In today’s rapidly evolving industrial landscape, sustainability and operational efficiency are no longer optional—they are central to how businesses approach both their environmental impact and their bottom line. As decarbonization efforts intensify globally, industries are seeking smarter solutions to reduce their carbon footprint, not only through renewable energy and innovative technologies but across their entire supply chain.
In efforts to meet sustainability goals, packaging emerges as a crucial, yet frequently overlooked, component. In the lubricants and chemicals industries, packaging solutions can play a pivotal role in achieving sustainability targets and reducing environmental impact. This article delves into the benefits of reusable metal intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), which present a compelling alternative to traditional single-use packaging and can significantly advance decarbonization goals.
The Circular Supply Chain: Reuse, Repair and Recycling
Goodpack’s approach to sustainable packaging is built around a circular supply chain model that prioritizes reuse, repair and recycling. By leveraging a global network of local depots and collection points, Goodpack’s reusable metal IBCs offer businesses with a scalable, flexible and environmentally sound alternative to conventional plastic IBCs and metal drums. The solution not only supports waste reduction but also optimizes logistics efficiency, which minimizes transport distances while lowering the carbon footprint of product shipments.
Unlike traditional models that rely on single-use packaging, Goodpack offers a pay-per-use service model, in which reusable metal IBCs can be reused multiple times, making them a far more sustainable choice. This reusability is crucial to reducing the demand for raw materials and minimizing the environmental impact associated with manufacturing, transporting, and disposing of packaging. For lubricant and chemical manufacturers, the ability to reuse containers means significant reductions in both cost and carbon emissions. Take the following as examples:
- Resource-Intensive Production. Single-use packaging requires virgin materials, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) for plastic drums and steel for barrels. The production process generates significant carbon emissions and consumes finite natural resources.
- Enhanced Reusability and Efficiency through a Circular Network. While metal drums and other one-way packaging can be recycled, they are not reused as efficiently as Goodpack’s reusable metal IBCs. Goodpack containers are part of a global circular network with over 5,000 delivery and collection points, enhancing transport efficiency through a pay-per-use model. In contrast, metal drums and plastic bins, with limited reuse cycles, are often not returned to suppliers and are costlier to reuse, leading to premature recycling before reaching the end of their reusable life cycle.
- Higher Carbon Footprint. One-way packaging is typically discarded after one use, resulting in a continuous cycle of manufacturing, transport, and disposal. This increases greenhouse gas emissions across the supply chain
Supporting Decarbonization through Data-Driven Insights
As companies around the world focus on their decarbonization strategies, one of the challenges they face is the effective measurement and reduction of Scope 3 emissions—emissions that occur across the entire supply chain. Tracking and reporting these emissions is a complex but necessary task for businesses aiming to meet corporate climate commitments.
This is where Goodpack’s Environmental Impact Calculator comes into play. A powerful tool based on Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) principles and ISO-certified standards, the Carbon Calculator enables businesses to quantify and track the environmental impact of their packaging solutions. By factoring in manufacturing processes, transportation distances, payload weight and end-of-life disposal, the tool provides actionable data that helps companies assess their packaging’s full environmental footprint.

Reusable metal IBCs in a shipping container. Source: Goodpack
Offering a clear, data-driven understanding of their packaging impact, businesses can now identify opportunities to reduce emissions, improve efficiency and advance their sustainability goals. The Carbon Calculator is especially valuable for companies looking to understand the impact of packaging on their Scope 3 emissions, as it provides the necessary transparency to support greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting as well as measure reduction targets.
The Economic and Environmental Benefits of Reusable Metal IBCs
Reusable metal IBCs offer significant environmental and financial benefits. Research shows that these containers can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional metal drums. Furthermore, they can lower the total cost of ownership (TCO) by approximately 30% when compared to plastic IBCs and 50% compared to drums.
This substantial reduction in carbon emissions and costs can be attributed to five main factors:
- Reduction in Material Waste. Reusable metal IBCs are designed for multiple reuse cycles, allowing them to be reused hundreds of times over their life cycle of more than 35 years. This significantly diminishes the demand for virgin materials and reduces the volume of waste directed to landfills.
- Lower Carbon Footprint. By reusing packaging, businesses reduce the energy and emissions associated with manufacturing new containers. According to industry estimates, reusable IBCs can reduce life cycle CO2 emissions by up to 60% compared to single-use alternatives.
