June 3, 2008 - SoftLayer, a datacenter services firm, has slimmed the packaging for its servers by 80% - a boon for shippers looking to pack more product into fewer trucks.

The redesigned packaging eliminates more than eight pounds of material per server, according to SoftLayer. The company has also stopped shipping unnecessary components (and their user manuals) in each package, instead sending only what's needed by each client.

Using slimmer packaging and including fewer components not only enables shipping containers to carry more units but also reduces the amount of fuel required for product transport.

"From the shipment of our first server in 2006, SoftLayer has actively recycled all its datacenter materials. But with our rate of growth, it was essential we do even more,” says Joshua Rushe, the company's VP of operations. "We looked for a way to go beyond recycling and reduce the production of unnecessary material. We hope this program sets a new industry standard."