Cactus Jack wrote:https://www.politicshome.com/news/artic ... hgv-crisisIt is now too late to avert temporary shortages of cardboard and aluminium cans this autumn, a leading figure in the packaging industry has warned.
Dick Searle, chief executive of The Packaging Federation said the “government should have reacted” a long time ago over the lack of HGV drivers, and that the labour shortage is now likely to impact collection patterns of raw and recycled materials needed for the production of cardboard.
The shortage of aluminium cans is down to the general “green” switch from plastic to aluminium for drinks packaging, which means there has been huge surge demand at a time when there is no “wriggle room” to increase capacity at the four primary can making firms.
Searle insisted that possible shortages of these types of packaging would be temporary, and urged shoppers to “behave themselves” to avoid stockpiling. He suggested they should instead get used to a limited range on the shelves.
"Now it is too late so we just have to manage what we've got, and manage it effectively,” he told PoliticsHome.
Cactus - if you're going to start threads blaming everything on Brexit, in this case a shortage of packaging - it's probably best to link to an article that actually agrees with you.
Your link above clearly says that the shortage of drinks cans is down to a 'green' switch. It doesn't mention Brexit.
So how about cardboard? This is what GWP have to say about it. GWP are an award winning UK based company that designs and manufactures packaging;
UK cardboard shortages – what is really causing the current situation?
https://www.gwp.co.uk/guides/uk-cardboard-shortages/For one, the Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) indicates demand for cardboard boxes from online retailers was five years ahead of where it had expected it to be before the pandemic.
Arguably the biggest reason for shortages is due to hugely increased demand. In fact, in some quarters cardboard is being referred to now as “beige gold”.
Whilst the shift to online shopping resulted in a steady growth in demand for corrugated ecommerce packaging over the last 4 – 5 years, the coronavirus pandemic accelerated this massively. To put this in context, Royal Mail have estimated that there were around 200 million extra parcels through their own and other courier networks in 2020.
The other factor here is that whereas items sent to retail outlets would require one large box – for example 20 units shipped in one outer pack – when ordered online each of these individual items will have their own cardboard shipping box.
The Coronavirus pandemic has affected demand in a number of other ways too. For example, many businesses that would never traditionally sell online – such as breweries, bakeries, fresh fruit and veg producers etc. – have been forced to pivot online. With traditional physical markets, restaurants and cafes closing, the only option for many of these businesses was to start offering subscription or takeaway services.
Large companies such as Amazon – who have been reported to profit particularly well from the switch to ecommerce – are also being blamed for buying up large amounts of corrugated packaging. With their huge buying power, it could be argued it is highly likely that packaging suppliers have ensured that Amazon have received what smaller business would call “more than their fair share”.
GWP say that Brexit is only a 'minor issue' in the packaging shortage.
Hmm, who to believe - a leading packaging manufacturer or cactus? Tough call, but I think GWP just edges it.
