©iStockphoto.com/Thinkstock
DCL
It begs to be questioned how one cheesecake manufacturer in eastern Mississippi was able to convince the largest shipping company in the world to establish its first ever Eco Responsible Packaging Program. It all started when Jubilations approached their UPS account executive with a problem. They were using express air to deliver packages because it was the only way to keep cakes fresh. But in order to make a profit they needed a more cost-effective solution. After Jubilations, more and more customers came to UPS with similar requests. And the motivation for many of the requests was increased sustainability. It was a completely customer-driven initiative. Realizing that companies like Jubilations would never be able to grow without another option, UPS began working on a solution. Enter Eco Responsible Packaging.
UPS's Eco Responsible Packaging Program
The new program allows sustainable companies or companies looking to save money, to show conscious consumers that even their shipping can be done in a more responsible manner. If a package meets new UPS guidelines for sustainability, the program's logo can be displayed on the box.
Packaging is evaluated based on three categories: right-sizing, packaging materials, and damage prevention. You may ask yourself what damage prevention has to do with sustainability. But if a package is damaged and has to be shipped multiple times, then its environmental impact and cost increases dramatically. UPS will control impact by using the most minimal packaging possible to safely ship goods. This includes shrinking the size of the box and evaluating the sustainability of the packaging based on source location, biodegradability, whether items are in fact widely recycled (as opposed to merely being recyclable), and whether renewable resources are used to produce materials, according to Green Biz.
"Embedding environmental evaluation in day-to-day packaging decisions is a critical step to improving the stewardship and conservation of valuable resources for the future," said Anne Johnson, director of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition.
Air Freight vs. Ground Shipping
It was this sort of ingenuity that served to change the packaging game for Jubilations. The whole idea of evaluating packaging for sustainability is done on a case by case basis. And for Jubilations, choosing new packaging allowed the company to choose a new shipping method as well.
Admittedly, the company was more concerned about their bottom line than the environment, but as is most often the case, cost savings is a very motivating factor for sustainabiltiy. The company needed to be able to ground ship its cheesecakes across the country while maintaining freshness and quality. Ground shipping had formerly only been an option within a four state radius. But with the help of UPS, Jubilations came across, Sealed Air and its Instapak line, a packaging option which keeps their products fresher for a longer period of time. With the new packaging they can ground ship their cheesecakes to two-thirds of the U.S. and not have to spend drastic amounts of money on express air. The result is a win-win for Jubilations and the planet. As we all know, air shipping has a huge impact on the planet.
