acceptable moisture content in corrugated boxes

<>>> This was 11.8percent of MSW landfilled in 2018. Another way to stabilize, secure and protect loads in a trailer is by using dunnage, such as air bags, partitions, braces and load locks. That worker should be trained to never toss, drag, or drop that bundle. Copyright 2022 FlexPAC Web Design by Roundpeg, To get all the tips on corrugated boxes, read our blog on, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). The moisture content of the box is determined by environmental relative humidity. Higher humidity levels can drastically affect corrugate strength. 4 Zesty Trends in Food and Beverage Packaging, 2023 Heralds Useful Ideas for Packaging Progress. All rights reserved. In general, the less moisture there is residing in the board, the stronger the board will be and the longer it will hold its . FEFCO 1952 - 2022. In fact, up to 15% of compression strength may be destroyed. In very humid environments, such as a warehouse with an uncontrolled climate in the summertime, stacking strength is greatly reduced. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. And if there has to be an investment in storage racks, a favorable tradeoff is that the specified heights of unit loads can be increased, leading to increased storage densities, and later, increased handling efficiencies. Glass containers include beer and soft drink bottles, wine and liquor bottles, as well as bottles and jars for food and juices, cosmetics, and other products. Our team has worked with countless companies whose boxes have faced just about every environmental condition imaginable. Get more information about cookies and how you can refuse them by clicking on the learn more button below. boxes with higher basis weight, using wet strength resin additives or adhesives or application of surface barrier coatings. Sources: USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station and Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Incidentally, superimposed weight should be like-on-like, meaning, weights other than corrugated should not be superimposed on unit loads of corrugated. It is estimated that recycling of HDPE natural bottles (e.g., milk and water bottles) was 220,000 tons, or 29.3 percent of generation. Extreme cold also affects moisture content, making the boxes more fragile. Is the product appropriately stabilized? Avoid stacking boxes too high, whether loose or banded, because of slight instability. Another set of problems relate to unitizing. Easy Way to Analyze Moisture Content of Corrugated Boxes During production of corrugated boards, manufacturers often face a unique problem caused by inaccurate control of moisture; if the moisture content of the corrugated box is higher, it may leads to collapsing of the box. Drive performance improvement using our new business intelligence tools. Some regions are arid year-round but those that arent still can experience periods of low humidity, either from wintry cold or summer heat. EPA measures the generation, recycling, composting, combustion with energy recovery and landfilling of paper and paperboard products. Storage and transportation can expose corrugated boxes to fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Is this practical? Use good materials handling procedures; dont drop or throw bundles or pallet. . Gaposis that originates at the palletizer dramatically increases the potential for damage. All rights reserved. There are those owing to dimensional changes: the corrugated absorbs moisture causing it to swell, warp, or distort to whatever degree. Indianapolis, IN 46278 stream Cardboard too much water, will affect its normal use. The construction of a box can become even more complicated for dangerous goods. BRC/IOP, MCAS) and therefore multi-audits are superfluous. Its fair to say that billions of productsall types, all sizes, all purposesmake the trip from the manufacturing plant to a distribution center to a retail store. stream Engineering, however, does not solve every problem that can be encountered with corrugated. First, learn whether the damage occurred in manufacturing, distribution or in transit. zN.V``SY%`pz~QCl.tn.qsxCl.#/Wy p+Sfezaq~k{s4v CO=4=\{xz2>E)`gL'E&"J/_ Y(LtW2iwSJ,^NFivB='VXmdn&pSFgF$nrJefpUh^o_42qAP9*+zLQ9uqWZjDE5RSSRA)xj. This is why dew forms when the temperature drops. Get a Free Quote. endobj The type of dunnage selected depends on the type of shipment and the other packaging materials being used, as well as convenience and price. Approximately 20.6 percent of the other miscellaneous packaging was combusted with energy recovery, while the majority was landfilled (79.4 percent). Beginning in 2009, the Glass Packaging Institute provided production data. 1 0 obj We also collaborate with our supply chain partners to develop the optimal packaging materials for your specific needs. FEFCO Technical Specifications for Converting Equipment_V1.2is meant to support all those in the industry who are involved in selecting converting