Bosch is working with CHEP on streamlining and improving the environmental credentials of its automotive parts supply chain by shipping components using reusable crates and pallets.

The first component converted into CHEP packaging was Bosch Jaipur’s fuel injection pump in August 2010. Since then, Bosch has converted several other components at its Nasik plant, Bangalore plants and Consumer Products division.

The shipping of the components Bosch has already converted to CHEP’s reusable packaging at these locations alone will account for more than 500,000 reusable packaging equipment issues a year, reducing waste by displacing the use of disposable cardboard packaging.

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers estimates that India produced three million passenger vehicles in 2010-11 — more than double the number five years earlier — as well as 750,000 commercial vehicles. Amid such strong growth, vehicle manufacturers in India are working to make their supply chains greener.

The CHEP reusable automotive packaging system assists Bosch in reaching this goal while providing added benefits such as lean manufacturing processes, removing waste disposal and providing overall improvements in component protection in transit.

Bosch India Corporate Logistics & Purchase Manager, MC Deorukhkar, says: “CHEP is an integral part of our overall supply chain. We associated with CHEP on a pilot project in 2010 and the concept of reusable packaging has now been successfully extended to other products. We look forward to intensifying this relationship for environmental sustainability together with continuous improvement in supply chain performance.”