LONDON: B&Q has replaced cardboard packaging used to transport kitchen components to customers' houses with reusable packaging system to cut annual packaging costs.
The moves save 435 tonnes of cardboard and cut costs by around £80 000 a year.
The packaging, called Longspacs, has been developed over two years by B&Q and logistics specialist Ceva, is used to transport components such as plinths, pelmets and cornices from B&Q's showroom fulfilment centre in Branston, Staffordshire.
A Longspac is a 3m long polypropylene box covered in a woven polypropylene fabric and fitted with handles. It can be opened at both ends, is rain proof, rugged and easy to handle.
Its development follows B&Q's introduction in 2008 of the Carrierpac, a reusable cover used to transport B&Q's kitchen worktops to customers. Ceva developed Carrierpac and Longspac in consultation with environmental organisation WRAP, design consultants Outpace, and flexible intermediate bulk container manufacturer Storesack.
Kevin Corby, Ceva's business improvements manager and project manager for Carrierpacs and Longspacs, says: "Although transit-damage rates were already low, and not the major consideration, we have also enjoyed an improvement in this area,"