machines, defining the specifications of the machines, commissioning the machines and using them after installation. This means that the cases are doing their job to protect whats inside. Registered in England and Wales. for specifying conveyor and container handling equipment, and top tips for a successful pack Pallets made with green wood can have a moisture content (MC) ranging from 50-100% and can easily contain more than ten pounds of water. After the manufacturing process, the corrugated board is cut into sheets and stored in a stack until optimum moisture content has been reached in order to On average, the figure is around 2%. The main purpose of packaging is to provide protection for products. The total amount of paper and paperboard combusted in 2018was 4.2million tons. Box 43176; Detroit, MI 48243; 313-531-1875 office; 313-531-1972 fax; sterlinganthony1@sbcglobal.net; www.pkgconsultant. 2 0 obj In todays workplace, five generations are actively employed. Were all familiar with how easily paper can soak up liquids. PCR Content Popularity Gains on the Horizon, unPACKed podcast: MRFs & Flexible Packaging Need to Coexist, Food Lion Brand Demos Advanced Recycling-Based Circular System. Facts and Figures about Materials, Waste and Recycling, Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: Facts and Figures Report page, Paper and Paperboard Containers and Packaging. it can guarantee consistent hygienic conditions within a controlled production process. Additionally, the combustion of containers and packaging was 7.4 million tons (21.5 percent of total combustion with energy recovery) and landfills received 30.5 million tons (20.9 percent of total landfilling) in 2018. Packaging products are comprised of different plastic resins. Represents the most recent date that the FAQ was reviewed (e.g. Aluminum containers and packaging include beer and soft drink cans (including all carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks, tea, tonic, waters and juice beverages), other cans, and foil and closures (including semi-rigid foil containers, caps, closures and flexible packaging). Faced with the manufacturing-industry standard of a two-hour unload window or risk hefty detention charges, retailers frequently reject entire unit loads at the dockeven if only one or two cartons are damaged. Check out our self-paced learning resources and tools including books, accreditation manuals and newsletters. This method, however, makes it difficult to keep the load intact during handling. Storage and transportation of corrugated boxes can expose them to varying and often fluctuating environmental conditions. Molded fiber A complete line of innovative fiber-based solutions that protect your products. FEFCO Corrugated Packaging Recyclability Guidelines - design for circularity. Additionally, about five percent of the steel containers and packaging waste generated was combusted with energy recovery, while the remainder (21.2 percent) was landfilled. EPA used statistics from the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) to estimate post-consumer paper and paperboard generation in 2018. Types of changes and an explanation of change type: Reflects new or updated requirements: Changes represent new or revised requirements. The result is known as moisture resistant adhesive (MRA). 19-0 . They can pull the pallet and put it in a re-coup area and submit a claim to the manufacturer. However, over time, cases can shift, creating a gap that can lead to product damage. Overall, the amount of recycled plastic containers and packaging in 2018 was almost 2 million tons or 13.6 percent of plastic containers and packaging generated. A solution for avoiding direct contact with the floor and for avoiding superimposed weights is storage racks, especially if the facility already is so equipped. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Other paper packaging, such as cartons and sacks, is mostly recycled as mixed papers. Overall, paper and paperboard containers and packaging totaled 41.9 million tons of MSW generation in 2018, or 14.3 percent of total generation. Corrugated cardboard boxes are no exception. Wood packaging includes mostly wood pallets, as well as wood crates. The converting machines play a major role in obtaining the required quality level of the finished products. Consider that while shifting to more eco-friendly materials meets consumers increasing demand for more-sustainable packaging, the likelihood for damage rises. 