Millions of loading units are being transported around the globe every day. Harmonized standards ensure that they can pass through different points in the process chain without any obstacles. This is backed up by a complex logistical system - Efficient Unit Loads. 
What do Manufacturers Expect from One Way Packaging?
The consumer goods industry is looking at measures and recommendations arising from Efficient Unit Loads from a cost point of view. New demands put forward by retailers concerning one way packaging are putting the ball in the manufacturer’s court. In many cases existing packaging machines have to be re-worked or replaced with new machines. This requires great investment. However, this outlay does promise cost advantages in the future, because manufacturers can rely on EUL standards to protect their long-term investments, as there will be an agreement on standardized packaging units and materials.
Packaging Protects against Damage
Apart from commercial considerations manufacturers are also focusing on further criteria for standardizing one way packaging. It has to protect goods against damage during shipping and warehousing. Take for example during truck shipment: uninterrupted vibrations, bumps caused by road damage, breaking and accelerating or centrifugal forces caused by taking tight corners are all going to be a challenge for packaging. Boxes are also tested during handling such as moving along conveyor belts or being picked up with fork-lifts. Manufacturers’ required that such technical points be considered in the GS1 Germany recommendation. Manufacturers are particularly concerned about robust packaging and some space between the actual product and packaging.
Internationalizing One Way Packaging
The Efficient Loads System can be especially beneficial to international manufacturers. The concept bears the potential to use standardized one way packaging for all countries supplied. For manufacturers this means:
- Less input in production facilities thanks to standardized packaging.
- Improved capacity utilization of packaging machines.
- Cheaper procurement of packaging material in larger volumes.
- Greater flexibility in delivering stores, because stores no longer have specific requirements.
Boosting Process Efficiency
The EUL criteria for one way packaging are a contribution to simplifying and accelerating processes along the logistics chain. The companies from manufacturing and retailing involved decided to implement the measures as quickly as possible. Due to the considerable technical effort required, particularly on manufacturers’ side, it is to be expected that the transition to EUL will take some time.
