Reusable Pallet System Could Save 6,000 Acres Of Forest Being Harvested Annually

Wooden pallets are still a go-to for many industries, shipping and construction in particular. However, they have always been viewed as a single-use product, which doesn’t bode well for the environment and the thousands of trees grown every year to keep the supply coming. 

The Pallet LOOP, created by pallet manufacturer Scott Group and brothers Paul and Ryan Lewis, is aiming to reduce waste generated by this practice by making a new type of pallet and system to go along with it. 

According to the firm, more than 18 million pallets are manufactured and distributed throughout the UK’s construction industry, with less than 10% of these being reused. To keep producing these, around 6,000 acres of forestry are harvested annually, with 236,000 acres growing just to cater to pallet use.

In contrast, LOOP claims, the new pallet reuse system is capable of reducing emissions by 40% and timber use by 75% if it becomes an integral part of the construction industry. 

As the name may suggest, the LOOP introduces a way of distributing the pallets that ensures they can be tracked and reused. Building material manufacturers first must pay a deposit to use LOOP, per Positive News. 

This fee will travel through the supply chain, first passing through builders’ merchants and ultimately reaching the end-user. When the pallets have served their purpose, they’re recollected and can then start their entire journey again. The deposit can then be redeemed in full. 

Decked in an easily-recognized green hue, the pallets are said to have twice the strength of the conventional pallet, making them last longer too. They’re also said to perform better in load and lift than their wooden counterparts.

A few key companies in the British construction industry have signed a charter stating that change is required in this sector. They have also committed to an evaluation of how LOOP can replace the use of wooden pallets in an effort to reduce waste. 

[via Positive News and Scott Group, images via The Pallet LOOP]