Reusable Packaging Association announces winners of Excellence in Reusable Packaging Award

Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Herman Miller, and Boulder Valley School District each earned an Excellence in Reusable Packaging Award from the Reusable Packaging Association (RPA).

Together, the three recipients achieved a cost savings of almost $16.5 million and prevented more than 28,000 tons of corrugated waste in landfills. Subaru and Herman Miller won the RPA award for businesses with revenues over $25 million.

“The diversity of markets shows the versatility of applications for reusable packaging,” said Jerry Welcome, president of the RPA. “All three winners, and many of the other applicants, clearly demonstrated the economic and environmental savings that can be achieved by implementing reusable packaging.”

Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. – The manufacturer took a fresh look at its existing reusable packaging program and uncovered new areas and ways to gain deeper process improvements as well as more cost and environmental savings. SIA achieved a cost savings of nearly $16 million by re-purposing existing reusable packaging from earlier production lines and by replacing additional corrugated containers with new reusable packaging. They also achieved a targeted goal of using reusable packaging for 95% of direct ship parts for the production of its 2015 Subaru Outback and Legacy models, keeping more than 28,000 tons of cardboard out of the waste stream. “Subaru of Indiana Automotive has always utilized reusable packaging to support our environmental goals. Recently there is greater realization and proof of the economic benefits as well,” said Steve Sorg, manager of logistics manufacturing engineering at SIA.

Herman Miller, Inc – The company applied reusable packaging for outgoing shipments of furniture for the first time. By using reusable packaging rather than corrugated, the company saved more than $400,000 in material and freight costs; and kept 100 tons of waste out of the landfill. The company believes it is the largest use of outbound reusable packaging in its industry. “This customer had safety and sustainability goals beyond others we had ever encountered, as well as requirements for successful delivery and on-time completion. We used these goals throughout our problem-solving process to design a unique application of reusable packaging and its return system,” said David Martin, packaging engineering manager at Herman Miller.

Boulder Valley School District – The large school district saved $4,581 and kept 4,587 pounds of cardboard out of the waste stream by switching to reusable packaging for the delivery of apples and beef patties from the field and meat supplier to production kitchens and then out to individual school cafeterias, serving up 12,000 meals daily. The district won the RPA award for businesses with revenues less than $25 million. “This innovative program helps BVSD advance our sustainability goals and will hopefully inspire other school districts to explore reusable packaging options for their operations,” said Ann Cooper, BVSD Food Services director.

The winners will give presentations on their award-winning entries at the RPA’s Reusables Learning Center at Pack Expo Las Vegas, Sept. 28-29.