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Tag: Circular Economy

2000 Tonne Recycling Milestone Reached

Posted on by David Priestman

The team at goplasticpallets, a British provider of sustainable plastic pallets and boxes, is celebrating a big achievement – recycling an incredible 2,000 tonnes of plastic in just six years. This milestone underscores the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and supporting the circular economy.

The Eastbourne-based company initially launched its recycling scheme, the first of its kind across the sector, in 2019. Since then, goplasticpallets.com has collected plastic pallets and boxes at the end of their lifespan, transporting them to its recycling centre in Belgium – regardless of the original supplier. To date, over 350 truckloads have been transported to the continent.

In 2019, the team set an original target to recycle 1,500 tonnes of plastic by the end of 2025 but surpassed that goal two years early. In response to this success, goplasticpallets.com set a new and ambitious target to recycle 5,000 tonnes by the end of this decade. By hitting 2,000 tonnes this week, they are firmly on course to smash this long-term aim.

To put the 2,000-tonne milestone into perspective, this achievement is equivalent to recycling an impressive 133,333 units of the popular Qpall 1210 M5R pallet – each weighing 15kg. Stacked vertically, these pallets would form a tower twice as high as Mount Everest. Laid flat, the pallets would cover a surface area of 160,000 square metres, the equivalent to 22 Wembley football pitches, two entire O2 Arenas, or seven times the base area of Rome’s iconic Colosseum. Furthermore, if placed end-to-end, the pallets would stretch precisely 100 miles – the exact distance from London to Birmingham, and over seven times longer than Manhattan.

Jim Hardisty, Managing Director of goplasticpallets.com, said: “We are incredibly proud to reach this important 2,000-tonne milestone, which is down to the tremendous dedication shown by our team, our customers, and our partners. We believe strongly in promoting greener logistics and supporting businesses in their journey towards more sustainable operations. This achievement highlights the critical role recycling plays in building a responsible future.

“The majority of recycled plastic comprises first-generation pallets and boxes, initially introduced years ago. Today’s advanced pallets have significantly improved lifespans, further extending their sustainability benefits. We continue to help businesses across several industries – including retail, construction, manufacturing, food production, automotive and waste management – to green their supply chains. Not only are 93% of the products we supply made from 100% recycled materials, but we also guarantee full responsibility for recycling the plastic pallets and boxes we provide – along with those from other suppliers.”

However, the ambitious team at goplasticpallets.com isn’t stopping here. Hardisty added: “We aren’t finished yet. We have calculated that we’re halfway to filling Central Park – so that’s something to strive for in the coming years!”

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Plastic Recycling Targets Set

 

Brewing Grolsch and Sustainable Pallets

Posted on by David Priestman

Sustainable reusable packaging specialist Schoeller Allibert and Dutch brewery Royal Grolsch are taking a further step towards a circular economy with their latest joint project: sustainable pallets made from recycled plastic.

The Royal Grolsch brewery in Enschede in the Netherlands combines centuries-old craftsmanship with a forward-thinking approach to innovation. To reach its sustainability targets and address its operational demands, Grolsch has partnered with Schoeller Allibert. The packaging specialist is an expert in material innovations made from recycled plastics – the companies share the common goal of a functioning circular economy.

Old pallets, new problems

The current keg pallets no longer met the company’s needs. Their heavy weight drove up transportation costs and related CO2 emissions, while outdated molds made them harder to source and less reliable. But it wasn’t just about logistics and function – Grolsch also wanted to achieve its ambitious sustainability goals.

“Replacing these pallets was an excellent occasion to consider their environmental implications,” says Joost Nawijn, Packaging Material Development Specialist at Koninklijke Grolsch. “That’s why we wanted a lighter pallet made from recycled material, thus a more sustainable solution.”

Solution for the circular economy

No big task for Schoeller Allibert: the company delivered a tailor-made keg pallet that meets all the brewery’s requirements. The new load carriers are made of 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic and are also 12 kilograms lighter than their predecessors. Grolsch can therefore significantly reduce the material used.

