greece pay less attention to shelf display. Workers generally take the goods out of their boxes and stack them in the shelves without packaging. The different demands retailers pose to their one way packaging is a challenge for those manufacturers who ship their goods internationally. They are forced to operate more than one packaging operation at the same time. It also complicates logistics if packaging for one country has different dimensions than for another country. The consumer goods industry is therefore keen to fall back on a standardized set of specifications, which ensure harmonized packaging criteria. One suggestion for such a catalog is GS1 Germany’s Unit Loads Recommendation.

Two logistics applications are at the forefront of retailers’ considerations when it comes down to Efficient Unit Loads:

In central warehouses Efficient Unit Load’s standardized dimensions ensure that pallets and high-racks are exploited perfectly. The choice of the packaging material itself and its workmanship are also of great importance. Packaging prevents damage to the goods during stock picking and ensures that warehouse workers can stack items properly. In retailers’ stores the key point is to ensure that staff can open and dispose of boxes and cartons cleanly, quickly and without any additional help. Retailers are therefore demanding one way packaging which is easily constructed and marked with visible instructions.

To enhance the efficiency of shelf-placement products such as cans or bottles are left in their shipping box and placed onto the shelf semi-packaged. This in turn means that there are certain demands to the make-up of packaging material. Retailers are keen to have appealing designs on the visible parts of the shipping packaging. Workers can then simply place them on the shelf as one presentation unit. It is also vital that customers can easily recognize the product in the box. The GS1 Germany also recommends that products should be clearly visible from an angle. Customers then also have easier access to the goods if they are not fully concealed by walls but the box has a suitable cut-away at the front.

A EUL working group established by GS1 Germany comprises members from manufacturing and retailing and has defined five basic types of one way packaging as being ideal for a large part of the consumer goods product range.

These basic types are made in such a way that they can be used in combination with a top-cover. They meet the demands of efficient handling in the central warehouse as well as in the store itself. All types can be opened easily and swiftly which cuts back the input required. They also contribute to better stacking and shelf display, which in turn has a positive effect on sales.