What is Rapioli?
Rapioli is reuasable plastic shipping packaging, with its own snap-in cushioning. The unique, patent-pending concept was first recognized for its innovation by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and was then awarded a development grant from the California Department of Conservation, Division of Recycling. Follow the visual timeline down the left to see the various structural forms that have been explored over the past five years.

Rapioli comes in 4 standard sizes – and can be customized to fit your needs. Since the primary application for Rapioli is shipping within an organization’s supply chain, some uses call for clear plastic, facilitating quick identification of contents. Other uses may require an opaque material – RPET is readily available in black, and can be produced to match any color. Plus, Rapiolis can be made in custom proportions and weights.

Who needs Rapioli?
Rapioli was designed for businesses that ship items back and forth within their facility or supply chain. Having a “closed loop”, or the reverse logistics, to get the Rapiolis back is the most sustainable – and profitable – situation.

Companies such as Walmart, HP and Ikea have gained a competitive advantage by rethinking their energy and material use, and reducing their waste – specifically in packaging. Others, like Toyota, have approached “zero waste to landfill” goals by using reusable plastic pallets in shipping, saving millions of dollars in the process.

What are the advantage of using Rapioli over cardboard boxes?
• Reusable / returnable – multiple uses
• Less expensive than cardboard on cost-per-trip basis
• Easy to clean
• Stackable, nestable design
• Cleaner than cardboard (no paper dust)
• More sanitary than cardboard
• Material is waterproof
• 100% Recyclable

The Rapioli is perfectly positioned at the intersection of the rapidly growing green movement and the shrinking economy. Companies are actively seeking to cut costs and reduce inefficiencies in order to stay viable. Plus, there is increasing public pressure on corporations concerning social responsibility issues such as resource use, over-packaging and waste. These factors are driving companies to reexamine their purchasing decisions and their suppliers. The Rapioli reusable packaging solution addresses these business needs by minimizing waste, optimizing resources and enhancing brand image.

Why should we care?
A staggering 38 billion water bottles enter US landfills every year. Plus, our landfills contain thirty percent paperboard – over 6.4 billion cardboard boxes were used to ship items via ground or air in 2007 alone. Simply put, we can’t afford to waste resources. Oil, and materials made from oil such as plastic, has a finite supply, its price fluctuates wildly and it’s tied to national security concerns. Water, needed to sustain life, is becoming increasingly scarce. Energy demand has outpaced supply – and large-scale renewable solutions are years away from meeting our needs.

The oil, water and energy required to make plastic – from extraction to transportation to manufacturing to disposal – should not be wasted if alternatives exist. That’s why i2i is working so hard to bring the Rapioli to market.

It’s true that cardboard is made from a renewable resource – trees. But there are significant embedded energy costs to grow, harvest, transport, and process trees into paper. Using a cardboard box once has a needlessly high environmental cost, even if it is eventually recycled. A durable, reusable, reclaimable, recycled plastic container is a more sustainable solution.

Use of the Rapioli makes a positive impact on a company’s “triple bottom line”: People benefit from less waste in their community and in their future, the Planet benefits from a lower usage of its finite resources (most plastic is made from fossil fuels) and energy used in manufacturing and Profits result by retaining and reusing business assets (and good employees) and having a great story that reflects well on your brand.

The Rapioli concept is gaining traction. In Nathan Shedroff’s latest book: Design is the Problem: The Future of Design Must Be Sustainable the Rapioli is presented as one of the Solutions.

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