Haworth Inc. participated in a study conducted by Perkins Logistics and found that about 20 percent of CO2 emissions from truck shipping can be reduced by sprotecting products protected with reusable wrappings and equipment instead of cardboard boxes.
The Perkins method of packaging involved using blankets, straps, bars and plywood tiers, which allowed the company to fit an average of about 65 percent more products into its trailers, reducing the number of loads needed and eliminating cardboard waste.
The study found that because Perkins was able to pack more pieces per truckload, Haworth eliminated the need to make 11 truckload shipments during the study, which would have emitted more than 27 metric tons of CO2 from burnt diesel fuel alone.
Taken over a year's time, the CO2 emissions reduction would be more than 283 metric tons -- the equivalent of removing 52 passenger cars from the road for a year, according to the study.
