Renting and sharing packaging helps retailers reduce losses and environmental impact

Brazil is among the ten countries that throw food in the trash the most, with about 35% of production being wasted every year, according to data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). 

An alarming fact is that while worldwide 14% of the food produced is lost between the harvest and the moment when they arrive in stores, this number reaches 50%, according to the NGO Banco de Alimentos. 

To help fresh food retailers reduce carbon emissions, damage and loss of food in transport and the consequent waste disposal in the soil, the company hb pooling created a system for sharing returnable boxes for the transport of perishables. Packaging is used throughout the food supply chain (producers, distributors and retailers), encouraging the sector's circular economy.

Companies request the amount of boxes desired for the transport of perishable food through a system managed by HB itself. The boxes are delivered and, after being used, they return to HB, where they are sanitized and redistributed to new users, thus creating a continuous cycle of sharing.

Large retailers such as GPA, Carrefour, Dia and Natural da Terra already make use of HB reusable boxes.  In the last five years, the company's average annual growth has been above 50%.

–> Watch a video about what the reusable boxes use cycle like

According to HB, as they are returnable, plastic packaging also eliminates the need for the disposal management of thousands of single-use packaging, resulting in an immediate reduction in the operational and labor costs of retailers. In addition, they allow a better occupation of pallets and trucks, resulting in fewer travel and, consequently, cost savings and lower emission of carbon dioxide.

HB's sustainable practice has already prevented 25 million tons of waste from the production of cellulose and cardboard (single-use boxes) from stopping at landfills or disposed of in a way that is harmful to nature.

market still underexplored

The market potential for returnable packaging solutions is significant. According to the CEO of HB Pooling, Ana Miranda, in Brazil, approximately 7.3 billion kilos of fruits and vegetables (FLV) are handled per year. Of these, the company estimates that only 12% are packed in returnable packaging.

For this year, the projection of HB is optimistic. The company expects to double in size and is already prepared to increase its operation. “We are going to make more of 1.2 million reusable boxes available to the market, meeting the growing demand for efficient and sustainable logistics solutions in Brazil”, reveals Ana. Currently, HB has 2.3 million assets in circulation (all produced locally).

Based in Curitiba, HB is present in nine states and operates in 30 retail distribution centers and 14 producer supply centers

Less food loss in transport

Food loss occurs when there is a reduction in the quantity or quality of food before it is marketed in the markets and other establishments. It occurs for several reasons.

In Brazil, the distribution of fresh food faces critical challenges related to losses and waste that impact from the profitability of producers and retailers to the final quality of the products on the shelf and the environment as a whole. 

Among the main causes of food loss are the inadequate packaging of the products in the containers (boxes, cardboard or wood) and the excess of handling, both when accommodated in the truck and in the process of unloading.

“ The use of appropriate packaging that minimizes the handling of the load and possible physical damage is a relevant factor for the preservation of the quality of the product and mitigation of losses”, evaluates Ana.

Pooling benefits

The service offered by HB is based on the concept of “pooling”, still little known in Brazil, but is already widely used in Europe.

It is about sharing packaging for transport, which allows several companies from across the supply chain to use the same asset instead of each buying and maintaining their own boxes for the transport of food. 

The pooling It is considered a way to reduce the environmental impact because it encourages the reuse and recycling of packaging, contributing to the reduction of the consumption of natural resources and the reduction of waste generation.

“When using the pooling, everyone wins: retailers reduce their costs and increase their efficiency; the final consumer has access to fresh foods with maximum quality; and the environment suffers less impacts”, summarizes Ana.

Main benefits of using returnable boxes

Four times more resistant than cardboard boxes – still widely used in the transport of FLV –, the folding boxes are made of virgin and recyclable 100% plastic. Because they are light, but at the same time, firm, they facilitate the handling, loading and unloading of the products, ensuring that the items arrive fresh and intact to their destination. Plastic boxes also do not absorb moisture like wood or cardboard.

According to HB, these are the five main benefits provided by replacing disposable packaging with reusable boxes:

• Circular economy: Reusable boxes are designed for continuous use in the supply chain, minimizing the need for disposable materials. At the end of their useful life, they are recycled to create new assets, closing the cycle and avoiding waste. 

• Waste reduction: Reduction of solid waste, which reduces the environmental impact and the carbon footprint of the supply chain.

• Less travel, fuel consumption and 50% more deliveries: The design of the boxes allows a larger number of them to be stacked in the same load, making better use of the internal space in the vehicles. This results in a gain of up to 50% in deliveries, due to the decrease in displacements and lower fuel consumption.

• Reduction of food waste: According to a study carried out by HB, when compared to other packaging, such as cardboard, plastic boxes guarantee up to 961tp3 t less damage to products during transport to retailers. That's because its design protects the products against external impacts and internal frictions. In addition, it was found that they reduce the waste in transport by 35% due to adequate ventilation for the content, allowing a better breathing of the FLV. 

• Less handling and possible damage to the POS: The products already arrive at the POS ready for exposure, without wasting time to unpack, unload and separate the products. They also do not require the need to tip over from one box to another. This all reduces the chances of damage to food handling. 

–> Check here A video demonstrating how the entire HB pooling cycle works.