Pregis has introduced EcoGuage, a calculator that quantifies the environmental impact of products damaged in transit.
Several key metrics, including the annual number of shipments, average individual weight and damage percentage, are used to determine environmental impact (electricity, forestry, natural gas, gasoline, solid waste, CO2, methane and habitat loss).
After a product is scrapped (either by the consumer or by the supplier), there are replacement manufacturing costs, and related energy usage required to produce those goods, as well as shipping considerations. Packaging components also must be duplicated, as well as a second parcel delivery. All these factors have a significant impact. Lastly, there is the negative customer lifetime value impact of a damaged product shipment.