Exemplars: Resource Efficiency in Construction Products

Reusable timber transit pallets As part of Scott Group, Scott ELM provides outsourced management of bespoke pools of reusable transit packaging. In 2011, Scott ELM recovered in excess of one million reusable pallets from building sites, builders merchant branches, DIY retail outlets and contractors nationally. Following inspection and repair, the pallets were returned to the original suppliers for reuse.

Product details

Wooden pallets are essential to the smooth and

efficient movement of goods in the construction

products supply-chain. While wooden pallets are

reusable, repairable and recyclable, many pallets are

not recovered for reuse. They are instead treated as

disposable packaging and discarded after their first

use. Discarded pallets might be down-cycled (e.g.

chipped for animal bedding or sent to an energy

generation incinerator) or are sent to landfill.

Scott ELM promotes pallet reuse and provides a

nationwide pallet recovery service. This creates a

closed-loop solution that facilitates reuse and reduces

the consumption of virgin timber for new pallets. The

service promotes higher quality ‘returnable branded

pallets’ that can be reused many times.

Resource efficiency benefits

Scott ELM’s designers promote multi-trip pallets

that are more durable and resource efficient than

single-trip specifications.

Less virgin timber is required to maintain a pool of

reusable pallets.

Scott Group also includes Scott Pallets. When

specified by a customer, Scott Pallets can ensure

that timber used in pallet manufacture is sourced

from FSC accredited, well managed, legal sources.

Business case

Reusable pallets are of higher quality than single-

trip pallets in terms of strength and loading

capability. As a consequence, less accidental

damage occurs to transported goods and Health &

Safety risks are reduced.

Reusable pallets in a well managed pool can be

less expensive on a ‘per trip’ basis than single-trip

pallets. This is determined by high return and

reuse rates and minimising losses.

The cost of a new pallet is affected by volatility in

the international timber market. A reusable pallet

pool provides companies with some protection

from the volatility in timber prices.

Inspection and repair of reusable pallets: occurs at a Scott ELM depot.

Closed loop lifecycle of a reusable pallet

Resource efficiency

Materials quantity

Less virgin timber is consumed.

The repair of occasional damage to a reusable

pallet requires less timber than the manufacture of

a single-trip pallet.

Materials wastage

In 2011, Scott ELM ensured the reuse of

approximately 17,000 tonnes of timber in the form

of wooden pallets. This was achieved by

recovering in excess of one million reusable pallets

in the supply-chain.

Embodied carbon

Carbon dioxide is absorbed as a tree grows. Every

cubic metre of wood absorbs approximately one

ton of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This

carbon dioxide is stored in the wood for the

lifespan of a pallet.

By reusing a wooden pallet many times, the

embodied carbon associated with making new

pallets for every trip can be avoided. Reusing

wooden pallets can therefore reduce the supplier’s

carbon footprint.

Life span (e.g. durability)

Any necessary repairs are undertaken at Scott ELM

depots before the pallets are returned to the

supplier for reuse.

Scott Pallets offers a design service for bespoke

pallets, using NWPCA's Pallet Design System

(PDS©) software. This improves pallet durability

and minimises the need for repairs.

End of life (e.g. reuse; recyclability)

Reusable pallets can be chipped at their end-of-life

and used as raw material for animal bedding or

wood fuel.

Resource scarcity & security

All timber used in the manufacture and repair of

pallets by Scott Pallets and Scott ELM, is sourced

from legally farmed, sustainable sources.

When specified by a customer, Scott Pallets can

ensure that timber used in pallet manufacture is

sourced from FSC accredited, well managed, legal

sources.

Identifying reusable pallets

Reusable pallets are typically marked with the

supplier’s name or brand.

Reusable pallets are often colour coded to signify

specification within the supplier’s pallet pool.

They might also show the Scott ELM pallet

collection free-phone number.

Recommended steps for suppliers

Sign the Construction Industry Pallet Repatriation

Accord.

Mark your pallets as returnable.

Include clauses in contracts with customers and

refer to pallet return and reuse in Terms and

Conditions of Sale.

Raise awareness with your customers of pallet

recovery, return and reuse, eg on quotations,

delivery documentation, website etc.

Reusable pallet branding/marking: Reusable pallets should be marked to aid identification. Some companies paint their pallets with their corporate colours.

Onsite storage: Reusable pallets should be stored separately to single-trip pallets. Scott ELM will collect

once 30 or more reusable pallets are ready for collection.

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our terms and conditions on our website at www.wrap.org.uk

www.wrap.org.uk/construction

Supply chain testimonials

John Adams, Group Procurement Director

“Scott ELM are experts in this field and offer a national

service. I believe that this process will deliver a cost

saving opportunity for our suppliers as it will reduce

their requirement for new pallets. This initiative will

benefit all organisations using pallets as a packaging

and transport medium and also be a very positive

environmental statement for all concerned to make.”

John Leader, Group Environment Manager

“As a founding signatory to the Pallet Repatriation

Accord, Travis Perkins formed a working partnership

with Scott ELM to enable pallets to be returned to

suppliers. This is a great example of sustainability at

work in our sector. The Scott ELM service fits perfectly

with our strategy of ensuring a Sustainable

Competitive Advantage”

David Bickers, Supply Planning

“We recognise the benefits for all in the supply-chain

of reusing pallets rather than sending them to landfill.

We are working with customers to raise awareness

and increase return rates. Our products are

transported on strong durable pallets and it makes

sense to reuse them rather than dispose of them after

one use”.

Jon Tivey, Environmental Manager

“Using the Scott ELM pallet recovery service should

require no second thought. Putting a valuable

reusable resource into a skip makes no sense. The

service works very well on our sites. With suppliers

fully embedded in the system, every construction

project, no matter what size, will benefit”.

Company contact

Scott ELM,

Church Gresley Industrial Estate,

Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE11 9NR

Tel: 01283 550 660

Web: www.scottgroupltd.com/elm.asp

E-mail: enquiries@scott-elm.com