Comparing and Contrasting Profits and Disadvantages of Shipping-Based Vessels

Determining the kind of shipping container (SC) required for products and projects is essential.

Selecting a wrong shipping material is likely to damage products, which might cause organizations to lose profits. Before organizing how to transport items, logistics firms must assess the type of goods to be shipped. Organizations must consider conditions of commodities and the price of transportation during the shipping procedure. Other supply methods might require a product to be transported in large number and kept for a certain period before processed to the supply center. Consequently, after approval by the authority, organizations can start to choose shipping containers and products. The most frequently used shipping containers include wood-based, plastic-based and paper-based containers. These techniques have many advantages and drawbacks. Therefore, the essay would compare and contrast profits and disadvantages of shipping-based vessels

Wood-Based Containers

Wood-based containers are used in current logistic industries. Despite the development of an alternative material, wood-based containers (WBC) continue to be common in manufacturing industries

Advantages

Wood-based vessels are commonly used by many logistic companies because they are easily affordable as compared to plastic and paper-based containers. Replacement and customization of the wooden crates are cost-effective and very simple than in paper and plastic-based containers. Moreover, wood is designed and constructed for reuse after several consumptions. For instance, it is possible to replace certain parts of wood without replacing the entire skid, box, or crate (FCA, 2014). Due to more versatility, wood-based container significantly maximizes loads (can handle more significant loads) and reduces costs.

Wooden containers (WC) are more durable and stronger to ferry a more extensive variety of goods as compared to plastic materials. Fibers present within the wood container offer insulation during supplies. Therefore, wood-based vessels are the best choice when shipping goods in a corrosive surrounding thus keep products fresh and avoid loss (wood and crates shipping containers., 2018). Despite these benefits, wood-based containers have many drawbacks that force firms to choose different shipping approaches

Disadvantages

Organizations restrain from using the wood-based container because they are very bulky. Keeping WBC requires a big space in an industrial warehouse.

Moreover, large containers need bigger shipping space that can be employed to ferry an extra cargo than plastic-based shipping containers. Due to extra space for big vessels, customers risk an increase in transportation price. Although the wood container is essential for transporting goods in acidic surroundings, exposing wood to high moisture might result in severe leakages hence damages to the products.

In their study, Singh, Antle, Topper, and Grewal (2014) outline that wetting and poor treatment might make wood a habitat to fungi, mold and more bacteria that is hazardous for diet goods hence higher shipping price due to the need for chemicals to safeguard the forests. To produce wood containers, trees are required, and this causes global concerns. The eco-friendly companies are likely to stray from consuming wood-based vessels to decrease the risks of global deforestation and choose to use either paper or plastic-based containers

Paper Based-Containers

Paper containers are increasingly being used by many firms for various activities. For example, cartons are used for milk, perishable goods, eggs, and milk. Thus paper packaging is an essential feature of a new life.

Advantages

Paper containers limit the amount of harm done to the natural resources. Similar to wood-containers, paper packaging requires trees to produce the materials. However, the paper has the advantage of being simple and easy to recycle thus reducing pollution and safeguarding the environment. Hamblin (2013) asserts that Paper containers are much smaller as compared to large wood containers. Therefore, paper-based containers (PBC) provide more space when ferrying goods, which assists in reducing the price of transportation and expands loads. Furthermore, firms can reduce cost since consuming paper containers reduces weights of all shipment. Paper materials are more easy manufacture, thus mass production at lower prices as compared to plastic based-containers. Paper containers do not produce more wastes as compared to wood and plastic-based materials. As a result, companies use paper containers due to its many benefits.

