Resources

Packaging can impact organizations in unexpected ways. Without a way to get a good handle on how much your packaging operations cost, a company’s profits can be smaller than expected.

When brands think about packaging costs, most stop at the price of the box. But the real cost is hidden. It is scattered across freight inefficiencies, damaged returns, unplanned rework, and specs that quietly tie you to one region or vendor.

Last week, I had the privilege of attending a supply chain conference where I heard from leading thinkers in the footwear and apparel industries. Based on what I heard, if you're running a consumer brand right now, you're probably not the envy of the parents in Sammy or Susie’s friend group. One day it's "move everything to Vietnam!" The next it's "wait, maybe Mexico?" Then it's "actually, what about reshoring to the US?" And now you're sitting in meetings where everyone just stares blankly at PowerPoint slides showing tariff scenarios that might as well be written in hieroglyphics.

When you look at the product development lifecycle, packaging is often found towards the end. It may be viewed as a last-minute task that needs to be completed before getting the product to market—something that simply needs to be checked off a list, instead of an integral part of the development process. 

As Washington slaps fresh tariffs on Chinese imports, boardrooms across America are buzzing with exit strategies—but the offramp out of China is loaded with hidden considerations, especially when it comes to your packaging needs.

Political upheaval, the effects of climate change, and continued supply chain interruptions present new challenges to organizations and their international shipping operations.

Distribution managers are constantly being tasked with lowering operating costs and improving overall efficiency. In one survey, nearly 80% of warehouse managers were asked to find an average of 19% cost savings from existing operations. One overlooked area where such savings opportunities can be found? Packaging.

Global brands with product manufacturing in South and Southeast Asia (SEA) face multiple challenges with oversight and control of packaging. While these brands have internal personnel that are responsible for retail and transport packaging, determining whether these internal team members have sufficient resources to fully optimize packaging sourced thousands of miles away can be a difficult task.

Transport packaging is often an overlooked aspect of supply chain management. Yet, it directly affects costs, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Every package shipped represents an opportunity to reduce costs, improve sustainability, and ensure products arrive safely. By focusing on these three key areas, you can transform packaging into a strategic driver of value across your supply chain.

To determine the holistic picture of their packaging costs, organizations are prioritizing the total cost of ownership (TCO) of their packaging.