For the past century, the corrugated box has been the preferred shipping container for nearly all goods in North America. Plastic crate manufacturers claim they reduce shipping container acquisition and disposal costs through repeated use. This new product may seem attractive because the recipient of goods seems to be absolved of container disposal costs. However, in many instances these costs creep back in and even multiply when plastic crates are adopted without assessing the total system impact of switching containers.
Plastic crates are more environmentally friendly than corrugated.
A significant percentage of plastic goods are ultimately deposited in landfills where they do not degrade. Corrugated boxes are made from a renewable resource, and this fiber is reused over and over again. In fact, corrugated has one of the best recovery and recycling records of any packaging material. Inherently rigid plastic crates provide less product cushioning and protection from scuffing and bruising. The additional expense of dunnage can be significant.