IKEA phase out the use of wooden pallets
Leading International Retailer, IKEA, recently announced its plans to phase out the use of wooden pallets across its global operations and to transition instead to lean alternative shipping platforms consisting of loading ledges and paper pallets.
“No other retailer in the world has committed to such a change,” said an IKEA representative in a recent article by Packaging Revolution. “IKEA stores are the first global example of how to work with non-wooden pallets in a high-volume retail environment.”
IKEA made the decision based on the overwhelming advantages associated with plastic pallets and paper platforms. Though the change required a complete overhaul of supply chain operations and routines, IKEA still found that it was the best business decision for the company.
Loading ledges are not exclusive to IKEA and are commercially available as the OptiLedge. The OptiLedge presents the opportunity for dramatic savings to other supply chains, as well, by decreasing the costs associated with labor, fuel, packaging and product damage. The less than two-pound plastic shipping pallet replacement is also extremely durable, 100 percent recyclable, helps keep the air clean by reducing overall wood consumption and reduces overall fuel emissions.
“IKEA’s recent statements regarding the planned elimination of wooden pallets from its supply chain is a huge endorsement for the OptiLedge concept,” said Jonathan North, General Manager of the business unit responsible for the OptiLedge at Inter IKEA Systems B.V. “This dramatic move by IKEA sends a strong message to other supply chain stakeholders that there are real cost effective alternatives to traditional wooden pallets. Even asset conservative, but labor intensive floor loading practices can benefit from the OptiLedge. There is nothing very unique about IKEA’s supply chain, so the savings opportunities are equally applicable to other users, whether in the retail industry or not.”
The OptiLedge was created by IKEA to replace the traditional wooden pallet when shipping goods between continents. The loading ledge idea worked so well, IKEA decided to market the OptiLedge outside the IKEA world and make it available to other retailers and companies. OptiLogistics Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Inter-IKEA Systems Holding B.V. and we are responsible for marketing the OptiLedge worldwide.
“No other retailer in the world has committed to such a change,” said an IKEA representative in a recent article by Packaging Revolution. “IKEA stores are the first global example of how to work with non-wooden pallets in a high-volume retail environment.”
IKEA made the decision based on the overwhelming advantages associated with plastic pallets and paper platforms. Though the change required a complete overhaul of supply chain operations and routines, IKEA still found that it was the best business decision for the company.
Loading ledges are not exclusive to IKEA and are commercially available as the OptiLedge. The OptiLedge presents the opportunity for dramatic savings to other supply chains, as well, by decreasing the costs associated with labor, fuel, packaging and product damage. The less than two-pound plastic shipping pallet replacement is also extremely durable, 100 percent recyclable, helps keep the air clean by reducing overall wood consumption and reduces overall fuel emissions.
“IKEA’s recent statements regarding the planned elimination of wooden pallets from its supply chain is a huge endorsement for the OptiLedge concept,” said Jonathan North, General Manager of the business unit responsible for the OptiLedge at Inter IKEA Systems B.V. “This dramatic move by IKEA sends a strong message to other supply chain stakeholders that there are real cost effective alternatives to traditional wooden pallets. Even asset conservative, but labor intensive floor loading practices can benefit from the OptiLedge. There is nothing very unique about IKEA’s supply chain, so the savings opportunities are equally applicable to other users, whether in the retail industry or not.”
The OptiLedge was created by IKEA to replace the traditional wooden pallet when shipping goods between continents. The loading ledge idea worked so well, IKEA decided to market the OptiLedge outside the IKEA world and make it available to other retailers and companies. OptiLogistics Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Inter-IKEA Systems Holding B.V. and we are responsible for marketing the OptiLedge worldwide.