A transformational, net carbon zero deposit-based pallet re-use scheme for the UK construction sector

Join the loop

The circular economy pallet re-use scheme
for the UK construction sector

that’s different by design

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INTRODUCING THE PALLET LOOP

Founded by some of the biggest names in the UK pallet industry, The Pallet LOOP™ is transforming the way building materials are distributed across Great Britain and Ireland.

Incentivising pallet returns via a cost-effective, easy-to-use, deposit-based system, we provide the construction industry with a simple, circular approach to pallet use that’s greener, safer, leaner.

Shifting the sector from the linear practice of ‘deliver, distribute and discard’ to the more sustainable model of ‘recover, repair, reuse’, we’re actively eliminating avoidable pallet waste from the building materials supply chain.

 

 

THE BENEFITS

Greener

Saving millions of trees and precious timber resources to support net zero

leaner

An efficient collection service that will reduce site waste and cut costs

Stronger

Pallets engineered to last longer & work harder

Safer

A standardised robust range of pallet proven to perform better in load & lift

HOW LOOP WORKS

Using the principles of circular economics, we’ve created a simple way for the UK construction industry to cut its’ consumption of timber for pallet production, reduce waste and improve its sustainability credentials. Central to our approach is:

A range of distinctive green, 100% FSC pallets engineered to last and be used again and again

A simple, service-oriented model that replaces the traditional sale of single use pallets with a deposit-based scheme 

Unrivalled manufacturing capacity to meet short- and long-term demand.

A network of collection sites and repair hubs nationwide

A dedicated fleet of lorries
picking up pallets

A 72-hour collection service for green LOOP and white pallets

BE PART OF THE CHANGE

 Up to 10% of the construction waste stream is pallets. This is costly from 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 on our forests – achieving on average 40% less CO2 emissions* and an estimated up to 75% reduction in timber usage.
*With the remaining residual CO2emissions off-set through approved UK carbon removal schemes
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“As COP26 takes place, and BAM is focused on building a sustainable tomorrow, we need to explore every practical avenue that helps us reduce our CO2 emissions and achieve net zero. “The best change is one that others can support and adopt. This has much greater impact, so we are proud to champion this initiative which has great potential across our sector. It fits very well alongside our drive to become more circular, drive out waste, and reuse resources.”

Julia Messenger, Sustainability Manager, BAM

“Savvy organisations will be already re-orientating their existing sustainability strategy towards one of circular implementation with trusted trading partners of a similar persuasion, and not waiting to act until new legislation or spikes in commodity prices hit home.”
Mickey Howard, Professor of Sustainable Supply Chain Management at University of Exeter Business School

At the moment, the pallets used by the construction industry are the equivalent of single-use plastics in the hospitality sector. It really isn’t acceptable that so many are used just once and then discarded each year. LOOP’s innovation to introduce a higher spec pallet that can be reused and recycled multiple times is a brilliant idea that we support 100%”

Graham Edgell, Director of Sustainability and Procurement,
Morgan Sindall Group

“Savvy organisations will be already re-orientating their existing sustainability strategy towards one of circular implementation with trusted trading partners of a similar persuasion, and not waiting to act until new legislation or spikes in commodity prices hit home.”
Mickey Howard, Professor of Sustainable Supply Chain Management at University of Exeter Business School

Kier recognises that the current use of single trip pallets is unsustainable. These pallets consume a significant quantity of home-grown softwood timber resource (around 17%), which could be better utilised in other long-term carbon storage solutions such as the construction of buildings, and they also account for a significant percentage of our construction waste stream (up to 10% by volume) which is a significant cost to the business. We therefore would fully endorse a deposit-based supply chain solution that would enable the recovery, repair, and reuse of pallets in the UK construction sector

Jo Gilroy Head of Sustainability, Kier

“The Pallet Loop™ represents the type of sustainability disruptor that is urgently needed to create a more circular construction industry. It will have benefits to those handling pallets with regard to safety; for site managers dealing with logistics and space issues; right through to the forests that don’t need to be felled as a result.”

Eithne George, Programme Director, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership

“The procedure developed by Virginia Tech (for The Pallet Loop) is the first testing procedure that can evaluate the ability of pallets to survive the hazards of block grab lift handling. Our results show that the LOOP pallet has at least a 1.5 ton load capacity based on the test developed.”

Professor Laszlo Horvath, Director, Centre for Packaging and Unit Load Design, Virginia Tech

“ISG recognises that the current widespread use of single trip pallets is unsustainable. We therefore would fully endorse a deposit-based supply chain solution, such as The Pallet Loop™, that enables the recovery, repair and reuse of pallets in the UK construction sector.”

Peter Kelly, Head of Sustainability, ISG

GET IN THE LOOP

Get in touch to find out more

DID YOU KNOW?

Pallet use, over one year, in the UK alone, is responsible for:

100,000,000kg
CO2

20,000 acres
forest farmed

400,000 trees
felled

275,000 tonnes
wood waste

IN THE NEWS

If you are a journalist and would like more information about The Pallet LOOP, please contact our press office:

MayFifteen Communications

E: Natalie Yates

T: 07714766106

LOOP pallets: Better for people, the planet, and profitability

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