Over 60,000 reusable metal shipping containers are used by Toyota’s North American Parts Operations division in place of cardboard and wood pallets, up from only 30,000 just a few years ago. These returnable containers are used between selected North American parts distribution centers and vehicle distribution centers, dealers and suppliers. The returnable containers are also used increasingly for shipments to Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Over 120 of Toyota’s North American suppliers also use returnable containers.
More than 95 percent of the North American parts at Toyota’s Kentucky and Texas plants are currently received in returnable packaging. During fiscal year 2012, Toyota avoided the use of 37 million pounds of wood and 13 million pounds of cardboard due to the use of returnable shipping containers. Since the use of these containers began in 2001, cumulative savings for Toyota’s North American Parts Operations amount to over 129 million pounds of wood and 48 million pounds of cardboard, as well as packaging cost savings approaching $1 billion.
Source for all information: Toyota
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