4 0 obj In 2018, paper and paperboard (cardboard) materials comprised the largest component of municipal solid waste (MSW). Approximately 46million tons of paper and paperboard were recycled in 2018for a recycling rate of 68.2percent, which was the highest compared to other materials in MSW. Please see the EPA Methodology Document for further information on estimating the generation and management of paper and paperboard. Functionally, corrugated becomes brittle and crinkly. Sources: Aluminum Association data are used for generation of aluminum packaging and recycling of aluminum cans. Wrong! At 85% RH, a box has 50% of its potential stacking strength. Source: Paper and Paperboard information is from the American Forest & Paper Association. Logically, the more packaging there is, the more protection there should be. It is useful and instructive for box design considerations to quantify the expected strength loss as a function of the equilibrated moisture content of corrugated board and so minimize box failure in high humidity . Store boxes indoors and protect them from overhead moisture. % Packaging is the product used to wrap or protect goods, including food, beverages, medications and cosmetic products. During the day, the warmer air picks up moisture, and as the air cools in the evening, it releases it as dew. However, a troubling trend has emerged. Other paper and paperboard packaging in MSW includes milk and juice cartons and other products packaged in gable top cartons and liquid food aseptic cartons, folding cartons (e.g., cereal boxes, frozen food boxes, some department store boxes), bags and sacks, wrapping papers, and other paper and paperboard packaging (primarily set-up boxes such as shoe, cosmetic and candy boxes). Can retailers really afford to do this? Box users make major investments in the development, production and promotion of their products. In establishing practices meant to assure that corrugated is fit for its intended purposes, the guidelines are, Keep out of reach of hazardous conditions, and, Handle with care., _____________________________________________________________________________________________, Sterling Anthony is a consultant, specializing in the strategic use of marketing, logistics, and packaging. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Returning to the 95% statistic that opened this article, its division among the versions of corrugated might vary; however, corrugated, as an overall category, will retain its dominance. producers, packers or suppliers) are responsible for ensuring the quality, safety, and hygiene not only of food, but also of packaging. His contact information is: 100 Renaissance Center- P.O. Looking for other information? This may require storage away from doorways that are opened frequently. In a more recent publication,The Fundamentals of Packaging Technology(c.2013), an increase in RH from 40% to 90% can result in a loss of about 50% of a corrugated containers stack strength. Therefore a corrugated shipping case headed for humid conditions will need to be much stronger in order to compensate for this loss. Because corrugated is hygroscopic, the relative humidity of the storage area should be maintained within favorable tolerances. However, once the corrugated is manufactured, moisture regulation is critical, so the corrugated board is dried to achieve a moisture content of 10-12% to optimize it for strength and prevent box manufacturing issues, such as: Maintaining the moisture content of the corrugated box plays a critical role in its performance. Fortunately, combating the harmful effects of low humidity need not be complicated or expensive. Following these simple guidelines will maximize the performance and prolong the useful life of your corrugated boxes: The preceding information and illustrations on how to store and handle corrugated boxes are from the Fibre Box Handbook (Fibre Box Association, Rolling Meadows, IL, 1992), Do you have a project GLBC can help out with? View them by specific areas by clicking here. Containers and packaging make up a major portion ofmunicipal solid waste (MSW), amounting to 82.2 million tons of generation in 2018 (28.1 percent of total generation). <>/XObject<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> When this occurs, the two vertical edges of the box not hanging over the pallet edge are primarily supporting the load. The porosity of wood fibers, which is what corrugated boxes are made of, allows it to absorb and release moisture, a phenomenon that isknown as hygroscopy. Measurement devices could be obtained from the suppliers: Avoid temperature and humidity extremes and fluctuations in storage areas. Berry et al., 2019; Peleg, 1993), and thus the value of EMC (equilibrium moisture content, kg/m 3 ) is estimated by using the PFP model as shown in Equation (15 The pallet is designated as damaged on delivery from the plant, and the carrier takes it back. This situation can be much like a double-edged sword. You need to be laser focused on specific targets, so you know exactly where to make improvements. Before putting together a plan, lets examine how product damage occurs and some questions to ponder. In its most basic formula, corn starch adhesive has very little moisture resistance, which would cause the composite layers of corrugated board to separate in high humidity conditions. Once a box is formed, both before and after it is filled with product, maintaining its moisture content is critical to maintaining the boxs compression strength. In cool and dry