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Supply Chain and Logistics

From labeling laws to refillable containers, sustainability continues to impact the way packagers do business. We’ve looked to the experts, gleaned their expertise, and compiled our picks—packaging trends to look for in the coming year.

Trend # 1: More laws like California’s “Truth in Labeling” will be passed.

Last year, California passed an unprecedented Truth in Labeling for Recyclable Materials law. A similar New Jersey bill was passed into law this January, and New York is expected to follow suit with a bill already on its books. Until now, there has been no enforceable federal standard when it comes to displaying the “chasing arrows” on labels and packaging materials. Expect this to change, country-wide, in the coming years.

Trend # 2: Extended producer responsibility (EPR) will gain more traction.

A concept that sees manufacturers bearing responsibility for the long-term environmental impacts of their products, extended producer responsibility has long been the norm in Canada and Europe—with other countries soon to follow suit. Here in the U.S., with the passage of EPR laws in Oregon and Maine, this level of product stewardship and environmental responsibility is destined to become the standard.

Trend # 3: More companies will commit to removing toxins from their packaging.

From McDonald’s to Home Depot to Amazon, a growing number of companies are phasing out polyfluoroalkyl substances (or PFAS) from their packaging products. With mounting evidence that these, and other chemicals, are finding their way into drinking water, regulatory agencies and consumers are demanding their elimination. An increase in public awareness, regarding both the environment and social equity, is also normalizing this trend.

Trend # 4: Sustainable packaging practices will become more holistic.

The sustainable packaging conversation will shift beyond recyclability—and more toward “low impact.” This means that greater attention will be paid to the front end of a product’s life cycle. Responsible companies will source materials whose environmental impact is low to begin with. Looking to the future, sustainable packaging will factor in smaller containers, plant-based packaging and inks, and lower impact manufacturing processes.

Trend # 5: The use of reusable, refillable containers will continue to grow.

With major organizations like PepsiCo and PG&E supporting returnable, reusable packaging, this trend will continue to expand. Already, from the US to Canada; Europe to Brazil, wholesalers are requesting that retailers bring in containers and have them filled. Even in the realm of e-commerce, waste-free services like Olive and Loop are already revolutionizing the packaging industry. Expect to see more brands embrace this approach in the coming year.

Flexible packaging services

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WestPack
APRIL 12-14, 2022
Anaheim Convention Center, Los Angeles CA

California’s largest packing event, WestPack has continually united the entire packaging community to find the most creative packaging solutions and efficient automation systems.

American Packaging Summit
June 2-3, 2022
Westin Chicago Lombard, Chicago IL

Join packaging executives to catch up with current trends, strategic insights, and best practices in packaging innovation, design, materials, and branding.

Home Delivery World
August 31-September 1, 2022
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA

The industry-defining conference and exhibition for last-mile logistics in the U.S. and abroad.

InterPACK®International Conference
October 25 – 27, 2022
Anaheim, CA

Exchange state-of-the-art knowledge in research, development, manufacturing, and applications of electronics packaging and heterogeneous integration.

MINNPACK 2022
November 2-3, 2022
Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, MN

Check out the latest products and technologies, including containers, contract services, custom automation, equipment and components, machinery and machinery components, and materials.

Flexible packaging services

Find out how we can create a turnkey packaging and distribution plan suited to your specific needs.
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America is Getting Fit with the Help of PRIDE Industries

Heart Zones is a pioneer in the field of science-based heart rate training programs and devices. Founded by Sal Edwards and headquartered in Sacramento, Calif, Heart Zones sells wearable technology, including the Blink Armband ™, a lightweight heart rate monitor that converts data into individualized, actionable exercise prescriptions.

Situation

When Heart Zones wanted to reshore assembly and packaging services for the Blink Armband ™, they immediately thought of PRIDE Industries. Back in 1990, PRIDE Industries had successfully manufactured Sal Edwards’s Fleet-Feet branded snowshoes. So, when Heart Zones ran up against an irregular order pattern for their armband, necessitating an agile supply chain, Sal knew PRIDE Industries would be able to do it all—with an emphasis on quality control.

Solution

The PRIDE Industries manufacturing team was able and equipped to address Heart Zone’s needs from start to finish, assembling the Blink Armband ™, buying the raw goods, cutting, packaging, and even storing Heart Zones’ parts and products on-site in the U.S. as opposed to overseas. This holistic approach allowed Heart Zones to maintain an agile supply chain and focus on doing what they do best: get their product to market.

