The Reusable Packaging Association announces the winner of the 2019 Excellence in Reusable Packaging award program: The Kroger Company with reusable packaging supplier Polymer Logistics for a palletizing solution.

The Kroger Company won for its 2018 commercial pilot demonstrating the cost-savings and environmental impact reductions as a result of adopting the Polymer Logistics’ Cleanpal pallet for the distribution of fresh eggs from a leading supplier to Kroger stores. The innovative pallet design, carrying the reusable plastic containers (RPCs) packed with egg cartons, builds a secure shipping platform that reduces Kroger’s distribution costs by up to 66% and removes 6,500 tons of CO₂ emissions from the retailer’s egg supply chain.

The Cleanpal pallet weighs up to 2.5 times less than traditional pallets, moving up to three times more pallets in truckload deliveries and returns, and enabling 1,000 incremental pounds of egg product per shipment from supplier to warehouse. The pallet introduces a revolutionary interlocking design for nestable stacking in storage and transit, and the pallet interlocks with RPCs for superior stacking stability and ability to eliminate dunnage materials like shrink wrap and corner boards.

“Kroger is committed to Zero Hunger-Zero Waste in everything we touch,” said Joe O’Connor, supply chain process change manager at Kroger. “And this goal has led our drive to expand packaging reuse solutions with pallets and RPCs. The CleanPal pallet and the partnership with Polymer Logistics was a significant leap in our work up and down the supply chain for food to establish a balanced model to benefit our stores, DCs and customers.”

As a leader in innovative reusable transport packaging and retail merchandising systems, Polymer Logistics developed the strong, durable and nestable Cleanpal pallet to achieve superior performance for perishable commodities like eggs in a rigorous retail supply chain where product protection, safety and freshness cannot be compromised.

“The Cleanpal pallet is a breakthrough in supermarket distribution platforms,” said Paul Pederson, senior vice president, food safety, meat & dairy supply chain for Polymer Logistics. “Our focus is to help retailers delight their shoppers with high-impact product presentation and efficient supply chain packaging systems. The Cleanpal pallet combined with RPCs delivers on this goal.”