areas, consider using lamination as a finish. FEFCO has updated the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) document in March 2020. Source: American Forest and Paper Association. Additionally, about 14.3 percent of the wood containers and packaging waste generated was combusted with energy recovery, while the remainder (58.8 percent) was landfilled. Set expectations for your organization's performance that are reasonable, achievable and survey-able. And just where do you start? x[oH |EX,NC$NCw?R' -%k(;=! Incredibly, it has been found that improper palletization can result in boxes losing up to 50% of their compression strength! AutomationDirects Contrinex small rectangular inductive proximity sensors are available in sizes12mm x 27mm x 6.5mm and 12mm x 27mm x 12mm. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Toll-free: 800-283-0097 Keep learning with our Hospital Breakfast Briefings Webinar Series. All-in-one pharma carton printer streamlines production process, Improve line with portable high-speed cameras, Pepsi, Fanta Consider Digital Space in Spate of Soda Facelifts. We help you measure, assess and improve your performance. In addition to accreditation, certification, and verification, we provide tools and resources for health care professionals that can help make a difference in the delivery of care. Therefore, it is worth protecting your inventory of empty corrugated boxes to ensure that: Guidelines for proper handling and storage of empty boxes, developed by theFibre Box Association and the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute, have been summarized and presented below. Throughout its time in storage and up to the time its erected into a box, corrugated should remain flat and never stored on its edge. Some easy-to-overlook culprits are storage and handling practices. If other suppliers could provide measurement devices, please inform FEFCO. Take a look at our two other product categories and at our materials. To put it another way, dont treat damage research like an Easter egg hunt. These estimates include recycling from residential sources, pre-combustion and post-combustion magnetic separation of steel cans and other ferrous products at MSW combustion facilities, and recycling of drums and barrels not suitable for reconditioning. All actors of the supply chain (e.g. Additionally, about 13.4 percent of the glass containers and packaging waste generated was combusted with energy recovery, while the remainder (55.4 percent) was landfilled. In 2018, the recycling rate of generated packaging and containers was 53.9 percent. How appropriately stretch-wrap is applied can be a big factor in whether a product sustains damage. Alternate bundle direction, or alternate loose boxes at intervals for greater stability. Please click here to see any active alerts. The data below are from 1960 to 2018, relating to the total number of tons of other miscellaneous packaging generated, recycled, composted, combusted with energy recovery and landfilled. You may also want to look at reconfiguring the box dimensions to fit the pallet. %PDF-1.5 3 0 obj The corrugated medium is often 0.026 pounds per square foot (0.13 kg/m) basis weight in the U.S.; in the UK, a 90 grams per square metre (0.018 lb/sq ft) fluting paper is common. 4dn2PE;o%jM ]oPk3x H7,9F;* F#u ghEIk*aMx\EV)lDPf!>%{ m sHq*XJmNl3p#N3)}X6uUWZWmH[7V{!+)HD?^M@=L`dTm.tVm$Ex7D`9X$W;$_4H+W+Qoj%H The updated document is now available here. The amount of moisture in a board has a significant effect in the material's properties such as printability, shrinkage, dimensional stability, and physical strength. EPA included estimates for some other miscellaneous packaging, such as bags made of textiles and small amounts of leather. Moisture Content Takes a Leading Role. Editorial changes only: Format changes only. Some of these include polyethylene terephthalate (PET) soft drink and water bottles, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) milk and water jugs, film products (including bags and sacks) made of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and other containers and packaging (including clamshells, trays, caps, lids, egg cartons, loose fill, produce baskets, coatings and closures) made up of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP) and other resins. annual review). EPA estimated that the generation of these glass containers was 9.8 million tons in 2018, or 3.3percent of MSW generation. In 2018, the recycling rate of generated packaging and containers was 53.9 percent. Corrugated cardboard boxes are susceptible to moisture, water, vermin and bacteria during warehouse or storeroom storage, as well as transportation environments. The corrugated industry produces the N1 transport packaging in the world. The corrugated industry produces the N1 transport packaging in the world. All rights reserved. In very humid environments, such as a warehouse with an uncontrolled climate in the summertime, stacking strength is greatly reduced. Loading decisions must seek to balance productivity, safety, transportation and equipment costs, and product protection. 