LEVERAGING SUSTAINABILITY USING HMA FOR CASE SEALING OF CFB BOXES TO REDUCE THE DAMAGES IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN

Abstract

Packaging plays a vital role in transferring the product safely from the manufacturing unit to the customer doorstep. In the industry, corrugated fiberboard (CFB) boxes are the first choice for tertiary packaging. Lightweight, high strength to weight ratio, economical, environmentally friendly and ergonomic design makes corrugated boxes ideal for packaging. Also, the use of CFB boxes as a packaging material fulfils the triple bottom line of sustainability, i.e., economic, environmental, and social. In this thesis detailed study of corrugated boxes is conducted, i.e. the critical factors responsible for damage to CFB boxes enlisted and coupled with the existing supply chain. Finally face box compression test (BCT) experiment is conducted to compare the strength of hotmelt adhesive (HMA) sealed boxes with tape sealed boxes. This work aimed to study the corrugated boxes in detail and conduct the appropriate test to test the strength of sealed boxes. The thesis also throws light on sustainability, shows that by using HMA for case sealing of boxes, it is possible to reduce the single-use plastic (Tape, plastic strap, stretch wrap, etc.) and reduce the wastage due to damages in the supply chain, which ultimately leverages the sustainability. HMA sealed and tape sealed boxes are analysed and correlated with force vs. deflection curve to explore the boxes behaviour under load. The force to deflection ratio is used to evaluate the strength of the boxes. Higher load bearing capacity at corresponding lower deflection is the primary interest of the study. The force vs. deflection curve is transferred into a force per deflection ratio vs. time curve for understanding the behaviour of boxes with respect to time. This transfer is used to study the force to deflection ratio at various time intervals. It is found out that, higher force to deflection ratio results in high resistance against externally applied compressive load. The shape and behaviour of curves for HMA sealed boxes and tape sealed boxes have been analysed and discussed in details.