- Compliance with Regulations. The EU Green Deal’s PPWR legislation mandates a shift toward reusable and recyclable packaging by 2030. Within this framework, companies must demonstrate their initiatives to minimize packaging waste and adopt sustainable solutions. Reusable metal IBCs align perfectly with these requirements, making them an essential choice for lubricant suppliers looking to maintain compliance.
- Cost Efficiency over Time. While reusable metal IBCs may have a higher initial cost, their lower total cost of ownership (TCO) offers considerable long-term financial benefits. Businesses can achieve significant savings through reduced packaging procurement, lower waste disposal costs and improved transport efficiencies.
- Enhanced Supply Chain Sustainability. Reusable metal IBCs support closed-loop systems where containers are returned, cleaned and refilled for further use. This mitigates the overall environmental impact while fostering collaboration between manufacturers, logistics providers and customers.
Goodpack reusable IBCs feature advanced anticounterfeiting measures, including patented design and RFID tags, to enhance supply chain transparency. This is particularly critical for regions facing high levels of counterfeiting. Additionally, Goodpack solutions help maintain your product’s quality by utilizing inner packaging that protects lubricants from oxidation, moisture or contamination.
Innovation Meets Sustainability: Packaging as a Catalyst for Change
Packaging plays a crucial role in helping businesses meet their sustainability targets. By shifting to reusable metal IBCs, companies in the lubricants and chemicals sectors can make a meaningful contribution to reducing waste, optimizing logistics and lowering carbon emissions. Lubricant manufacturers and distributors are encouraged to adopt reusable packaging systems to align with the EU’s targets for waste reduction and resource efficiency.
In addition to the environmental benefits, reusable metal IBCs offer operational advantages by streamlining supply chain processes and improving cost efficiency. Digital solutions, including online platforms and dashboards, provide businesses with real-time insights and analytics to track their packaging usage and optimize their sustainability efforts.
As decarbonization increasingly influences and shapes corporate strategies, packaging will be a key lever in driving sustainable change. Goodpack’s reusable metal IBCs and Environmental Impact Calculator offer businesses the tools they need to make informed decisions, reduce their environmental impact and propel progress toward a more sustainable, circular economy.
Working with Regulations
It is known that the EU Green Deal and the proposed Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) are set to mandate a shift toward reusable and recyclable packaging by 2030. But what might be less apparent is how these regulations might impact the lubricant and chemical industries, as well as which specific challenges and opportunities may arise from these new legislative requirements.
Of course, these looming regulations have placed a very close due date on compliance, and lubricant and chemical companies must start thinking about and planning for how to meet requirements now. While some companies may be facing the headache of completely reevaluating their packaging strategies, there are opportunities in the struggle. For instance, new business partnerships can be forged with companies like Goodpack, and business models can evolve to prioritize sustainable practices in packaging and beyond.

Camburn Withers, co-president of Goodpack
That being said, how does Goodpack’s reusable intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) support businesses in the lubricants and chemicals sector in complying with the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, and what are the environmental benefits of using these containers?
“Our reusable intermediate bulk containers, constructed from high-quality galvanized steel, are designed for decades of reliable service and feature a collapsible design for efficient transport and storage when unladen. These containers offer a sustainable alternative to single-use packaging by providing superior longevity and a higher load factor,” Camburn Withers, co-president of Goodpack, said. “In light of the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation—which mandates that packaging be reusable, recyclable and waste-reducing—our IBCs enable businesses in the lubricants and chemicals sector to ensure compliance with these evolving requirements. This solution not only helps reduce environmental impact but also enhances operational efficiency, making it an ideal choice for organizations committed to sustainability and regulatory adherence.”
Withers continued: “We have taken sustainability a step further by conducting a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in line with international standards. The findings were clear: compared to traditional metal drums, our IBCs deliver a carbon footprint reduction of up to 89%. This significant environmental benefit underscores the value of our IBCs as a more sustainable and cost-effective solution for companies looking to minimize their environmental impact while ensuring regulatory compliance.”
Goodpack is the world’s largest supplier of reusable, pallet-sized packaging solutions.
By Alexander Litvinov, Lakesh Rengarajoo, Quinie Lim and Cristabel Yeo