A transformational, circular economy, pallet reuse scheme for the UK construction sector

Designing pallet waste out of the construction industry supply chain

sustainability

HELPING THE UK “BUILD BACK BETTER”

The creation of The Pallet LOOP™ reflects the growing desire and need – at a political, environmental and commercial level – to see businesses adopt circular economy practices. We’ve aligned our business model with the UK’s Resources and Waste Strategy. This blueprint sets out the UK Government’s ambition to eliminate avoidable waste of all kinds by 2050. The aim is to make the UK a world leader in using resources efficiently – reducing the amount of waste we create as a society and prolonging the life of the materials and goods that we use.

 

THERE IS NO PLANET B

The Pallet LOOP is part of a new wave of eco innovation that’s ‘creating’ sustainability and driving forward new ways of working that have less of an impact on the planet. Applying reverse logistics, we’re changing the way the construction industry uses pallets – repositioning them as a valuable resource that can be re-integrated into the construction industry supply chain.

Replacing the current linear pallet distribution model, with a truly circular green solution, our carbon net zero scheme challenges unsustainable supply chain practices and promotes a culture of pallet re-use.

RECOVER

REPAIR

RE-USE

RETHINKING PALLETS

We’re giving the construction industry a greener way to use pallets. Delivering a step change in distribution logistics, we’re shifting the sector away from the inefficient ‘take, make, use, throw’ model, to an approach that’s less costly from a financial and an environmental perspective. Widespread adoption of The Pallet LOOP™ across the UK construction sector has the potential to achieve up to 40% less CO2 emissions and an estimated 75% reduction in timber usage – greatly reducing the  negative impact that pallets currently place on the environment and our forests. Read our full impact assessment here.

“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

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 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

“It’s wonderful to see companies like The Pallet LOOP step up to the challenge presented by the climate emergency and put circular economy principles at its heart. It’s clear from the government that the decade ahead will be one of transition as we move towards a decarbonised economy based on a “reduce, reuse, recycle” model for resources.”

Peter Caplehorn, CEO, Construction Products Association

“ISG recognises that the current widespread use of single trip pallets is unsustainable. We therefore would fully endorse a 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

“At Aggregate Industries, we are continuously seeking to adopt new and innovative ways to make our business and the industry more sustainable. The Pallet LOOP perfectly mirrors our own ambitions, and by signing up to the Charter we are able to both evaluate our current pallet usage and the associated CO2 emissions, as well as move towards the adoption of a more sustainable supply chain.”

Kirstin McCarthy, Sustainability Director, Aggregate Industries

“At the TP Group we recognise the importance of shifting to a more circular economy and we're fully committed to exploring new ways to embed sustainability in our business. A model where pallets can be recovered, repaired and reused through the supply chain is a great example of a sustainable solution which we're keen to embrace”

James Vance, Head of Sustainability, Travis Perkins

“The Pallet LOOP presents us with a solution that is better for business and better for the planet. We will have a far greater impact if we are all pulling in the same direction. We need the whole supply chain onside, because clearly the smallest change in process can have the biggest impact over time.”

Graeme Barton, CEO, Construction Products Association

DIFFERENT by design

LOOP pallets aren’t just green in colour; they’re also green by design. Engineered to be stronger they can be LOOPed around the construction industry, again and again.

COLLABORATING TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE

We know that creating lasting environmental change comes from a collective effort. That’s why we’re engaged with organisations that are driving forward sustainability in the wider world, but also specifically in support of UK construction’s net zero targets

giving something extra back

As a business we want to leave a lasting legacy for future generations. As well as dramatically reducing the number of trees cut down to create pallets, we support a range of environmental projects across the UK including: