After drafting a first specification in 2010, the French Federation of selective perfumery (FFPS) and the French trade association representing cosmetic manufacturers (FEBEA) have further improved the harmonization of their logistics practices with the adoption of a Guideline of good logistic practices for commercial flows from warehouses.
Resulting from the cooperation between brands in selective perfumery and in the cosmetic industry, this document is a first in the development of a language and of principles common to the industry. It proposes some recommendations in order to standardize and facilitate logistics flows. The aim being to both eliminate unnecessary costs in terms of value to consumers and to better take into account the requirements of sustainable development.
Very practically, the guideline goes into the nitty gritty of packaging, ordering and delivery procedures, such as:
- Configuration of the pallet holder (dimensions, spacing between blades, board thickness, number of pads, weight),
- layout of products on pallets,
- closure of packages (recommendations on closure models)
- recycling of packaging,
- identification of parcels,
- indications to be entered on the bill of lading,
- information to add on the delivery note.
For William Koeberlé, President of the FFPS, this guideline of good practices "is a mainstay in our relationship with customers, who are expecting from both distributors and brands a fast and reliable but also environmentally friendly product delivery."
Led by Jean-Luc Jarrin (Sephora), the steering committee of the FFPS-FEBEA logistic chain, must now tackle new projects: the development of EDI messages for the supply chain (order, delivery, billing), standard product description, optimization of non-market flows, deployment of anti-theft and security measures, and the product traceability and withdrawal procedures to comply with the new European legislation.
