The international freight forwarder Dachser, based in Kempten, has been awarded the German Packaging Award for its innovative, sustainable reusable system "Retail Box". The jury of the German Packaging Institute praised the efficient metal box for European general cargo logistics as being comparable to a Euro pallet. It enables the environmentally friendly transport of sensitive and high-quality goods as standard shipments. The robust, lockable roll container is available in Euro pallet and Euro half-pallet sizes and can be used to hold hanging garments or items in outer packaging, for example. It is particularly suitable for shop deliveries in the fashion, cosmetics and electronics industries.

Reusable packaging saves packaging

The classic Retail Box weighs 144 kilograms, has a payload of 500 kilograms and offers a loading volume of 1.84 cubic metres. It can be sealed and folded or assembled in less than 50 seconds, emphasises the logistics service provider. Empty containers take up only 73 per cent of the space of a Euro pallet. "The Retail Box is a new type of reusable system for goods that previously could not benefit from a parcel network, or only with single-use transport packaging," says Dachser CDO Stefan Hohm. The innovation meets all sustainability requirements as it makes optimum use of truck loading space and avoids packaging waste – in the case of hanging suits, this amounts to more than four tonnes less in the life cycle of a box compared to disposable systems.

Use improves logistics balance

The box was built in collaboration with luggage transport trolley specialist Wanzl from Leipheim. Management and real-time tracking are provided by a tracking platform from software start-up Logistikbude and low-cost mobile communications systems from Deutsche Telekom. Following its launch in the fashion industry, the Retail Box is now also being used in other areas of the consumer goods industry. "All customers can now benefit from this solution and optimise their logistics balance by using the Retail Box," explained Jens Wollmann, Head of Corporate Solutions at Dachser. Every year, the German Packaging Institute awards the German Packaging Award to innovative and creative packaging ideas.

Source: Dachser