Ingram Micro is reinventing the way it does packaging and logistics – here’s how

Plastic waste is a major pollution problem, both here in Australia and around the globe. In fact, according to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, it is estimated by 2050 the total volume of plastic in our oceans will outweigh the combined mass of fish.

Australians throw out 1.9 million tonnes of packaging every year – enough to fill the Melbourne Cricket Ground nine times over. Packaging takes a lot of energy, water, and other natural resources to produce, but the waste generated pollutes our air, water, and soil.

That is why, as part of Ingram Micro’s commitment to the environment, the organisation is rethinking the way it does packaging. Not only that, but the company is also adapting the logistics side of operations to become more environmentally friendly. These operations efficiencies are part of the 10 to Zero Initiative, a global program inspired by the United Nations Decade of Action.

Inside the 10 to Zero initiative

The Ingram Micro 10 to Zero Initiative aims to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions, zero waste, and zero injuries resulting in lost time by 2030. This initiative is being implemented across the organisation, both in Australia and globally. With the programs introduced at the Eastern Creek Distribution Centre, Ingram Micro is making good progress towards achieving this ambitious target.

The goal is to be a good corporate citizen and to leave the planet in a better state than they found it for generations to come. Hitting net zero is a key component of this goal.

Packaging is a major pollutant which raises a sustainability issue for many organisations. While it is hard to break out commercial packaging waste from consumers, Australians used 3.4 million tonnes of plastics from 2022 to 2023. Of that, around 84 per cent is sent to landfill, with only 13 per cent being recycled. Along with those sobering figures, every year, 130,000 tonnes of plastic leak into Australia’s marine environment.

Reduce packaging waste

The team at Ingram Micro has taken steps to implement more environmentally friendly packing solutions. As a company, Ingram Micro has found alternatives to plastic that are just as effective and sturdy in protecting goods during transit. Specifically, it has substituted plastic for fibre in all its packaging, including the tape used to seal boxes and mailers. By doing so, the company has reduced its environmental footprint compared to using packaging made from petrochemicals.

As consumers, many would be familiar with the situation where something small from an e-commerce vendor and it arrives in a large box, padded out with plastic and often containing smaller boxes holding the actual product.

Ingram Micro is committed to reducing waste and conserving energy by optimising its packaging sizes. This ensures that all products are shipped in appropriate boxes that are not oversized or duplicated, reducing unnecessary waste and energy consumption during shipping and delivery.

The transport connection

Using sustainable packaging is just one piece of the puzzle. Another vital component is getting the products from the Eastern Creek Distribution Centre to Ingram Micro’s customers.

Road transport is a major contributor to Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, and so as a business, Ingram Micro has taken steps to ensure its transport and logistics partners are also working towards net zero.

The transport and logistics companies Ingram Micro works with must meet its stringent criteria of having strong environmental strategies, as well as using new energy vehicles, such as EVs where appropriate, or those powered by biofuels to get the products to customers.

Rail is also a highly efficient way of transporting goods, so the company has also undertaken to use the Inland Port via Sydney Rail as part of its ongoing logistics reinvention.

Taken together, sustainable packaging and sustainable transport are key components for Ingram Micro to meet its 10 to Zero Initiative goals.

If you would like to learn more about Ingram Micro’s sustainable solutions, visit https://www.ingrammicro.com/en-us/discover/esg.