2023 PMMI Media Group. Heat can reduce the moisture content of corrugated boxes, making them brittle. Copyright 2023. The generation of steel food cans and other cans, and other steel packaging (e.g., strapping, and steel barrels and drums), totaled 2.2 million tons in 2018 (0.8 percent of total MSW generation), with most of that amount representing cans for food products. Containers that are contaminated should be removed based upon the cleanliness requirements of the storage area. With the landscape of product damage defined, the path toward improvement must start with a robust system that helps pinpoint where efforts need to be focused. Container and packaging products, especially corrugated boxes, are among frequently recycled products. The moisture content of corrugated materials prefers a state of equilibrium with atmospheric humidity. Evidence of damage is heavy creasing to the corrugate, a punctured case or other tell-tale signs, such as tears and rips. Moisture and temperature are important considerations when discussing the strength and longevity of corrugated boxes. Gene Bodenheimer, senior vice president, retail logistics damage research at Genco,leads the companys team responsible for investigating solutions for unsaleable products as well assupply chain solutions within Genco's retail vertical. Easy Way to Analyze Moisture Content of Corrugated Boxes During production of corrugated boards, manufacturers often face a unique problem caused by inaccurate control of moisture; if the moisture content of the corrugated box is higher, it may leads to collapsing of the box. The following outlines the benefits of stretch film over other unitization techniques as well as identifies its weaknesses. Stretch Wrapper + Film Cost and ROI Calculator, 6075 Lakeside Blvd Mechanical measuring device: Bobst,BW PapersystemsandTechnology Coaching endobj A dash in the table means that data is not available. EPA estimated the amount of generation of aluminum cans using Aluminum Association data on the number of cans consumed domestically and on average can weight. EPA based its generation estimates on data supplied by the Steel Recycling Institute (SRI). Corrugated should be stored on pallets, ideally, which avoids direct contact with the floor and retains the means for mechanical handling (caution: forklifts, if operated carelessly, can damage corrugated). The stacking of unit loads saves space; however, some type of flat cover should be placed on the top of a unit load in order to evenly distribute the superimposed weight. Corrugated never should be stored in direct contact with the floor as that invites contamination and damage from a variety of sources. Its not easy loading a 53-ft.-trailer. On the surface this number might seem small, but the ramifications can be quite large. Sustainability has increased the popularity of corrugated comprising recycled content. Corrugated is an engineered material, specified by paper grade, flute, style, manufacturers joint, and adhesivemainly. Offering Packaging & Display Solutions for Over 50 Years, How Environmental Conditions Impact Corrugated Boxes, Marketing Secrets for Stand-Out Custom Retail Displays, Captivate Customers with the Best Design for Custom Counter Display Boxes, Customized eCommerce Packaging Supplies Foster Brand Loyalty and Reduce Total Cost, 3 Tips For Creating Effective Custom Point of Purchase Displays, Custom Countertop Displays Capitalize on Impulse Buying, dlodle@progresscontainer.com, solutions@progresscontainer.com, Relative humidity, under load (cyclical RH variation further increases compressive loss). Containers and packaging are used in the shipping, storage and protection of products. Excessive moisture or water can soften or even dissolve the corrugating adhesive, causing delamination; a box that literally falls apart wont offer much protection. Tell us what you're looking for and we'll do our best to make it work! Container and packaging products, especially corrugated boxes, are among frequently recycled products. This can be done by using a stretch wrap machine, or by simply spiral wrapping the load by hand. A very small percentagetypically less than 1%of the products within the cartons are damaged. Its important to monitor whether the recommended pre-stretchage is being adhered to in the process. Packaging engineers work to meet the performance requirements of a box while controlling total costs throughout the system.. Boxes under stress from a load, such as stacked on a pallet, are even further impacted by increased humidity. Paper containers and packaging, excluding corrugated boxes, had a recycling rate of 20.8percent, while corrugated boxes had a recycling rate of 96.5percent in 2018. EPA estimates the recycling of steel packaging in 2018 as 1.6 million tons, or 73.8 percent of generation. Damage to. Through leading practices, unmatched knowledge and expertise, we help organizations across