Sustainability in a box: How DENSO improved its flat wiper blade packaging
A key part of DENSO’s sustainability goals is to redefine the packaging that it uses to protect its aftermarket products during transportation from its production facilities to its distributors and then into the hands of those who install them on the vehicle.
This recent packaging improvement project demonstrates DENSO’s commitment to becoming a more ecologically friendly company and sits alongside its broader sustainability objectives, helping to reduce its carbon footprint and deliver clear benefits for the world we live in.
Thinking out of the box
Achieving the right balance between product protection and recyclability was a complex challenge. However, using the same creativity that is seen in the development of its car parts, DENSO’s engineers used their expertise to deliver a new, eco-friendly solution for its flat wiper blade range.
Packaging matters
For a product such as a wiper blade, which for many car owners is an impulse purchase, how the wiper blade is presented goes a long way towards its perceived quality, which is why the new packaging had to live up to the premium quality of the DENSO product inside.
Quantifiable results
Minimising the amount of plastic and supplementing it with ecologically sustainable material was key, and in meeting that objective, DENSO has reduced the previous packaging’s plastic content from an average of 35%, to as low as 10% for some products, an impressive 70% reduction.
This new eco-friendly packaging replaces the previous fully plastic sleeve with a recyclable cardboard one, keeping only a small plastic base. It was first implemented last year for 23 part numbers, with another 13 added this year, including DF-005, DF-013, DF-017, DF-020, DF-033, DF-069, DF-085, DF-092, DF-203, DF-206, DF-245, DF-406, DF-409.
Commenting on the exciting development, Alexey Stryuchkov, Product Manager Wiper Blades said: “By applying the same innovative approach that drives our world-class engineering, we’ve successfully redesigned the packaging of the flat wiper blade range to be more sustainable, while still durable, and without compromising on the premium quality appearance that customers expect.”
Connecting with consumers
In addition to significantly reducing DENSO’s environmental footprint, the new packaging has been redesigned to improve its look and feel, making it easier for consumers to handle, open and dispose of responsibly.
A sustainable vision
Reducing the overall environmental impact of the company also includes wisely using existing materials, for example, which is why DENSO has optimised the use of its existing cardboard boxes to minimise waste and logistics processes.
The successful completion of this project marks another important step in DENSO’s journey towards making every part and every package more sustainable.
Further details of the DENSO Aftermarket programme are available online at: www.denso-am.eu