Technical evaluation for packaging
A free, no-obligation audit of your packaging, highlighting efficiency and cost improvements
Do you know if your packaging is using the optimum material? Does it seem like you have a lot of wasted packaging? Are you experiencing a high volume of returns? Maybe you know your packaging isn’t performing as well as it should but don’t know where to start fixing it?
Maybe you just wish there was someone who could handle this for you?
If any of the above is true, your business could benefit from a full packaging audit. Working in partnership with GWP Group, we’ll help you identify inefficiencies and cost savings at all stages of your packaging process alongside proven, actionable ways to improve it.
Best of all?
The packaging analysis and evaluation service is completely free and with no obligation.
What is a packaging audit?
How a packaging evaluation works
The first stage of any packaging audit is a consultation with an experienced packaging professional, whom GWP will assign to your business throughout the process.
This typically involves visiting your production facilities or logistics centres to gain an in-depth understanding of your business’s challenges. From analysing your existing packaging supplies, product range, storage facilities, and packing processes, this first stage usually highlights several ways to improve your operations.

Following this, a thorough analysis of your usage patterns, overall volumes and fluctuations in demand, and design and material specifications allows for creating a detailed proposal highlighting the opportunities for your business.
In essence, our packaging experts work in partnership with you to help develop the most efficient packaging procurement and delivery process for your business.
What is covered?
In-depth coverage and analysis of your packaging
A packaging audit takes a holistic look at your packaging processes and highlights any opportunities for improvement. However, from conducting a large number of audits alongside companies like yours, the following factors/options tend to yield the greatest results. These form part, but not all, of our tried and trusted packaging audit checklist.
Whilst not all of these may be relevant to your business or industry sector—you may even have already analysed or implemented some of them yourself—they allow you to be certain that your packaging is as efficient and cost-effective as possible.
Packaging material analysis
Ensuring that the most appropriate grade of material is selected (frequently, it isn’t) can reduce storage and transit costs alongside the cost of the raw materials themselves. See here for more info.

Packing time reduction
Even small reductions in packing times can lead to noticeable improvements in staff productivity and output. Specific packaging designs can help you realise the benefits of these improvements. A Packaging process optimisation audit can have a surprisingly significant impact.
Design and construction changes
A simple change to the design or structure of packaging can reduce costs through more efficient use of material, easier manufacturing processes and even storage and transit costs. Find out more here.
Rationalisation
Combining slow-moving lines or reducing the overall inventory makes managing your packaging stocks easier, and you can also benefit from economies of scale. Find out more by clicking here.

Stock reduction/VMI
Safe storage of packaging can take up large areas of your warehouse or fulfilment centre. Space that you could use more productively. A vendor-managed inventory system reduces the need for storage space and its associated costs and results in less administration. Find out how here.
Transit damage reduction
Transit damage is the hidden cost of off-the-shelf packaging. It can lead to high return rates, increased costs for replacing items, and can even impact your brand perception and repeat sales. But a transit packaging audit can resolve this. Find out how to prevent damage here.
Packaging reduction
Secondary packaging, such as tapes and void fill, can lengthen packing times and significantly increase costs. Often, you can eliminate these products and processes altogether. Read more here.
Single source supply
Sourcing various packaging types from different suppliers means increased admin, less competitive pricing, and frequent issues with packaging products being incompatible. Find out how a single-source supplier can reduce costs and streamline your business here.
Next steps
How to begin a packaging audit
A tailored proposal from GWP, following a full packaging audit, can help you meet your business objectives.
This may be minimising waste, improving processes, rationalising the range of packaging products used, managing stock, or simply reducing the overall cost of your transit packaging.

Once your ongoing targets and requirements are defined, GWP Group can help you implement these through a full value engineering programme, intelligent design, quality manufacturing and the highest level of support.
GWP Group’s service to your business is both flexible and scalable.
We respond to your changing business needs quickly, and you can be confident that your business benefits from the most suitable products and solutions. And with no compromise on quality either.
FAQs
Commonly asked questions about packaging audits
What is a packaging audit?
A packaging audit is a service whereby a team of experts analyse all aspects of your packaging. This, in turn, can potentially uncover inefficiencies and areas for improvement that can significantly impact your business productivity (and potentially reduce costs, too).
What does a good packaging audit cover?
A packaging audit is a holistic process that considers every aspect of your packaging. It covers everything from the materials and types of packaging used to how products are packed, handling processes, space taken in storage and transit, and even missed branding opportunities.
Is this a free service?
GWP offers a packaging audit as a free, no-obligation service. What’s more, we will be completely honest with you. If we do not think we can significantly improve your packaging or reduce your costs, we’ll be entirely up-front and tell you.
Can you offer packaging audits throughout the UK?
Depending on the type of packaging used, conducting a packaging audit in your location may not be possible. However, if this is the case, we do have a network of specialist partners we would be happy to recommend. If you have any questions, please contact us; we’ll be happy to advise.
Will you try to sell packaging to my business after an audit?
Any packaging audit GWP conducts is completely free and without obligation. However, we believe that if we can identify areas of improvement that will benefit your business, you would want to work with us on implementing these improvements. If you don’t, however, that is no problem (although we would, of course, be interested to know your reasons for this decision).
Summary
The key benefits of undertaking a packaging evaluation
The main benefits to your business of packaging audit are:
- Highlights inefficiencies throughout your packaging processes.
- Simplifies your supply chain.
- Identifies cost savings that can directly impact your business’s profitability.
- Actionable, proven strategies to benefit your business.
- Dedicated designers, engineers and senior management allocated to your project.
- Free, no-obligation service.
Request your complimentary packaging audit today
If you feel that your packaging could be improved but don’t know where to start, are going out to tender and feel it is the right time to review your overall operation, or simply need help with a specific issue, please get in touch.
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Here to Help
Contact a member of our sales & support team directly

David Mason
(Corrugated / POS)
david.mason@gwp.co.uk
01793 754 444

Ian Cook
(Returnable)
ian.cook@gwp.co.uk
01793 754 457

Ian Heskins
(Cases / Foam)
ian.heskins@gwp.co.uk
01722 416 440

01793 754 444
Mon – Fri 08.00 – 17.00

info@gwp.co.uk
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