The Reusable Packaging Association (RPA) is pleased to announce that STIHL Inc. and Goodwill Industries International are the winners of the 2017 Excellence in Reusable Packaging award. Winners to present their submissions at Pack Expo 2017 at the RPA Reusable Packaging Learning Center on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017 at 2:30 pm PDT.

Two award categories were established in 2017: one to recognize for-profit companies and one to recognize non-profit or governmental organizations. STIHL Inc. received the for-profit company award for its project to reduce waste, cost, material handling, and down-time while improving movement of in-house components within and between facilities through conversion from single-use corrugated boxes to reusable storage/transport containers. Goodwill Industries International received the non-profit organization award for its initiative to reduce product damage and cost while improving worker safety and warehouse utilization through a standard footprint reusable pallet and sleeve system for bulk storage of donated items.

“This year, we received the highest number of applications since the award program was established in 2011,” said Tim Debus, President & CEO of the RPA. “The innovation reflected in all the entries was outstanding and the field was very competitive. However, the significant business and environmental results achieved by STIHL Inc. and Goodwill made their submissions stand out. Our judges cited the impressive impact demonstrated in multiple facets of their operations, including product movement, handling and storage, worker safety, operational efficiency, waste reduction, and cost savings across multiple facilities and geographies as key factors in their selection. We congratulate STIHL Inc. and Goodwill, and we commend and thank all the companies that submitted entries this year for making reusable transport packaging a centerpiece of their sustainability programs.”