April 22 is Earth Day, which means we want to pay special attention to the different ways we’re impacting the environment — for both good and bad — and see how we can do more of the good and less of the bad. We can all play a part.
The movement of goods in the United States is huge. So big that the U.S. ships annually more than 17.6 billion tons of goods valued at $16.8 trillion, according to the United States Department of Transportation. That’s 48.3 million tons each day of food, beverages, consumer goods and other products. The transportation network spans across highways, railroads, inland and intercoastal waterways, pipelines, airports and maritime ports.
Some experts suggest as much as ½ percent, or 88 million tons, of all goods are damaged during shipment, totaling $84 billion worth of unsalables. Damaged food and beverage unsaleables represent a $7.5 billion cost to the grocery industry, according to the Grocery Manufacturers Association. Now that’s what you call waste — cases of yogurt containers and water bottles that slipped off their pallets. Sadly, much of unsaleables ends up in landfills.
We believe up to half of this shipping damage is avoidable. You can make an impact on this national and global problem. Take action and get our guidelines on how to do better for the environment. Resolve to be part of the solution, and not part of the problem.
For more information, you can contact us on our website or call us at 502-815-9109.
Click here to read related blog: How Stretch Wrapping Helps the Environment
This post was published on April 16, 2014 and updated on July 31, 2017.
April 16, 2014