How has Schoeller Allibert achieved this? The designers achieve the reduced weight of the pallet with the special honeycomb structure, but also through a different production technique. Instead of using a low-pressure process, the experts manufacture the keg pallets using a high-pressure injection molding process. The recycled plastic comes from post-consumer material – i.e. used bottles and packaging that are collected, sorted, cleaned and processed into new products. On the other hand, old pallets (post-industrial material) are also used. This reduces emissions by 83 percent compared to pallets made from virgin materials. Once the load carrier has reached the end of its life cycle, Schoeller Allibert takes it back and recycles it. An example of a functioning circular economy.

Optimum handling, individual design

The new pallet offers even more features for the brewery’s day-to-day operations. The honeycomb structure makes it lighter and stronger. Forklift trucks can also pick it up more easily thanks to the smoother fork entries, which means that hardly any damage occurs. The stackable design enables a seamless transition between old and new pallets, allowing the user to use both versions in parallel. In addition, the stackability reduces the space required for return transportation, which also reduces CO2 emissions – as fewer trips are required.

The new pallets have been in use since January 2025. The close cooperation between Schoeller Allibert and Grolsch resulted in a perfect solution in which improved utilization function, reduced CO2 emissions and cost savings go hand in hand.

“Our intelligent solutions are tailored to the requirements of the Grolsch brewery,” summarizes Vincent Vos, Head of Design at Schoeller Allibert. “To achieve this, our experts listen to what the customer needs, develop a solution and test it until it is successful.”

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Schoeller Allibert Celebrating The Grand Opening Of The New Production Plant

 

Award for ZirConic Large Container

Posted on by David Priestman

CHEP, a global leader in reusable pallets and containers, and Cabka, a leader in sustainable transport packaging, have won the Red Dot Product Design Award in the Industrial Packaging category for the CHEP ZirConic® foldable large container. Delivered on June 24th in Essen, Germany, this award recognizes the innovative design, functionality, and sustainability of the CHEP ZirConic® container.

A revolutionary solution to modern supply chain challenges

The CHEP ZirConic® foldable large container was developed in response to CHEP’s recognition of the need for superior reusable transport packaging (RTP) solutions that align with contemporary supply chain demands. Designed in collaboration with Cabka, a leading expert in product design and material engineering, the CHEP ZirConic® container represents a new generation of RTPs that excel in operational performance and environmental sustainability.

“As an industry leader, we recognise our unique position to go beyond sustainability and make our operations truly regenerative through product and commercial innovation”, said Daniel López, Product Management and Innovation Director at CHEP Europe. “The ZirConic container is the first of a series of new generation of packaging solutions designed from customer insights and intended to set the new industry standard for dry containment at the highest innovation and sustainability level. The Red Dot Award recognises the value delivered to our customers through the exceptional co-design work carried out with Cabka, our strategic partner.”

Unparalleled design and sustainability features

The CHEP ZirConic® container stands out for its circular design, being made of 97% post-consumer plastic and fully recyclable at the end of its lifespan. This focus on sustainability reduces waste and supports a circular economy model. Key features of the CHEP ZirConic® foldable large container include:
• Modular design for extended life: facilitates easy repair and component replacement, ensuring minimal downtime and maximizing usability.
• Supply chain optimisation: offers up to 15% increased internal volume and 33% extra load capacity, raising it from 500 kg to 750 kg, enabling efficient use of warehouse space and transportation resources.
• Enhanced foldability: Allows for compact storage and optimised truck capacity, thus reducing transportation costs and CO2 emissions. Additionally, the shelf’s innovative design enables it to be folded inside the container, further optimising space usage and improving internal processes.
• Content integrity: features a secure snap-on lid and tamper-evident designs to protect goods from contamination.
• IoT integration: each container is uniquely serialised for precise tracking and has a designated space for digital device integration, enabling a wealth of supply chain insights and enhanced visibility that allows customers to make informed decisions.

Development and implementation

The project began in September 2021, bringing together teams from CHEP and Cabka. At Cabka’s Innovation Center in Valencia, Spain, the CHEP ZirConic® container was developed using methods like Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and full-scale prototypes. Cabka’s state-of-the-art facility is dedicated to creating customized product solutions by leveraging advanced technologies, a deep understanding of material science, and comprehensive product testing. The product was further refined through technical validation and customer feedback.

