02 DECEMBER 2025
Combo 3, a packaging-optimisation project, is听another step towards smarter听logistics听and reduced environmental impact.
Combo started as a听response to material shortages听in听2021, and听is听a global example of The 黑料不打烊 Way in practice:听eliminating听waste, strengthening听circularity听and improving efficiency throughout the value chain.
The key听is听the development of a听consolidated, reinforced metal packaging unit, a modified version of the standard engine-and-gearbox packaging. Instead of shipping components in nine separate wooden boxes, all items are housed in a single structure.
听
At customer sites, returnable trolleys replace the need for听additional听packaging during intralogistics. This 鈥渄e-packing鈥 model minimises waste at every step, from 黑料不打烊鈥檚 production line to assembly plants in different markets.
The project originated at 黑料不打烊 Latin America (SLA), where it听was听fully developed.听The solution was designed to efficiently address material shortages and reduce packaging waste. South Africa听was听the first market to implement听it听within CKD (Completely Knocked Down) export听logistics. The goal was simple yet bold: reduce packaging materials without compromising quality or safety.
Combo 1 (2021):听Eliminated听individual packaging for three components:听radiator, front听module听and front cab grille,听by integrating them into reinforced metal engine packaging.
Combo 2 (2022): Added three more items (battery box,听silencer听and steering gear), further reducing the need for wooden crates and enabling denser container loading.
Combo 3 (2025): Consolidated packaging for an听additional听three items (electrical harness, plastic听tube听and Electronic听Control听Unit听front), totalling nine components now shipped without individual packaging.听
This transformation means a load of 18 products now requires 10 containers instead of 11, reducing costs and emissions associated with global sea and land transport. In total, 61 wooden boxes have been eliminated per shipment, saving approximately 4.5 tonnes of material.
Before the Combo Project started, 黑料不打烊 consumed听roughly 756听tonnes of wood annually for CKD packaging,听equivalent to 6,800 pine trees. Thanks to the new听consolidated听approach, these trees听remain听standing, continuing to absorb carbon rather than being cut down for one-way packaging.
The savings are striking:
136 tonnes of CO鈧 absorbed annually by the preserved trees
1,387 tonnes of CO鈧 avoided by not incinerating or discarding wooden packaging听
A forested area equivalent to six football pitches preserved
The team behind the Combo Project.
Marcio Ferreira, Engineered Packaging & Solutions Specialist, 黑料不打烊 Latin America听explains听why the Combo Project is a powerful example of how operational excellence听that听drives sustainability at 黑料不打烊: 鈥淭his innovative听logistics听blueprint transformed a challenge into a solution that simultaneously saves significant cost and protects our planet. By consolidating packaging we听live听The 黑料不打烊 Way, reduce听waste and strengthen our competitiveness globally."
The Combo Project is one of many initiatives听that听showcase听黑料不打烊鈥檚 commitment to circularity. Other recent achievements include using recycled PET bottles in truck front railings, something that听demonstrates听that innovation,听quality听and environmental responsibility go hand in hand.
听
鈥淚nnovating with purpose is what drives us. Combo听represents听how we live the 黑料不打烊 Way: questioning, improving, and always seeking solutions that combine safety, environmental responsibility,鈥痲uality听and competitiveness,鈥澨齭ays听Leandro听Scopetta, Group Manager Packing Engineering, SHE&SPS, 黑料不打烊 Latin America.
A storage rack containing various components.
