The shift may finally get rid of the need to encase every item in impossible-to-open plastic. Shifting consumer shopping habits during the COVID-19 pandemic drove changes all up and down the supply chain — including in the way goods are packaged.
Operations managers had to rethink how their packaging works in environments where workers must stay at least six feet apart, said Laura Clark, vice president of global strategy and business development at Sealed Air.
Warehouse and fulfillment center operators also had to cope with labor scarcity, which has led to much more automation.
The pandemic-accelerated shift to e-commerce has also driven changes in packaging size, consumer perception of packaging and waste, and design for more return-friendly packaging. The shift may finally get rid of the need to encase every item in impossible-to-open plastic.
“COVID has pulled the future forward,” Clark said. In fact, she believes COVID-19 has pushed automation in packaging up by three to five years…Â Read the full story here:Â Supply Chain Dive