Ignacio Castellano Montoro, Vice President Pooling and System Integrations at Cabka, added, “Working with CHEP to develop the CHEP ZirConic® container has been a rewarding experience. Receiving the Red Dot Award highlights our successful partnership and recognizes our commitment to creating innovative solutions for the circular economy.

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Cabka to Demonstrate Unique Plastic Pallet at FachPack

 

Plastic Recycling Targets Set

Posted on by David Priestman

goplasticpallets.com has reaffirmed its position as the responsible plastic pallet company after smashing its long-term recycling targets two years ahead of schedule. The business exceeded its original goal to recycle more than 1,500 tonnes of plastic by 2025, and now plans to hit 5,000 tonnes by the end of the decade.

The Eastbourne-based company – one of the UK’s leading providers of sustainable plastic pallets and boxes – has been on a long-term mission to create responsible supply chains through a number of initiatives. This included the launch of a first-of-its-kind recycling scheme in 2019, which aims to help other businesses recycle plastic by collecting and transporting it from the UK to its recycling centre in Belgium.

The original target was to recycle 1,500 tonnes of plastic by the end of next year, which was surpassed by the end of 2023. In response to this success, goplasticpallets.com is now committed to recycling a whopping 5,000 tonnes by 2030 – and they have already made great strides in the first half of 2024. This year alone, the company has recycled 74 tonnes, bringing the overall total to 1,591, the equivalent of 280 truckloads.

As part of its commitment to promote a circular economy, goplasticpallets.com promises to collect and recycle all plastic pallets and boxes at the end of their service lives – regardless of who supplied them. In addition, 93% of the innovative products the business supplies are made from 100% recycled plastic.

Jim Hardisty, Managing Director of goplasticpallets.com, said: “It is clear that our commitment to sustainability has resonated deeply within our industry and beyond. Surpassing our initial recycling targets ahead of schedule is a testament to the collective efforts of our team, partners, and customers, who share our vision for a more responsible and sustainable future. Looking ahead, we are not just raising our targets; we are raising the bar for what is possible in plastic recycling. Our new goal of 5,000 tonnes by the end of the decade is ambitious, but with the continued support and dedication of everyone involved, we are confident in our ability to achieve it and drive meaningful change in supply chains across the UK.”

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Industry View: Plastic Pallet Supplier Looks to the Future

 

Effective Recycling of PET and PP Strapping

Posted on by David Priestman

PET and PP strapping raw materials can be recycled effectively as part of a circular economy. Mosca GmbH relies on Interzero’s efficient recycling of PET and PP strapping to minimize the need for new material in their strapping production. In the future, the company based in Waldbrunn will track the status of recycled source materials using the material account of the experts for closed-loop solutions and plastics recycling.

At first glance, the lifespan of packaging materials may appear to be brief: after being used, they are disposed of and replaced with new ones. As the sustainable use of commodities becomes more important, recycling is gaining in popularity. Reprocessed cardboard, paper, and other materials remain in the value chain. This also applies for strapping: its base materials – mainly PET and PP – are highly recyclable. As a manufacturer of strapping for packaging safety, Mosca relies on recycled materials as well. The share of recyclate in Mosca’s PP strapping ranges from 30 to 100 percent, depending on the strapping size. Mosca’s PET strapping is made entirely from recycled materials. “As a company that operates sustainably, we prioritize the responsible use of primary resources and the systematic recycling of PET and PP materials,” emphasizes Simone Mosca, Managing Director of Mosca GmbH. This does not only make the company less dependent on volatile commodity markets but also enables controlled production of vital strapping in high quality.

Flexible, robust, and sustainable

Since fall 2023 Mosca has been collaborating with Interzero, a partner specializing in innovative circular solutions and effective plastics recycling, to reach these targets. “Sustainable action thrives on robust partnerships across the value chain, supporting us in implementing an effective circular economy,” says Ann Mertens, Sustainability Officer at Mosca. In addition to recycling, Interzero is responsible for Mosca’s upstream and downstream logistics in the long term: the company will collect used strapping from end customers and return the shredded or recycled material to the Waldbrunn-based company. Transparency regarding the recycling process and the available quantities of PET and PP are crucial for Mosca. “Through our material account, we provide our partners with a digital twin of their raw materials and circular management. This tool enables them to track the status of recycled materials at any time, strategically secure access to raw materials, and thereby close the loop,” emphasizes Britta von Selchow, Head of Sales Circular Solutions at Interzero.

