Automotive reusable packaging – a change catalyst

Navigating to a sustainable future

Reusable packaging has a crucial role to play in automotive supply chain processes. Because many (often fragile) components have to travel from external sites to the assembly plant, reliable and effective packaging is needed to protect them. Electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries are adding packaging requirements of their own to this picture.

Conventional packaging materials, such as cardboard and plastic film, are often used only once, and may not be recyclable. They generate a lot of waste and emissions, and can be costly and inefficient to procure and dispose of.

Many automotive manufacturers and suppliers are therefore opting for reusable packaging, which can improve supply chain performance and automotive industry sustainability. Pallets, racks, bulk containers, hand-held containers, trolleys, bins, kitting bins, rubber masks for machined components, dunnage… All these materials can be used repeatedly, reducing both environmental impact and cost.

However, realizing the full potential of reusable packaging is challenging at present. OEMs don’t usually have enough visibility of the supply chain to locate packaging fast and accurately as it becomes available for reuse. Given the high value of parts plus just-in-time requirements on the assembly line, packaging issues can’t be allowed to delay delivery – and so single-use cardboard packaging often gets used in place of reusable materials. In addition, collecting, cleaning, and redistributing packaging can itself generate costs and emissions.

To overcome these challenges, Capgemini is developing a reusable packaging solution for automotive based on SAP’s Returnable Packaging Management (RPM), a product on SAP Business Technology Platform.

RPM, a cloud solution that manages the logistics of reusable packaging materials, is complemented by a range of automotive-specific services from Capgemini, incorporating both engineering and digital assets. The result is an end-to-end Automotive Reusable Packaging solution that helps OEMs transform the way they work with reusable packaging, and meet their targets for sustainability, cost, and supply chain resilience.

“Capgemini’s Automotive Reusable Packaging offer will help clients transform the way they manage packaging in the supply chain, enhancing both sustainability and cost-effectiveness.”

Alexandre Audoin
EVP, Head of Global Automotive Industry, Capgemini

“With sustainability widely recognized as one of the automotive industry’s biggest challenges, I’m delighted to support our valued partner Capgemini in the launch of Automotive Reusable Packaging – a powerful solution that enhances the packaging engineering process, while improving tracking and tracing capabilities. Building on SAP’s industry leading Returnable Packaging Management, this solution will enable automotive OEMs and suppliers to transform the way they manage packaging in the automotive supply chain, and make significant progress toward their sustainability and cost effectiveness goals.”

Hagen Heubach
Global VP – Industry Business Unit Automotive, SAP

This solution complements Capgemini’s Digital Core for Automotive – an offer creating agile business models and a connected mobility ecosystem that adapts rapidly to change. The offer also ensures sustainability goals drive growth and customer advocacy.

Is your company struggling to realize the promise of reusable packaging? Download our point of view report and infographic to find out how our solution could help you transform your automotive supply chain. You could reduce costs significantly while shrinking your carbon footprint by up to 40%.

To learn more, contact our team of automotive experts today and revolutionize the role of reusable packaging in your supply chain, improving automotive sustainability, cutting costs, and enhancing supply chain resilience.