The Benefits of Bulk Glass
The cost of cased ware is always changing, and is determined by the cost of fuel, freight, corrugated and labor. You pay for the convenience of the glass being delivered to you in boxes you can stack store and sell. Bulk glass can provide flexibility and significant savings as compared to cased ware. Working with a packaging provider that stocks and re-packs bulk options offers many worthwhile benefits in addition to cost savings.
What is Bulk Glass?
Bulk glass is ware that is placed directly on pallets at the factory without being placed in secondary packaging like corrugated cases with partitions. More bottles are contained on a pallet than cased ware. The glass is typically protected from scratching with factory applied coatings. Bulk glass layers are divided with ridged tier sheets and strapped to reduce movement on the pallet. The entire pallet is wrapped securely for transport, often employing corner boards for additional protection.
Bulk glass shipped directly from the factory removes the process and materials associated with the standard case repack process, therefore reducing labor costs and time. Since no secondary packaging is employed at the factory, the end user is not paying for corrugated as part of their packaging. Reduction in labor and supplies means cost-savings can be passed along to the end-user.
Why Should You Consider Bulk Glass?
Savings – When you work with a packaging provider that is experienced in the warehousing, forecasting and shipment of bulk glass, you get immediate cost savings (compared to cased ware). When you work with a provider capable of repacking, outer packaging is purchased in bulk as well, resulting in additional savings realized with purchase of repacked glass. You could also realize savings on pallet fees.
Flexibility – You want your final package to send your message. Using bulk glass allows your packaging provider to pack your ware directly into your custom boxes. Do you print or sleeve your bottles? Bulk ware can be sent directly to the decorator as bulk and then packed into your custom outer packaging, so glass arrives at your door ready to fill. Bulk glass can also be re-palletized as cased goods to your specifications, to fit your warehouse and accommodate freight restrictions.
Storage – Taking bulk directly to your facility reduces the amount of storage space you need to designate, as you can store bulk pallets and flat stock cardboard in a fraction of the space needed for cased ware.
Reduction in Carbon Footprint – Choosing bulk removes an entire step in the production process. With this change and elimination of double handling of ware, there is a realized reduction in carbon emissions. Corrugated waste is greatly reduced (less corrugated is needed overall), reducing emissions and usage of raw materials as well. 
As freight trucks are loaded to capacity with maximum weight restrictions, fuel savings are maximized with the advanced freight planning and production management accomplished by a mindful packaging team. Buying glass produced in a factory near you and repacked locally can further reduce overall fuel usage and cost.
Having the option of bulk glass puts all these decisions in your hands! Work with an experienced packaging provider to realize all the great benefits of utilizing bulk glass.