Circular economy

The material account tracks the amount of PET and PP that has been collected for recycling, is currently undergoing recycling, or is available for reuse. Just like a bank account, the digital platform shows the amount of ‘credit’ Mosca has available for producing new strapping but measured in tons of material rather than euros. “This allows us to precisely control our strapping production while maintaining access to vital raw materials – in line with our tagline of ‘Nonstop Performance,’” emphasizes Simone Mosca.

Transparent communication

Finally, the continuous recording of circular economy data supports seamless sustainability and financial reporting. “Thanks to the platform, we do not only know the current status of our PET and PP but also the share we have recycled each year – and thus create an important basis for transparent sustainability communication,” concludes Simone Mosca.

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Supply Chain Trend Predictions

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Mark Morley, Senior Director, Product Marketing at OpenText, provides his supply chain trend forecast for the year ahead.

1. Embracing conversational AI across tomorrow’s supply chains: Companies have been embarking on a journey of digitizing their supply chains for many years. In fact, that journey started in the 1960s as large companies around the world started to embrace EDI communication and document standards. It is surprising today how many companies have not completely digitized their supply chain operations, and as a result, they are not able to realize the significant benefits and ROI that digitizing the supply chain can bring. In 2024, we will see more companies looking to obtain greater value and insights from the data being exchanged across their business ecosystem. As a technology, ‘Big Data’ has been around since 2010, but in 2024, we will see explosive growth in the use of Generative AI solutions and especially Conversational AI solutions in the supply chain sector. The ability to have a ‘conversation with a business network’ that is connected to all your business systems and your external trading partner community will be of tremendous value to companies of all sizes, offering accelerating supplier onboarding to optimizing logistics flows, from improving inventory management to accelerating payments between parties. Conversational AI is set to change how users interact with their business networks.

2. Leveraging a business network for ESG and SCOPE 3 reporting: Business networks connect global supply chains across many different sectors, they are pervasive and reach into almost any business system and out to any trading partner or information source. Companies using business networks have been able to obtain an indirect benefit for many years, digitizing and automating paper-based processes helps to save paper and of course billions of trees around the world. Developing more sustainable supply chains has been the goal of all supply chain and procurement leaders around the world. With the introduction of new ESG mandates worldwide, companies are being forced to make significant changes to their supply chain operations. Business networks allow companies to not only exchange information digitally, but they can also derive powerful insights to help optimize up and downstream processes and comply with regional compliance mandates. From adhering to the Dodd Frank Conflict Minerals law in the US to ensuring that all companies in Germany embrace the ‘Act on Due Diligence in Supply Chains’, ethical and sustainable sourcing will become a required business practice moving forwards. In 2024, we expect more companies to draft similar regulations, which are expected to include the newer SCOPE 3 regulations. Companies will become responsible for monitoring the carbon emissions produced at every tier of their supply chain and transporting goods across each tier. Business networks will become central to the exchange of ESG and SCOPE 3 information, and we will likely see new EDI transactions emerge or existing transactions updated to include information about ESG and SCOPE 3 reporting.

3. How intelligent command centres provide supply chain leaders with actionable insights: As global supply chains strive to mitigate the risk and impact of disruptive events; visibility is key to making timely and accurate decisions. However, simply having access to relevant information is not enough, but users will need to identify the right information to focus on at any given time based on their role and responsibilities. Supplier risk indicators, performance benchmarks, extreme weather phenomena, labour disputes, and many other pieces of information are all potentially relevant to supply chains operations, but only meaningful if you can identify how they will impact your business and what steps can be taken to mitigate these impacts. To move from simply having information to leveraging it to drive meaningful action, organizations will need enabling technology. In 2024, we are likely to see the traditional supply chain control towers increasingly being replaced or complemented by intelligent command centre capabilities that go beyond KPI tracking by allowing users to access more insights and get guidance on where they need to focus. This will require bringing together various technical capabilities from role-based access and diverse data integration to specialized user interfaces and AI-assisted analytics features. As with most complex IT solutions, one size will not fit all, and flexibility and adaptability will be crucial for success.

