Management

You are going to compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of a paper- based shipping container, a wood-based shipping container and a plastic-based shipping container for use as a distribution package (a non-retail shipping package). You must consider the entire supply chain in your response. Ensure your assignment is in APA format and must include a properly formatted reference list. Your paper must be 1000-1200 words, excluding title page and reference page. Ensure your assignment is posted as a word document attachment.

ANSWER

Shipping Containers

Introduction

Over the years, the packaging of items has changed due to a lot of technological advancement. This has changed due to the capability of firms and expertise to use synthetic and natural packaging materials. Ideally, these changes have revolutionized the packaging sector and improved the shipping process as compared to earlier years (Twede, 2016). There are different shipping containers that have been used in the supply chain which have both advantages and disadvantages. These include wood-based containers, paper-based shipping containers, and plastic-based container. This paper will focus on the advantage and disadvantages of using these types of containers for packaging different materials.

Before selecting what container to use for shipping products, there are varying dynamics such as weight, strength, and worth of the item that is put into attention (Twede, 2016). Relatively, the environmental settings under which these containers pass through have impacted their effectiveness in the shipping industry. Most firms have focused on strong shipping containers but their sustainability has depended on the conditions under which they are being utilized. Ideally, for the supply chain, firms choose the right containers which range from paper-based, wood-based, and plastic-based containers.

Wood-Based Containers

The wooden based containers are large shipping containers that are made of wood and are typically used for transporting heavy, large, and awkward items. Factors such as environmental friendliness, the durability of materials, convenience, and the cost of distributing certain commodities have influenced the use of wooden containers for transporting commodities (Lun, Lai, Cheng, 2010).

Advantages

Wood-based containers have high endurance capabilities since their designs result in steadier and stronger packaging solutions. Their extraordinary designs have enabled them to handle mechanical stress from transporting, packaging, and storage purposes. Wooden based containers have been very useful when mechanical stress is too devastating and weighty to other containers such as paper and plastics. Unlike other containers, wooden containers store perishable foods which makes it more useful for perishable goods. The wooden containers are easily manufactured and repaired locally. They are efficient and easy to manufacture and set customer’s custom design containers (Accorsi, Manzini, and Ferrari, 2014). They have relied a lot on shipping since they are resistant to different weather and sea conditions and offer added protection and security while shipping valuable and fragile items.

Disadvantages

One of the main disadvantages of wooden containers is their deterioration after long usage. Through tear and wear, these containers crack, splinter, and break when used beyond the limits. They have a natural deterioration that happens even when treated with moisture repellants. Therefore, one major limitation is that they demand quick replacement as compared to plastics. Wooden containers may contain pathogens that may contaminate the product thus risking users (Twede, 2016). Additionally, they are highly infested by wood-eating insects such as termites and ants. Insects that eat wood make the containers weaker every day. Routine maintenance and cleaning of wooden containers are difficult which makes it costly.

Paper-based Shipping Containers

Over the years the use of paper-based containers has increased in the transportation of perishable goods. Paper shipping containers are considered as multi-wall paper sacks that are utilized in transporting bulk items such as cement, flour, and feeds. Mostly, paper containers are manufactured from various layers of sacks which are tear-resistance as well as elastic.

Advantages

Paper-based containers are cost-efficient and versatile ways of transporting since they preserve and protect a wide array of items. Paper containers have lower costs as compared to wood-based containers. They have less weight and density which means that they add a smaller percentage to the load’s net weight. Paper containers are produced in bulk which leads to high availability and low costs of the paper-based containers (Accorsi, Manzini, and Ferrari, 2014). Relatively, paper containers are recyclable which means that they can be reused for material transportation. As compared to the wood-based containers, the paper containers are not exposed to chemical treatment which means that they are not subjected to contamination risks.  Paper-based containers have been one of the most responsible choices in terms of environmentally friendly packaging. They are not only eco-friendly but also quite durable.

Disadvantages

Paper-based containers are less effective in eliminating external temperatures since they have low resistance values that may influence thermal sensitive products. Paper containers tend to catch fire more easily compared to plastics due to the insulating material. One of the most recognized paper-based shipping containers is corrugated cardboard which is very fragile. Unlike the wooden containers, they have a high moisture sensitivity which makes them lose their strength easily. Relatively, paper containers are not favorable for heat-processed items because controlling temperatures in paper containers is challenging.

Plastic basic containers

The production of plastic containers today has been one of the most developed sectors in the economy. Largely, most products sold are highly dependent on the production of plastic containers since they meet the logistics demands in most industries. The plastic-based containers are made of high-density polyethylene.

Advantages

Plastic is much durable and lighter as compared to wood which makes transportation cheaper and less packaging material required. Plastics have been preferable due to their costs and durability. They last longer as compared to wood and paper containers even when thrown and tossed in the shipping process (Accorsi, Manzini, and Ferrari, 2014). Plastics do not easily break and are able to withstand much pressure. This means that a plastic container can replace hundreds of wooden and paper containers since it can be used several times. Relatively, they are less expensive since their manufacturing cost is low and manufactured in large quantities. Unlike wooden and paper materials, they do not incur replacement costs in the shipping process. They are capable of holding items under high temperatures unlike paper-based containers since they have high thermal resistance. The plastic containers are reusable, inexpensive, and rigid. They have remained effective due to their small sizes and high thermal resistance values which make them require minimal refrigeration.

Disadvantages

Plastic debris has been a great threat. They have longevity issues since they degrade with time. Excess denting, light, cracking and scratching impact these materials. This means that when shipping takes longer time than expected the plastic containers are at a high risk of buckling and cracking. Plastic containers are harmful to nature since improper disposal may impact the environment. This is because plastics are non-recyclable since their manufacturing process relies on irreversible chemical reactions (Lirn, Lin, and Shang, 2014). Plastic containers tend to absorb the flavors, tastes, and smells of items that are stored inside. For instance, foods that have strong flavors such as curry and garlic are absorbed in the containers and the smell persists even after the container is washed.

Conclusion

In summation, the various shipping containers have their advantages and disadvantages. The shipping containers are used for various purposes and are best suited for the needs of the product and the company. Companies tend to evaluate the disadvantages and advantages that offer essential information concerning the most effective shipping containers to use in the future.

References

Accorsi, R., Manzini, R., & Ferrari, E. (2014). A comparison of shipping containers from technical, economic, and environmental perspectives. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 26, 52-59.

Lirn, T. C., Lin, H. W., & Shang, K. C. (2014). Green shipping management capability and firm performance in the container shipping industry. Maritime Policy & Management, 41(2), 159-175.

Lun, Y. V., Lai, K. H., & Cheng, T. E. (2010). Shipping and logistics management. London: Springer.

Twede, D. (2016). History of packaging. The Routledge companion to marketing history, 115-129.