As businesses increasingly prioritise sustainability, many are exploring different ways to incorporate and introduce recycled materials across their supply chains and operations. One area of focus is pallet wrap – the traditional packaging of choice used to secure and stabilise palletised goods.
Pallet wrap is changing – and for the better!
Recycled pallet wrap represents an opportunity to hugely reduce your environmental impact. But determining the true cost-benefit requires a closer look at the trade-offs involved.
The sustainability advantage of recycled pallet wrap
The primary benefit of using pallet wrap made with recycled plastic is the reduced environmental footprint. Recycled content minimises the consumption of virgin resources and diverts waste from landfills.
Some key sustainability metrics to consider:
Recycled content percentage: Aim for 50% or higher recycled plastic to maximise the impact. Typical stretch wrap recycled content values currently sit around 30% but high performance film such as iWrap is pushing the envelope with up to 60% recycled content.
Greenhouse gas emissions: Recycled pallet wrap typically has a 30-50% lower carbon footprint compared to virgin film. This is mainly down to using less fossil fuels during its manufacture which has a higher carbon impact. Recycled wrap reuses waste materials, helping to re-use plastics that would ordinarily go to landfill.
Energy savings: Manufacturing recycled pallet wrap uses 40-70% less energy than virgin production.
All these sustainability gains add up quickly, especially for those businesses with high pallet wrap consumption. Using recycled pallet wrap demonstrates a tangible commitment to reducing environmental impact within logistics and warehousing operations.
The cost factors of recycled pallet wrap
While recycled pallet wrap offers clear sustainability advantages, the cost implications can be even more advantageous. Pricing for recycled stretch wrap is often in the same ballpark as virgin material, with a few key variables:
Recycled content percentage: Higher recycled content generally equates to a higher roll cost. But this can be offset by the environmental benefits and plastic tax avoidance – more on this later.
Pallet wrap performance: Recycled film needs to match or exceed the strength, cling, and other functional attributes of virgin pallet wrap. Higher-performance recycled options may carry a premium price.
Supply and demand: As recycled content becomes more mainstream, pricing will become more stable.
Equipment compatibility: Switching to a new recycled pallet wrap may require adjustments to existing wrapping machinery. These one-time costs should be factored in but will probably be overcome by your Transit Packaging partner at point of switch over to the new film.
Labour and operational impacts: If the recycled film doesn’t perform as well, it could lead to increased wrap times, potential product damage, and other operational inefficiencies such as pallet wrap failure and load stability issues.
It’s always worth your while performing your due diligence when to comes to working with Transit Packaging partners. Ask around your sector and your space to understand which packaging partners are doing well for others with their advice and their products.
Balancing sustainability with functionality for your stretch wrap
The crux of the cost-benefit analysis lies in finding the right balance between sustainability gains and maintaining supply chain functionality and performance.
Poorly performing recycled pallet wrap that compromises load stability, increases damage, or creates equipment issues can wipe out the environmental benefits. Conversely, insisting on virgin film at all costs means missing out on opportunities to reduce your carbon footprint.
The sweet spot lies in carefully evaluating recycled options to ensure they meet or exceed the performance of traditional pallet wrap – without a significant cost premium.
Working with your Transit Packaging partners will get you here faster and safely.
Three things to consider for your inventory, costs and reputation:
- Strength, puncture resistance and cling qualities that will all work with your products
- Compatibility with existing wrapping equipment so there are no unexpected financial outlays
- Certifications to validate product recycled content claims
When the right recycled pallet wrap is identified, the cost-benefit analysis will swing in your favour. The sustainability benefits should then be achieved without major disruptions or financial burdens.
Quantifying the value of recycled pallet wrap
Let’s put some numbers behind the cost-benefit equation and consider a hypothetical example:
Say a mid-sized logistics company uses approximately 330,000 kg of machine pallet wrap annually. By switching to a wrap with 60% recycled content, they would stand to gain the following benefits:
Greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 30-50%
Energy consumption cut by 40-70%
Waste diverted from landfills at around 100,000 kg annually
Plastic Packaging Tax associated costs reduced by a whopping £71,890 a year, calculated at £217.85 per tonne (as of April 2024).
Then factor in the indirect benefits of improved brand reputation, employee morale, and customer loyalty – the overall range of benefits becomes very compelling.
The recycled pallet wrap wrap-up!
Recycled pallet wrap offers a clear sustainability and cost advantage when the right high performance stretch film is selected for a product line or inventory.
By thoroughly evaluating recycled options, testing performance, and working closely with Transit Packaging experts, businesses can find a solution that checks both the environmental and operational boxes.
It’s easy to get started with a Transit Packaging partner. Just get in touch with us at [email protected] and we’ll help you with the right wrap for your products.