Few decisions are more important than choosing the right kind of containers for your warehouse. Your decision will have major implications for your entire operations, including how much you will need to spend on supplies, how your goods will move from point A to B and how you can store items in your warehouse.

Nothing beats the plastic tote when it comes to cost and efficiency. These reliable plastic containers will keep your products safe without draining your bank account. Here are just some of the benefits of using plastic totes:

1. Stackable for Optimal Space Efficiency

Renting a warehouse can be costly. In fact, warehouse rental rates have increased 28 percent since 2011, and they’re not slowing down any time soon. In order to make the most of your warehouse space, you need to use containers that can stack on top of each other. This helps you keep your inventory out of the way without eating up too much floor space. You can pile boxes on top of each other without damaging what’s inside or having to invest in a shelving system.

Plastic pallets and totes were designed to fit on top of one another without falling over, so you can make the most of your workspace. Many totes come with corrugated edges and surfaces that keep them locked in a fixed position. You won’t have to worry about your totes slipping and falling all over each other, which isn’t true of cardboard boxes that can easily slide out of place.

2. Reusable and Built to Last

Cardboard boxes tend to fall apart after a handful of uses, but that’s not true of plastic totes. These boxes are made with high-quality plastic that can withstand the test of time. You can reuse these totes over and over again without leaving your products vulnerable. Plastic totes typically last anywhere between 20 and 100 uses, so you won’t have to keep stocking up on supplies. As soon as a tote comes through the door, you can quickly remove the contents and load it up again before you send it right back out again.

3. Save Money on Shipping Supplies

With warehouse costs going up year after year, you can’t afford to waste your money on cheaply-made shipping materials that will fall apart after a few trips. You can stretch every dollar by investing in a series of plastic totes. You won’t have to place as many orders if your shipping containers are reusable. You can then pour that savings back into your operations as you invest in better equipment and top-tier talent.

4. Less Waste

If your facility’s shipping containers aren’t built to last, you’ll find yourself creating a lot of unnecessary waste. Boxes will need to be recycled, which can take up precious time throughout the day. Cardboard boxes can also get ripped or torn as you load them in and out of your facility, which usually means they just end up in the trash. But you don’t have to worry about throwing your plastic totes away. They can withstand some wear and tear, so you won’t create as much waste throughout the manufacturing or shipping process.

Corrugated plastic totes tend to be the most reliable and the least wasteful. You can toss and throw these boxes around and they’ll still work as good as new while molded plastic can crack or fall apart if they collide with another surface. Using these containers limits your facility’s effect on the environment because you won’t produce as much trash and you won’t have to keep ordering new containers.

5. Durable and Waterproof

You need to make sure your packages will be protected in any weather. Plastic totes are completely waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about your customers opening a soggy package. Goods will arrive in their original condition, helping you keep your company’s reputation intact.

Cardboard boxes can’t survive in moist conditions. The paper absorbs water, ruining the package and whatever’s inside. These boxes will then have to be thrown away and replaced, costing your company time and money.

Use Plastic Totes for all Your Shipping and Storage Needs

When it comes to finding the right shipping containers for your warehouse, the choice is clear. Plastic totes have everything you need to make sure your products arrive intact. You’ll save money by limiting the cost of supplies, and you can make the most of your warehouse space. Stop relying on subpar containers and invest in plastic totes today!