If you're responsible for purchasing key plastic materials for your company, you're most likely aware of the current plastic price inflation. The rising cost of plastics has had a dramatic impact on all key plastic materials, including can liners, stretch film, cling film, and other resin-based packaging supplies.
Due to winter storms, supply shortfalls, and resin pricing, inflation has been trending toward record highs since September 2020. Unfortunately, plastic price inflation is showing no signs of slowing down.
Fortunately, there are several steps organizations can take to circumvent or mitigate increasing raw materials costs. And the team at AAA Polymer can help. Let's take a closer look at why the price of plastic is increasing and a few steps businesses can take to create savings.
1. Get the Right Can Liner for the Job
One way you can create savings is to get the right can liner for the job. Different types of can liners are engineered for different applications.
High-Density Trash Bags
High-density trash bags are perfect for lightweight objects and paper. While these types of bags are strong and can manage heavier loads, they can tear easily if punctured. Because of this, it's best to use high-density trash bags for bathrooms, office trash bags, etc. You should, however, avoid using these types of bags for jagged or irregularly-shaped objects.
Low-Density Trash Bags
Low-density bags are extremely flexible, thicker, and more resistant to puncturing and tearing. These bags are best for jagged or sharp trash objects, such as kitchen trash, construction trash bags, etc.
Why Does the Type of Trash Bag Matter?
Using the right trash bag is critical and can lead to substantial savings. For example, if you're using a low-density trash bag for lightweight bathroom trash, you're using the wrong type of liner. This can lead to overspending.
On the other hand, if you're using thinner high-density trash bags for applications that require low-density bags, it can lead to costly spills. Most often, this leads to the employees using multiple bags for a single application, which can create obvious waste. Simply put, choosing the best can liner or trash bag for the application can help businesses mitigate the impact of the cost increases.
2. Get the Right Size Trash Bag for the Receptacle
In addition to choosing the right type of can liner, choosing the right size for the receptacle is key. Choosing a trash bag that is too big can require knotting and lead to significant waste. If you have ever walked through your business, distribution center, or warehouse and noticed an unsightly "Ugly Bag Overhang", you're most likely throwing your profits out with the trash.
And the amount of financial waste is greatly amplified by the rising cost of plastic resin. While this waste may seem trivial, it can and will quickly add up. Most research suggests that North American businesses are using 30% more trash bags than required. To put it into perspective, businesses that spend anywhere from $5,000 up to $100,000 in trash bags annually, could save up to $30K with a 30% reduction in costs.
3. Use the Right Amount of Stretch Film
Another key product impacted by the rising cost of plastic is stretch film. Because of this, it's important to ensure your employees are using enough film without using too much. One way you can ensure your employees are using the right amount is by purchasing pre-stretch film.
The majority of standard films are designed to be stretched anywhere from 100% up to 150% for it to manage a load. However, most operators rarely stretch the film to above 50% when wrapping, and the average person will only stretch hand stretch film to less than 15%.
As the name suggests, pre-stretched film has already been extended to its ideal yield, so you will never have to worry about your employees using the best tension. The optimized tension consistency saves you money and film while bolstering load stability and containment ability.
This film helps ensure your employees use less film. With pre-stretched film your employees will use about 50% less film, which can lead to cost savings that range anywhere from 25% up to 40%. As a bonus, pre-stretch film weighs less, which can lead to reduced shipping costs as well.
4. Buy Can Liners in Bulk
Buying can liners in bulk can help you save money and lower the overall per-unit costs. It can also help you save money on logistics costs compared to purchasing can liners and other products one at a time. At AAA Polymer, we offer a full range of bulk trash bag solutions designed to help you create substantial savings:
Contact AAA Polymer for Cost-Saving Solutions
At AAA Polymer, we offer a range of cost-effective solutions designed to help you beat inflation. In addition to helping you right-size your trash bags, choose the best can liner, and select the most ideal pre-stretch film for the application, we offer commercial plastic recycling and other solutions to help you generate savings.
Contact us today.