4. Rebalancing B2B resources to meet the needs of tomorrow’s integration activities: With the global business landscape undergoing major changes, companies need to be able to adapt quickly to stay competitive. Technology plays a key role in this. Pressures around digital transformation are impacting businesses of all sizes, and despite the economic headwinds faced by most companies, the level of investment in digital technologies remains high. While modernization and new technology adoption create many opportunities, they also increase complexity and create a need for more integration between different systems and applications—both internally and across the extended business ecosystem. As we move into 2024 and beyond, companies need to adjust their IT resources to match the changes in requirements. This includes rebalancing their B2B integration resources to meet the demand around increased connectivity and process automation with external business partners. Yet, due to the diverse nature of B2B connectivity, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to hire and retain staff with the right skills and expertise to manage complex integration projects. As many seasoned professionals around some of the core technologies still actively used today are retiring from the workforce, companies need to identify a continuity plan for B2B integration. This will drive many organizations to partner more closely with managed service providers that can offer the range of skills needed on an on-demand basis to ensure both availability and optimal utilization of the required resources.

5. Digital Product Passports will simplify the journey towards the Circular Economy: Digitizing a product is not a novel concept as the digital twin has gained traction in product design, testing and usage. But adding in the identity-centric models, such as a digital passport adds new use cases and also some new challenges. 2024 will see a renewed interest in digital twins leveraging the digital passport to drive sustainability projects, especially those mandated by government regulations. The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation in the European Union is a good example of these regulations. The proposal for a new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), is the cornerstone of the Commission’s approach to more environmentally sustainable and circular products. One of the key challenges is governing who should have access to the digital passport data, such as location or the personal data of the user of the product. This could be especially problematic in highly regulated industries such as healthcare where patient data must be protected but still be utilized by the authorized groups. The digital passport needs a strong governance and authentication system for its true value to be realized. If implemented with a strong security posture it can be a key part of a product’s digital transformation that gives insight into the initial use and throughout the product’s lifecycle. Digital passports will give manufacturers of any size, valuable data that can be used to improve product design as well as enhance the customer experience.

Logistic Solutions for the Circular Economy

Posted on by David Priestman

Breaking new ground by developing tailor-made products that meet the circular economy and customers’ individual requirements – that’s what drives Cabka. The market leader for reusable transport packaging made of recycled plastic will be presenting its broad portfolio of large load carriers and pallets at ProMAT in Chicago (March 20-23, 2023) at booth S4149.

ProMat is an ideal platform for Cabka’s large load carriers and pallets, which combine innovation and sustainability. Cabka’s vision is that logistics not only moves goods, but can fundamentally change storage and transport processes – with benefits for both customers and the environment. That’s why the company focuses on reusable and durable products made from recycled plastics. This not only saves the user energy, transport and storage costs, but also helps to address the growing need for companies to reduce their scope 3 emissions for Green House Gasses (GHG). To achieve this, Cabka’s development team is continuously working on intelligent product design with lightweight, resource-saving and volume-reduced solutions.

The company also focuses on individual product developments. “We are the contact for customers who want customized products made from recycled plastics,” reports Jean-Marc van Maren, Chief Product Development Officer at Cabka. “That’s why we are not only showing our broad standard portfolio at the trade fair, but also some customized solutions”, adds van Maren.

One highlight in Chicago is the Retail US5 order picking pallet, which makes the transfer of goods more cost-efficient, safer and more sustainable. It replaces the traditional wooden pallets for transporting goods between the distribution center and the sales floor. It is compatible with existing retail nestable pallets and available with special dog bone feet. The solution does not require the usual runners and therefore offers significant advantages.

