Ask a Packaging Expert: Darcy Nettleton

Q: Tell us how you got into reusable packaging. Is this where you started your career?

A: My parents started a packaging company in 1981, in 1987 the company started manufacturing returnable packaging for the postal and automotive markets. I worked as a student in the summers and holiday breaks working in the plant fabricating and assembling, I later joined the company full time in 1999 as a sales representative.

Q: You reside in Canada where a lot of automotive OEMs are located. How do you feel about the SSI SCHAEFER product and services to help this industry?

A: I feel SSI is well suited to support this market given our local representation combined with our in-house design and sample capabilities, tote molding, and custom dunnage fabrication.

Q: What other markets do you think would benefit from using reusable packaging?

A: I’d like to see the specialty drug distributors that ship in expendable solutions direct to consumers create a returnable viable closed loop solution.

Q: Sticking on sustainability for a moment, do you think the market will continue to push for even more PCR recycling and the need for ocean bound containers like SSI Clear Stream products?

A: I do think the market will push and pay a premium for sustainable packaging specially from ocean bound plastics. It’s the right solution as we face global pollution and a need for repurposing discarded plastics.

Q: Last question, but our readers would like to read about where you think the market is heading.

A: I believe as the market heads down the EV path the need for traditional large packaging fleets will be reduced as the number of parts per vehicle drops. With that said I think the need for more complex packaging will be required to safely transport the increase in sensitive components and sub-assemblies.