EFFICIENT UNIT LOADS - ECR Community

6.1. What are Reusable Transport
Items?
Reusable Transport Items (RTI) include all secondary
and tertiary unit loads designed for widespread use
and to be returned by the receiver for reuse (for the
definition of “reuse” see Appendix 10.1.). Secondary
RTI are sometimes called Reusable Transport Packaging
(RTP). Excluded are reusable primary packaging such as
bottles and combinations of reusable primary and
secondary packaging, such as beer bottles in cases.
Also not considered are reusable unit loads used in
close circuit or captive systems, such as display items.
All design features concerning tertiary RTI are covered
in Chapter 7. Most requirements of secondary unit
loads, depicted in the previous chapter, are also valid
for secondary RTI, but with some important additional
requirements. Also, as the secondary RTI market is
growing rapidly, this chapter focuses on
secondary RTI.
6.2. Secondary RTI Applications
Secondary RTI are only suitable for certain applications.
To obtain maximum benefit they should be applied
over a total supply chain. Secondary RTI have potential
for significant quantifiable cost savings, mostly within
the assortment handling, or retail part of the supply
chain. It has been noted that corresponding
improvements in retail operations represent one
percent of retail sales price, while exact savings are
dependent on the particular application.
Secondary RTI have potential for significant savings
that can be as much as 1 percent of retail sales
price.
Potential sources of supply chain savings:
• Lower packaging costs for those applications
where RTI are cheaper
• Integrated supply chain solutions such as trays
with dollies – described in Chapter 7 together
with new replenishment techniques – pick-tostore
in manufacturing, followed by cross-docking
in the RDC; pick-by-line
• Improved transport utilisation to stores, using
trays and dollies instead of roll cages and due to
the fact that RTI fit modular spaces
• Easier checking through consistent positioning of
labels / bar-codes
• Handling productivity gains in assortment
creation, including automation
• Handling productivity gains in shelf
replenishment
• Less product wastage through reduced product
handling and improved product protection
• Reduced cost of disposal or recycling of
waste packaging.
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