the continuum of care lead the way to zero harm. It reduces the chance of moisture damage as well as cracks and creases due to dryness. They are also larger, using more air volume to accommodate the greater weight of truck and load. Other aluminum packaging is based on Aluminum Association data. Moisture Range for Paper: 4% to 18% Moisture range for baled scrap paper: 6% to 40% Selection of paper types : 3 The setting of Tolerance limits Displays Pass-Fail Report Average of up to 100 readings displayed Data storage: max 300 readings (100 per paper type) Inbuilt Calibration Facility Battery Type: Compact 9V Alkaline Battery Saving mode Corrugated boxes are relatively inexpensive and used extensively to contain and protect consumer products as they move through the distribution system, providing a much-needed function in today's economy. Consider: Is there overhang or underhang? OW8lF0Bd9n?DL0C S\E vmi]L'E`f ur4Z{.+};pf K@i%LEwpX9hH Store boxes flat from the time they are received until they are ready for use. Higher humidity levels can drastically affect corrugate strength. Aluminum recycling represents aluminum cans only. That way, the oldest inventory is used rather than remaining around and becoming more compromised. Moisture Content testing measures the moisture content currently contained in corrugated board. Keywords: Relative humidity, Moisture, Scumming, Ink peeling, Crisp, Temperature, Flute, Liner, Curling. Yet other factors outside the transportation and handling of these products contribute to damages. Better yet is to select a location close to where the corrugated is set up and filled. Although it would be difficult to calculate the reduction of strength under fluctuating conditions over time, the chart below (Protective Packaging for Distribution, 2010) is used to determine the compression strength loss over time under various environmental conditions. Consequently, if a few boxes are unusable, the loss involved is relatively insignificant, right? The boxes are usable, and dont end up ready for recycling before they can fulfill their purpose; The boxes will run smoothly on automatic setup, filling and closing equipment, avoiding costly jam-ups, repacking and lost time; The boxes will stack squarely, avoiding costly accidents during palletization, storage and shipment; and. endobj The total generation of paper and paperboard in MSW was 67.4 million tons in 2018, which was 23.1percent of total MSW generation that year. The FEFCO GMP standard was launched at the end of 2003, renewed in 2006, to ensure that corrugated boxes meet all the requirements of quality, safety and hygiene. Additionally, about 13 percent of the aluminum containers and packaging waste generated was combusted with energy recovery, while the remainder (52.1 percent) was landfilled. Checkout our packaging and processing solutions finder, ProSource. Smaller proportions were combusted for energy recovery (3.7 percent) and landfilled (15.4 percent). How can we arrive at the optimal packaging solutions that strike the right balance between cost, environmental impact, and safety, while allocating costs appropriately? JavaScript appears to be disabled on this computer. These latter quantities are not well documented, but the Agency estimated that amount of generation was 340,000 tons in 2018, none of which moved on to recycling or composting. Forty% of the strength of corrugate is lost within the first 30 days of storage. This may be avoided by choosing pallets with deckboards that are strategically positioned so all of the vertical edges of the box (corners) are being supported. | The corrugated industry is acting in an environment where the requirements of customers are getting more and more strict and demanding. With the aim to contribute to the sustainability of packaging, the FEFCO Corrugated Packaging Recyclability Guidelinesprovide the industry with a practical set of tools to implement in the recycling of paper and board to ensure the optimal use of natural resources and minimise their environmental impact. The data below are from 1960 to 2018, relating to the total number of tons of aluminum containers and packaging generated, recycled, composted, combusted with energy recovery and landfilled. By unitization, we simply mean the process of bundling and securing several individual packages together, often on a pallet. Given the economic and environmental costs vs. benefits of different materials, designs, applications and logistical operations, whats the best way to effectively manage these variables to make the most appropriate packaging decisions? Another option would be to use corrugated pallet liners to cover the bottom of the pallet (pallet deck) to make it a solid surface. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Workers should never toss, drop, or drag shipping boxes. EPA estimated 14.5 million tons of plastic containers and packaging were generated in 2018, approximately 5.0 percent of MSW generation.
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