A sustainable supply chain starts with plastic RTP

Sustainability is a hot topic. A recent IBM study revealed that sustainability is rising on the corporate agenda and CEOs are recognising sustainability as a business imperative and growth driver. Increasingly in the logistics sector, CEOs and MDs are investing in sustainability and calculating how they can reduce their business’ impact on the planet while operating efficiently and profitably.

While these calculations are complex and feature many aspects, embracing plastic Returnable Transit Packaging (RTP) is one solution that can help drive efficiency, profits and sustainability, says Jim Hardisty, Managing Director of Goplasticpallets.com.

Jim said, “As the UK’s leading supplier of plastic pallets, pallet boxes, and containers, we are passionate about plastic. Since we started Goplasticpallets.com in 2001, we have seen the infinite value of this material and know that its strength, light weight, and durability make it an extremely useful and sustainable solution for our customers.

Optimised for efficiency

“Our high-quality products are optimised to increase operational efficiency and designed to last. They are manufactured in a high quality, repeatable process to a specific size and material specification. This precise process is what gives our products their incredible strength and dimensional accuracy, perfect for high repeat use in a range of applications for at least 10 years – potentially longer.

“Being able to “use and reuse” the same reliable product for at least a decade without needing to repair or replace it is beneficial for businesses and the environment. Businesses do not have to spend out on repairs or replacing RTP, while the environment benefits too – products remain in use rather than entering the waste stream and there is no requirement to create new items from natural resources.

Creating a closed loop through recycling

“Not only does plastic RTP drive efficiency and profitability thanks to its performance and longevity, it drives sustainability too.

“All of our products are fully recyclable once they come to the end of their long service life. Recycling plastic RTP closes the loop and moves away from the linear ‘take, make, dispose’ culture that mankind has become so accustomed to.

“This approach is resulting in resource scarcity, volatility, and inflated prices. That is why we are passionate about challenging this linear mindset and encouraging our customers, other businesses, and policymakers to embrace a circular approach where products are reused and recycled. That was why, in 2019, we launched our pioneering plastic pallet recycling scheme. This was our pledge to take responsibility for all the products we supply and create responsible supply chains.

“Our scheme collects unwanted and used plastic pallets, boxes, and containers and returns them to our manufacturing partner in Belgium. Once at the manufacturing facility, the plastic is granulated and reprocessed so it can be made into brand new, recycled plastic pallets.

“We then supply these recycled pallets to our customers. Currently, 93% of our plastic pallets are made entirely from recycled plastic. Manufacturing recycled plastic pallets is also kinder to the environment. Every 1 tonne of recycled plastic saves around 2 tonnes of CO2 emissions, 5,774 kilowatt hours of energy, 16.3 barrels of oil, 98 million BTUs of energy and 22 cubic meters of landfill. These are stagging savings when you consider the millions of tonnes of recycled plastic that has been created.

“Since we launched our recycling scheme, we have recycled over 958 tonnes of plastic, which equates to around 214 truckloads. Our recycling commitment extends further than just our customers, too. Even if we didn’t supply the plastic pallets, boxes, or containers in the first place, organisations can utilise our service to recycle their unwanted products.

We continue to drive sustainability

“Our commitment to the environment and driving sustainability will not stop. We continually work with our manufacturing partners to increase the number of recycled products we offer. We understand the need to embed a culture where we reuse and recycle plastic rather than dispose of it.

“By continuing to raise awareness about our sustainable products and recycling scheme, we can drive a plastic circular economy and create a much more sustainable supply chain.”

If you would like to bring sustainability and circularity to your business, then please get in touch with one of the experts at Goplaticpallets.com. With over 160 combined years of experience, they are the experts at identifying the perfect sustainable solution for your application.

To find out more, please call +44 (0)1323 744057, or email your enquiry to sales@goplasticpallets.com.