VDI 4407-2009
Decision criteria for the choice of returnable transport items in the shape of transport packaging

Standard No.

VDI 4407-2009

Release Date

2009

Published By

Association of German Mechanical Engineers

Latest

VDI 4407-2009

Scope

Returnable packaging systems are an effective approach to avoid packaging waste and, given certain preconditions, can help to reduce packaging cost. Returnable packaging systems consist of the returnable packaging, which is the performance object, and of the logistic chain, which is the performance system. Prerequisites for operativeness and cost-effectiveness of a returnable packaging system are the choice of a suitable returnable packaging and the implementation of a logistic chain which is adjusted to the given restrictions. The latter is the subject of the guideline VDI 4460 and will thus not be dealt with in this guideline. As a first step, this guideline will define the concepts of returnable packages (RP) and returnable transport packages (RTP). There is generally a large choice of returnable packages that can be used to substitute disposable packages. In order to define what is the optimal packaging under the given circumstances it is necessary to elaborate a requirements profile. This requirements profile is then compared with the features of the eligible packages, resulting in a ranking list. In a second step, as an instruction for creating an appropriate requirements profile, this guideline will present a general requirements profile as a basis for generating adapted profiles under the consideration of company-specific preconditions. Economic considerations of the use of a returnable packaging system are not part of this guideline, but are given in VDI 3617.

VDI 4407-2009 history

• 2009 VDI 4407-2009 Decision criteria for the choice of returnable transport items in the shape of transport packaging
• 2008 VDI 4407-2008 Entscheidungskriterien fuer die Auswahl mehrwegfaehiger Ladungstraeger in Form von Transportverpackungen
• 1996 VDI 4407-1996 Entscheidungskriterien fuer die Auswahl mehrwegfaehiger Ladungstraeger in Form von Transportverpackungen
• 1994 VDI 4407-1994 Decision criteria for the choice of multi-way charge carriers in the shape of transport packagings