Motivated by a commitment to meeting their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) objectives, the Snell team conducted a global search for an alternative to polystyrene which would meet Crown Relocations’ unique requirements. 

Here’s the story of how Crown Relocations partnered with Snell to reduce their waste to landfill, drive operational efficiencies while maintaining the highest standard of customer experience through the introduction of two new custom products.  

The Challenge

Crown Relocations is trusted to facilitate the secure and safe relocation of personal effects to, from and within New Zealand. As a result, it was a significant business risk to move away from polystyrene in favour of a more sustainable material. It was critical that the new solution provided the same degree of protection in transit as their existing iFoam, iBubble and polystyrene products. 

For Snell, the challenge lay in identifying a fit for purpose, recyclable and commercially viable solution for Crown Relocations.  

Global Sourcing Identifies Two Custom Polystyrene Alternatives Available in New Zealand

“I don’t accept things at face value”, says Tristan Cavanagh, Crown Relocations’ Training Manager – Operations. 

“As a business, we have made ESG commitments. To meet these, we are phasing out polystyrene. As there are operational impacts in doing so, we needed to ensure that the alternative was accepted by our Ops team and kept our customers’ personal items safe in transit”. 

Snell utilised its global sourcing expertise and network of connections to source a unique product. We considered a variety of options, such as cardboard inserts requiring onsite assembly, before landing on two custom solutions. 

Reflecting on the process, Snell Key Account Manager, Melissa Wagner, says: 

“It was an in-depth and complex sourcing process as Crown Relocations’ requirements were very specific. We presented a range of potential solutions to Tristan and the team for them to evaluate”. 

One of the many alternatives Snell sourced and proposed was a flexible, felt fabric, with approximately 85% of materials derived from recycled sources. This was ultimately selected by Crown Relocations as it met their requirements regarding ESG and operational efficiency, while being commercially viable from a cost standpoint. 

Crown Relocations has named the solution Eco-Shield, a premium packaging solution suited to high value and fragile items which replaces their traditional iFoam, iBubble and polystyrene packing products. 

Pictured: Crown Relocation’ Eco-Shield solution, sourced by Snell 

Complementing the deployment of Crown Relocations’ new Eco-Shield solution, redesigned TV cartons were also developed and released. Utilising the same material as that of Eco-Shield, Snell sourced a custom moulded wedge which securely holds TVs in place within a carton. The cartons themselves, also supplied by Snell, can be adjusted for size and require minimal taping. Both of these design features reduce the product’s environmental impact. These features also mean the cartons are reusable for domestic moves which reduces Crown Relocations’ environmental impact and cost. 

Pictured: Crown Relocations’ redesigned TV cartons and custom inserts in use, sourced by Snell  

Two Custom Solutions Utilising Building Insulation Offcuts

“I came across the solution which Crown Relocations ultimately selected when reading an article about how a New Zealand-based manufacturer was processing insultation offcuts as part of a circular economy initiative”, says Melissa.

Following the identification of this potential supplier, Snell and Crown Relocations met with them to discuss Crown Relocations’ requirements for a custom product. 

“The supplier was more than willing to work with us and Snell to create something which was fully customised and fit for purpose. We really appreciated their willingness to create two products for us which weren’t in their wheelhouse”, says Tristan. 

Supporting Crown Relocations' ESG Strategy

The Crown Relocations team understood that meeting their ESG obligations and commitments was more complex than simply utilising alternative products. Instead, Crown Relocations drew on Snell’s network of trusted suppliers and partners who meet our own strict standards regarding certification and compliance to source viable solutions. 

While Snell did consider a range of solutions available offshore, an advantage of local procurement is that the carbon footprint generated by freight within New Zealand is typically lower than that of international sourcing and delivery to New Zealand.  

Crown Relocations’ Head of Sustainability, Amber Williams, says:

“Sustainability isn’t just about big commitments. It’s about the practical changes that become part of everyday operations. This project was an example of the Crown Relocations team recognising that eliminating polystyrene would be beneficial in reducing our ESG impact. We then partnered with Melissa and Snell’s procurement team to identify, source and introduce a recyclable, reusable and more sustainable packaging solution”. 

Crown Relocations’ commitment to sustainability is further supported by the recyclability of both Eco-Shield and the TV carton wedges. Once the products reach the end of their lifecycle, they’ll be returned to the supplier to be re-processed and re-manufactured back into either Eco-Shield or TV carton wedges for continued use by Crown Relocations. 

Looking Ahead

In the coming months, Crown Relocations will further roll out these initiatives across their nationwide locations. The packing method follows a clear, repeatable process, ensuring reliability across crews and locations. This structured approach not only improves handling consistency but also simplifies training and execution. 

“We’re continuing to work with Snell to identify other products in our range which could be changed to an alternative to reduce our environmental impact without compromising operational performance. It’s a process that we’ll go through for several of our products with support from the Snell team”, says Tristan.  
 
Crown Relocations’ partnership with Snell highlights a reality which many businesses face. There are often aspects of an operation where the elimination of packaging materials is not possible. In these instances, it’s essential to partner with a supplier who can draw on a diverse and global network to identify the most suitable solution for your business. 

To learn more about Crown Relocations, click here. 

The Snell Advantage for Logistics & Transportation

The Snell Advantage combines: 

• Surety of supply during a volatile global climate characterised by uncertainty
• Access to the trusted advisors from our in-house procurement specialists and global network of expert partners
• A commitment to certification and compliance as one of the first warehousing companies in New Zealand to hold FSSC 22000, a GFSI-recognised food safety certification which ensures compliance throughout our supply chain to protect our customers’ operations. 

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