Woodway UK and the IMRG held their first Packaging Best Practice Forum at the BMA, London on 5th Sept. Following the launch of the Woodway UK and IMRG Packaging Best Practice Review, the event was held to bring together packaging experts from across the supply chain including retail, logistics and distribution.
Speakers included; Ben Farrell, MBE - Head of Central Operations and Transport, John Lewis, Roger Wright - Technical Packaging Lead – Clothing & Home, Marks and Spencer and Ed Roberts - Regional Sustainability Director EMEA, Sealed Air Corporation. Covering a number of topics raised in the whitepaper, the presentations and follow-up discussions provided insight into the challenges facing all parties in the ecommerce supply chain.
Jason Inwood, MD, Woodway UK, “This was the first of what will be a series of forums designed to bring together experts from the industry to share best practice and understand the ever-increasing and evolving challenges faced within this fast-paced industry.”
Packaging Best Practice Review 2017
In the past, packaging has not perhaps been at the top of the online retail agenda, but it is now recognised for providing opportunities across a number of strategic areas – to reduce the environmental impact of online shopping, lessen damage, significantly reduce consumable costs, drive operational efficiencies, and enhance the end customer’s experience and retailer’s brand.
For the online retail sector overall, the scale of these opportunities is increasing annually, with growth rates at 16%. The UK can expect to create 2 billion online parcels (including returns) in 2017.
The review examines a number of areas for consideration including:
• Customer experience and perception
• Sustainability
• Returns
• Cost optimisation and efficiency
• The future of packaging
In addition to Woodway UK and the IMRG, contributors include retailers, 3PLs and manufacturers of packaging materials and equipment.
Released in June, the 26 page review is accessible to IMRG Members via the website and available upon request from Woodway UK.