As a nestable and thus volume-saving load carrier, this pallet reduces both warehouse and transport costs. The Retail US5 is robust, durable and significantly exceeds the usual service life of GMA-pallets. The pallets are also convincing in terms of occupational safety with their smooth and clean surface and beveled edges. The light-weight design facilitates manual lifting and stacking. It also avoids excessive strain on the backs of employees during lifting and carrying work.

In terms of environmental protection, the load carriers score with their resource-saving construction made of recycled plastic and the fact that the material cycle is closed at the end of their useful life. Other properties ensure that the commercial pallet offers a significantly lower carbon footprint in its application compared to a wooden pallet: low tare weight, volume-reduced return transport and long service life. The Retail US5 is available in GMA-pallet dimensions of 40 x 48 inch, weighs 23 lbs and can carry loads of up to 3,000 lbs.

Enabling the circular economy

Another novelty at the Cabka booth is the CabCube 4840. The superior product protection offered by the units results in lower product damage and waste. This large container features a two-piece sleeve for improved handling. The foldable case is simply stored between pallet and lid for the return of empties. The four-piece CabCube remains together as a closed packaging unit. With its high foldability ratio, it assures savings in space and freight costs and increases the efficiency in return logistics.

The two-piece C-folding sleeves are ideal for ergonomic loading. The four grips make it easy to lift the lid from all sides, the bottom support has eight feet. CabCube 4840 is designed for supplier industries in all sectors and is ideal for distributing and storing large and lightweight parts. The large container has dimensions of 48 x 40 x 48 inch and an internal volume of 247 gallons.

Users can reduce their logistics and warehousing costs with the clever Cabka solution and protect the environment at the same time: The CabCube 4840 is injection-moulded from 100% recyclable high-quality plastics and is designed for extreme reusability. This makes it durable, robust and sustainable at the same time.

For the first time Cabka will also show a CabCube on wheels at the fair. The wheels make it easy to move the CabCube around the warehouse, shop or production hall without using a forklift or hand pallet truck.

Living the Circular Economy

Posted on by David Priestman

ORBIS, international manufacturer of reusable plastic packaging, embody the circular economy. The company has maintained its growth on the European market despite an economically challenging year in 2022.

“We have developed our customer base as well as our organisation”, says Jürgen Krahé, Senior Commercial Director EMEA. “Through regular collaboration with our customers and partners, also at events such as FachPack and The Battery Show, we continue to focus on customer needs. That helps us optimise our product portfolio with the customer in mind.”

With a European presence since 2002, ORBIS Europe is part of ORBIS Corporation and represents the company in the EMEA region. ORBIS’ parent company, Menasha Corporation, is one of the oldest family-owned manufacturers in the United States (since 1849). With a durable and supply chain optimised product design, ORBIS’ customised and standard solutions help streamline product flow sustainably along the supply chain. The plastic foldable large containers (FLCs), pallets and small load carriers are 100% recyclable.

New Packaging Distribution Centre in Belgium

The growth continues: In January, ORBIS has expanded its presence on the European market with a new production and distribution centre as well as new offices in Ieper, Belgium. With a clean environment on 2300 sq.m, the new packaging distribution centre in Flanders is used for sensitive and complex packaging solutions, e.g. for battery transportation, and inhibits contamination during packaging assembly and storage. The new office space provides a pleasant work environment and allows for customer visits on site. Functional areas include customer support, logistics, production planning, purchasing and finance.

A broader, more sustainable product portfolio

One of the goals for 2023 is to introduce proven products to other geographical and vertical markets. Customer-specific packaging solutions are currently in prototyping phase. “We already cover the rising demand for sustainable transport packaging with our existing product portfolio. Additionally, we are working on increasing the percentage of recycled material in our products and evaluating alternative materials”, says Krahé. “In that way, our customers continuously benefit from our sustainable, innovative product portfolio and expertise.”

ORBIS Europe engineers and manufactures durable and sustainable transport packaging solutions. The foldable large containers (FLCs), pallets and small load carriers are produced from recyclable and (partly) recycled plastics. Customised and standard solutions help streamline product flow along the entire supply chain. Therefore, companies from different industries, like industrial, automotive and FMCG, profit from long-term cost savings and CO2 reduction.

 

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