Disadvantages

Individuals and companies cannot re-use the paper containers since they are quickly discarded after usage. Even if not discarded appropriately, paper containers do not damage the surrounding as compared to plastic bottles because they decompose and become nutrients in the soils. However, there is severe deforestation due to high demand for trees to produce more papers. Moreover, there is a cost related to cutting down the tree. Since paper containers are not re-used, there is a higher price of regularly replenishing new containers. Despite all these drawbacks, paper packing (PP) plays an essential task in preserving the surrounding than plastic and wood-based materials (Hamblin,2013). The counterpart to wood and paper packaging is plastic-based shipping materials

Plastic-Based Shipping Containers

Plastic containers are increasingly becoming common options for companies because of their reusability. In their study, Twede, Selke, Kamdem and Shires (2014) outline that as manufacturing industries move towards sustainability and green initiatives, the application of plastic containers must be evaluated for opportunities and risks to reduce their effects on the environment. There are several benefits that plastic material come with.

Advantages

Organizations save funds on transportation because plastic materials are reusable. When firms use plastic vessels, they get materials that are durable, stronger and cleaner. Maintaining plastic containers is relatively easier than wood materials (plastic shipping container institute, 2016). Additionally, they are secure from water absorptions and damage based on inclement weather than paper and wood-based vessels. The design and shape of plastic-materials help in shipping multiple containers effectively. Plastic materials are more extensive and can be modified to every configuration but not needs.

Disadvantages

Although PC (plastic containers) may appear the most preferred and quality option, they are not financially feasible. Most reusable materials have a high upfront price. Moreover, with weaker logistics foundations and lack of reliable return systems (RRS) containers might get lost thereby creating more expensive complications. Kulbeth (2013) argues that If the packets do not have the same shape, more space is wasted thereby increasing the shipping cost. For schemes with low volume or short timeline, buying reusable materials would be cheap since there occur limited opportunities for recouping funding and investment in plastic containers.

Plastic containers have severe effects on the environment. Burning and burying non-renewable plastic containers causes soil, water, and air pollution thus requires an effective method to dispose of plastic wastes (Singh et al.,2014). Currently, there are policies and regulations on how companies manage their chemical residues to conserve the environment. Twede et al. (2014) assert that companies that failure to observe the implemented strategies risk termination or pay more to the concerned authorities.

In conclusion, the packaging is used to enhance the transportation of goods. Moreover, packaging helps in securing the products from damages and exposure to illegal activities. Appropriate packaging is characterized by low cost, reliability, and security. The use of plastic, wooden and paper-based containers are still under investigation as they are considered insecure for highly valuable goods. However, the study recommends individuals and organizations employ paper and wood-based packaging containers because they are cheap and do not damage the environment. Additionally, they are cheap and safer than plastic and wooden-based materials hence should be used for active packaging.

References

FCA. (2014, January/February). Why Everyone Should Consider Custom Wood Crates. Retrieved November 27, 2016, from http://fcapackaging.com/why-would-anyone-use-custom-wooden-crates-today/

Kulbeth, J. (2013, December 3). The Pros and Cons of Reusable Plastic Containers. Retrieved November 27, 2016, from https://www.universalpackage.com/universal-package-systems-blog/the-pros-and-cons-of-reusable-plastic-containers

Hamblin, P. W. (2013, January 11). Benefits of Paper-based Packaging - News Archive. Retrieved November 27, 2016, from http://www.lagrangeil.com/technology/benefits-of-paper-based-packaging.html

plastic shipping container institute . (2016, nov 21). Retrieved from plastic shipping container institute: http://www.pscionline.org/index.html

Singh, P., Singh, J., Antle, J., Topper, E., & Grewal, G. (2014). Load securement and packaging methods to reduce risk of damage and personal injury for cargo freight in truck, container and intermodal shipments. Journal of Applied Packaging Research, 6(1), 6.

Twede, D., Selke, S. E., Kamdem, D. P., & Shires, D. (2014). Cartons, crates and corrugated board: handbook of paper and wood packaging technology. DEStech Publications, Inc.

wood and crates shipping containers. (2018, nov wed). Retrieved from wood and crates shipping containers: https://www.cratersandfreighters.com/services/crating/wood-crating/