Throughout the four-month pilot, ABENA is monitoring three key areas:
• how reusable boxes perform in daily logistics operations
• how customers interact with the return system
• the potential environmental benefits of the reuse model
Together, these insights will help ABENA assess how reusable packaging works in real-life logistics and what would be required for implementation on a larger scale.
From single use to reuse
Traditional shipping packaging is often designed for single use. In this pilot, the reusable boxes are returned and prepared for another delivery as part of RE-ZIP’s circular packaging system.
After receiving their order, customers can return the box at designated drop-off points. RE-ZIP then prepares it for reuse, for example by removing old shipping labels.
Exploring the environmental potential
Keeping packaging in use for longer can reduce the need for single-use solutions and potentially lower the environmental impact of deliveries.
According to the project’s business case analysis, even one reuse cycle can reduce the box’s CO2e footprint by up to 50% compared with single-use packaging.
The actual impact depends on how many times each box is reused and how efficiently it circulates through the system. Effective logistics and customer participation are therefore important for realizing the potential of reuse.
Learning before scaling
The findings from the pilot will help ABENA assess whether reusable shipping boxes could become part of future logistics solutions.
Before considering implementation on a larger scale, we want to understand what works in real-life logistics — and where adjustments may be needed.
Follow this page for updates as we share more insights and learnings from the pilot.