Packing Algorithms May Save the Planet

An anonymous reader writes "New Scientist reports on how competitions to devise better packing algorithms could help cut the environmental impact of deliveries and shipping. A new record setter at packing differently-sized discs into the smallest space without overlapping them has potential to be applied to real world 3D problems, researchers claim." Ok the title might be a little ridiculous, but the ridiculous packaging used to ship a few tiny objects by some shippers is pretty shameful.

Comments

ElReg:HP shatters excessive packaging world record

[D4C5CE]

Fortunately, few reach this level of "mastery": http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/07/18/hp_packaging/

Dell/HP could pay attention...

[Firethorn]

Then again, some (un)common sense in their shipping divisions of various companies would help.
Dell Batteries
HP
Newegg

Still, the disc thing is probably more for packing shipping containers from China - the extra control and distance being shipped makes packing efficienty easier and more economical than discovering a way to pack random UPS trucks better.

Re:Packing algorithms don't just apply to shipping

[Anonymous Coward]

inb4 broken window

Shipping Pillows

[RManning]

I got married last year and we registered for a lot of stuff from Crate & Barrel. Everything came packed in a ridiculous amount of packaging, but my favorite was the pillows. Each of the four pillows we got came double-wrapped in bubble paper! I guess they weren't broken when we got them, so it must have worked. ;)

Re:post apocolypitca romantica

[Dallas Caley]

Sad or not, i hope it happens fast because as soon as there is enough garbage that i can stand on it, i'm claiming it as my own nation. "I claim this floating island of crap in the name of Garbageland! All hail for i am the king of Garbageland!"

Re:Or course we should pack things tightly...

[larpon]

T        h        i        s
c        o        m        m        e        n        t
i        s
n        o        t
s        a        v        i        n        g
t        h        e
p        l        a        n        e        t

Re:post apocolypitca romantica

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

Who runs bartertown?

Re:post apocolypitca romantica

[cerberusss]

as soon as there is enough garbage that i can stand on it, i'm claiming it as my own nation.

As soon as you claim it, I'd like to start a datacenter on there. I'd rent out dedicated boxes and install my custom Linux distribution on it, calling it Garbix.

(Please don't mod me troll, I'm actually a Linux fan! Really!)

Re:Or course we should pack things tightly...

[Eudial]

aaceeeghhiiilmmnnnnoopssstttttv

There, I saved the planet for you.

Re:Are algorithms the issue?

[bar-agent]

practically impossible...impractical...solvable...economically impractical...practically possible...theoretically possible...computationally infeasable

I'm lost in a maze of small twisting phrases, all exactly alike!