Services Provided

  • Raw goods purchasing
  • Cutting and Assembly
  • Component Building
  • Packaging
  • Storing Inventory for Heart Zones
  • Employs 10 People with Disabilities
  • Between 2M and 3M in Sales Annually
heart zones logo

Highlights

$2-3M
in sales annually
10

people with disabilities employed

“How they build things and how they think through it and their willingness to support—We’re thrilled to work with a company that’s headquartered near us, that supports our community, and that can make a quality product.”

— Sal Edwards

Supply Chain is now a household name

Last year, as grocery store and retail shelves went empty, “supply chain” became a household name. In 2022, this new level of visibility will influence the way supply chain and logistics managers approach their jobs. We’ve looked to the experts and, from their wealth of knowledge, compiled our picks—trends to look for in the coming year.

Trend #1: Recruiting will become more strategic.

A simple job posting isn’t enough to attract qualified candidates anymore. To find outstanding talent, hiring teams must be innovative.

  • Consider forging relationships with supply chain organizations, like APICS or CSCMP.
  • Why not partner with colleges that feature supply-chain-related degree programs?
  • Or how about advertising on a niche job board like supplychaincareers.com?
  • Start weighing the benefits of transferrable skills.
  • Create internships and make them available through local colleges and job centers.
  • Be forward thinking when it comes to recruiting qualified talent. This means reviewing your plans for targeted hiring, compensation planning, and retention strategies.

Trend #2: Supply chain agility will be an advantage.

To satisfy customer expectations and remain competitive, an agile supply chain will enable you to quickly react to delays and changes. Steps to boost your agility include:

  • A greater emphasis on risk management
  • Increased end-to-end visibility
  • Physical changes to the supply-chain footprint
  • Diversifying inventory storage
  • Automation of order processing and shipping
  • Data-driven decision making

Trend #3: ESG and sustainability practices will be imperative.

Since the early 2000s, stakeholders and consumers have looked to companies that proactively address environmental and social concerns. The pandemic accelerated this trend, moving sustainability from “good to do” to “imperative.” In 2022, this will include an increased emphasis on supply chain transparency, including:

  • How was a product sourced, handled, shipped, and delivered?
  • Were the manufacturing processes ethical?
  • Did they impact the environment?

Sustainability is now essential in creating supply chain processes, and all enterprises will eventually need to create programs to address these concerns.

Trend #4: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies will continue.

AI and IoT technologies are on the rise, with AI playing a growing role in IoT applications and deployments. Able to perform tasks previously done only by human hands, these technologies have been especially useful in addressing the global worker shortage of the last two years. Major providers now offer integrated AI capabilities, such as machine learning-based analytics. The value of AI in this context is its ability to quickly wring insights from data.

Trend #5: Reverse logistics will play a critical role.

As online sales increase, the need for a robust reverse logistics process is imperative. This service directly supports all circular economy initiatives. Besides enhancing sustainability, a solid reverse logistics strategy and reuse offering will improve customer loyalty. It will also reduce cost, retain revenue, and allow for growth opportunities and custom integrations.

 

As fallout from the pandemic continues, savvy supply chain leaders will continue to keep an eye on trends, adapting and innovating as they look toward the future.

Ready to take your supply chain and logistics processes to the next level?

Partner with PRIDE Industries to streamline your operations, drive customer satisfaction, and improve your bottom line.
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From virtual, to hybrid, to in-person conferences, here are 10 events that supply chain and logistics managers should be aware of in 2022:

JumpStart 2022:
January 24-26, Atlanta, GA
(In-person)

Join in-depth panel discussions focused on supply chain trends, transportation regulations, emerging technologies, and infrastructure. The lineup is tailored to provide carriers, shippers, 3PLs, and other professionals with a full picture of the multimodal supply chain.

Manifest:
January 25-27, 2022, The Paris, Las Vegas, NV
(In-person)

Manifest 2022 will bring together the most comprehensive ecosystem of innovation and transformation in LogisticsTech and end-to-end supply chain.

18th Annual RLA Conference and Expo:
February 7-9, 2022, Las Vegas, NV
(In-person with pre-events starting the evening of February 6)

This conference is designed to bring RL professionals together for three days of powerful keynote speakers, content-driven panel discussions, and an ample amount of networking opportunities.

America’s Procurement Congress:
March 17-18, 2022, Eden Roc, Miami, FL
(In-person)

Embrace the new value drivers propelling the function to deliver business impact.

Modex 2022:
March 28-31, Atlanta, GA
(In-person)

From illuminating education to next-generation technology and equipment in action, MODEX lets you see what’s coming — and take advantage of it to power your supply chain with more possibilities for years to come.

