7 minute read
Rethinking Pallet Usage
A new sustainable supply chain solution is set to transform delivery of building materials and change the way that timber pallets are used and distributed.
T
he UK construction sector uses over 18 million timber pallets per annum yet re-uses less than 10%. In the construction industry, the lack of pallet re-use generates upwards of 250,000 tonnes of waste and means a huge amount of timber is used unnecessarily. To create construction industry pallets, an estimated 6,000 acres of forestry are harvested every year, with a further 236,000 acres grown to cater for future demand. This is to feed a linear packaging model that is outdated and needs to change as UK construction works to achieve ambitious net zero targets.
Change is coming in the launch of The Pallet LOOP™ - the sector’s first ever circular economy, carbon net zero, pallet reuse scheme that will enable the recovery, repair and re-use of millions of pallets across the UK construction sector. Designed as a net carbon zero model, The Pallet LOOP will also support the industry in its bid to achieve zero avoidable waste. Rather than being cost engineered, LOOP’s distinctive green pallets are designed and built for multiple trips. Built with durability in mind, they are made from 100% FSC certified wood, have an ISO 14040 compliant LCA, and are, on average,100% stronger than standard pallets used in the construction
Industry. Trials of The Pallet LOOP recovery service took place in October 2021 across the UK with several principal contractors and is timetabled for operational roll out in 2022. Delivering a more sustainable pallet distribution model, which is greener and leaner, the scheme is aligned with environmental targets set for the sector by UK Government, and the growing desire and need for businesses to adopt circular economy practices that are more environmentally friendly.
The Pallet LOOP is a joint venture between Paul and Ryan Lewis (formerly HLC Wood Products) and Scott Group – one of the UK’s leading pallet producers. Centred around the principles of ‘recover, repair and reuse’, The Pallet LOOP aims to eliminate avoidable pallet waste in the construction sector by incentivising pallet returns via a cost-effective, easy-to-use, deposit-based system.
Estimates suggest that up to 10% of the construction waste stream is pallets, which is costly from both a financial and an environmental perspective. Widespread adoption of The Pallet LOOP across the construction sector will greatly reduce the burden that pallet production currently places on the environment and our forests – achieving approximately 40% less CO2 emissions and an estimated up to 75% reduction in timber usage.
How does The Pallet LOOP work?
At the heart of The Pallet LOOP is a range of distinctive, green, 100% FSC LOOP pallets, which are different by design. Manufactured with durability in mind, with an ISO14040 compliant LCA, LOOP pallets will be distributed to building materials manufacturers, which can use them to transport products to builders’ merchants and construction sites nationwide. Building material manufacturers will pay a deposit per pallet (along with a separate issue fee that the manufacturer absorbs in much the same way they do today with a packaging charge) to The Pallet LOOP.
As the pallets move through the supply chain, the deposit will pass from manufacturer to merchant to end user. Once materials reach their final destination, pallets can be stacked and stored ready for collection by The Pallet LOOP, which has a dedicated recovery infrastructure
INNOVATIVE wood protection technologies
Tanalith™ high pressure wood preservative
• Ideal for building, cladding, decking, fencing and leisure wood applications. • Unique combination of copper and organic biocides. • Incorporates award winning
BARamine™ application technology, providing a greater penetration and distribution of
Tanalith™ preservative into the timbers.
Tanasote™ oil based wood preservative
• Designed for high performance timbers, such as railway sleepers and utility poles. • Incorporates an innovative organic co-biocide to protect against a wide spectrum of aggressive decay fungi. • Formulated to deliver a service life of 40 years plus*, whilst minimising the risk of early failures.
Vacsol™ low pressure wood preservative
• Metal free and VOC free. • Suitable for Use Class 1, 2 and 3 (coated) joinery and construction timbers. • Contains advanced BPR approved biocides that allow minimum levels of ingredients to be used with maximum e ect. • Treated timber can be re-used or recycled - check local waste regulations, which can vary.
THESE WOOD PRESERVATIVES ARE BIOCIDAL PRODUCTS REGULATION (BPR) AUTHORISED. The BPR process involves passing stringent risk assessments, including data on the impact to humans, animals and the environment.
*Service life requirements can vary depending on commodity, desired service life, timber species and application.
The Pallet LOOP team - pictured left to right: Phil Dent, CEO; Steve Ottaway, chief operating officer; Paul Lewis, founder; Nathan Wride, head of partnerships & innovation; and Charlie Law, head of contractor engagement
in place. Pallet collection is simple, and users will be able to book a pick-up slot via phone or online. Once a collection is booked, pallets will be picked up from as little as 72 hours later – reducing site clutter. Deposits are then repaid, in full, to the end-user.
Paul Lewis, Founder of The Pallet LOOP, said: “As a business we’re committed to reducing the impact on the planet that comes from pallet use in the construction industry supply chain. We aim to sustainably manage and reduce the cost of pallets for our customers – making palletised logistics greener and leaner. At present, many pallets circulating in the sector are designed for single use. The current industry specification for pallets works on the assumption that they will be scrapped or skipped once they reach their final destination. “We’re turning this outdated, inefficient and linear practice on its head. In a step-change for the sector, we’ve developed a range of standardised pallets, engineered to last and to be used again and again. Adoption of The Pallet LOOP requires a shift in mindset from ‘deliver, distribute, discard’ to ‘recover, repair and reuse’ – but we’re confident the time is right, and that the UK construction industry is ready to embrace this transformational shift towards a circular solution. This is evidenced by the number of companies that have stepped forward to welcome our launch, sign our charter, and investigate how The Pallet LOOP might work for them. The last eighteen months have challenged us all to adopt new ways of working. Throughout the pandemic, the phrase ‘build back better’ has been widely used and several new initiatives have launched with leading industry players stating their commitment to a clean recovery.”
Initially, The Pallet Loop™ has created a suite of pallet designs for the distribution of different building materials. It is estimated that eight core designs could accommodate up to 75% of building materials being moved within the UK construction sector. Easy to identify, the distinctive green LOOP pallets all follow a standardised design that makes them safer to move, manage and stack, and which helps maximise lorry distribution capacity.
“As committed innovators, we’re delighted to introduce The Pallet LOOP to our range of industry-leading, sustainable pallet solution,” added Norman Scott, Owner / Group Operations Director at Scott Group, adds
The Pallet LOOP is a member of the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) and the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF). The Pallet LOOP also has Construct Zero Business Champion status and is committed to helping the UK construction industry cut its consumption of timber, improve its sustainability credentials, and increase its contribution to the nation’s zero waste and zero carbon ambitions.
More at www.thepalletloop.com
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