American Supply Chain Summit 2022:
May 3-4, Dallas, TX
(In-person)

The Supply Chain Summit serves as an annual platform to exchange ideas and collaborate on the impact of market dynamics and new technologies for current and future supply chain and operations leaders.

Reuters Supply Chain Execution 2022:
June 2022, Chicago, IL
(Hybrid format. Check website for June date.)

With supply chain execution now central to business-success, supply chain executives must embrace a digital mindset and accept that this isn’t just a buzz phrase but a requirement for a modern, data-driven, customer-centric supply chain execution process.

Garter Supply Chain Symposium:
June 6-9, 2022, Orlando, FL
(In-person)

Delivering the must-have insights, strategies, and frameworks for chief supply chain officers (CSCOs) and supply chain leaders to think big, make bold moves, and drive real impact within their organizations.

ASCM CONNECT Annual Conference:
September 18-20, Chicago, IL
(Hybrid Event)

As the largest non-profit association for supply chain, ASCM is an unbiased partner, connecting companies around the world to the newest thought leadership on all aspects of supply chain.

CSCMP Edge Supply Chain Conference and Exhibition: September 18-21, Nashville, TN
(In-person)

The global landscape has fundamentally shifted. Connect with your global supply chain community to discover the latest innovations, new strategies, and best practices like never before.

Ready to take your supply chain and logistics processes to the next level?

Partner with PRIDE Industries to streamline your operations, drive customer satisfaction, and improve your bottom line.
Learn More

“Early on, we discovered Ramon’s talent for making boxes and making them quickly,” says Matt Weiss, Distribution Manager of HP Operations at PRIDE Industries. “The fact is, folding boxes isn’t as simple as it sounds. There are a lot of complex folds—it can be pretty confounding.”

 

According to Scott Lacey, Director of Production Operations for PRIDE Industries, Ramon is so fast and accurate in making and filling boxes that it takes two or three people to fill his shoes when he’s absent.

 

“The way Ramon moves, the fluidity of what he does—how he knows which materials will fit which cubic volume—it’s a very fast process,” says Scott. “He thinks fast. He moves fast. And he moves things through the operations so efficiently that there’s no backup. He’s one of those people that, when he’s not here, you know it.”

 

According to Scott, when an incredibly high amount of volume flows through, Ramon’s speed and accuracy enable us to keep operations flowing smoothly. And he achieves this high level of performance even though—like most employees at PRIDE Industries—he has a disability that once made it difficult for him to find work.

Resilience at Work

At the young age of ten, Ramon was diagnosed with a brain tumor. After multiple surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy treatments, the tumor subsided. However, the battle cost Ramon much of his teen years. It also took away his sight in his right eye.

 

“My left eye is okay, but the right one … I cannot see with it,” says Ramon.

 

Years later, after his family relocated from Mexico to the United States, Ramon found employment in the fast-food industry. However, he was unable to see the order boards and had to leave that line of work. Then in 2004, he found his way to PRIDE Industries—where, after demonstrating his skill and commitment, he was offered a permanent position in 2007. Since then, he’s continued to be an outstanding employee at our HP Operations Facility in Lincoln, Calif.

Employing People with Disabilities Makes Sense

Ramon’s story proves what the job coaches at PRIDE Industries see every day—people with disabilities have as much to contribute to the workplace as anyone else. In fact, people with disabilities consistently boast impressive statistics when it comes to employment, including higher retention rates and lower absenteeism than average.

 

As for Ramon, he embodies these traits—not only on the shipping floor, but also in the classroom and beyond it. Once he accepted his position with PRIDE Industries in 2007, he was determined to effectively communicate with coworkers, so he studied conversational English at night school—while employed full time. He then took the citizenship test and passed, becoming a United States citizen the same year.

 

Ramon’s employment story wouldn’t be complete without one additional element: travel time. Due to his vision loss, Ramon can’t drive. So, he relies on public transportation. Although he lives only 15 minutes, as the crow flies, from his workplace, the journey can take up to three hours a day—including time spent transferring from one bus to another. Yet, to Ramon, the journey is worth it because, in the end, he arrives at a place where his extraordinary talents are fully appreciated.

 

Tenacity. Dedication. Skill. And a great attitude. An employer couldn’t ask for more, and that’s what Ramon delivers every day.

Make a social impact

PRIDE Industries builds inclusive, diverse work environments where people with disabilities can thrive. Is your company seeking well-trained, reliable employees? Join our Employment Partner Network today.
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ramon telles
Ramon Telles

“He thinks fast. He moves fast. And he moves things through the operations so efficiently that there’s no backup. He’s one of those people that, when he’s not here, you know it.”