Reducing Scope 3 Emissions WITHOUT Increasing Costs: Pallet Loop

In this episode, hosts Will Richardson and Charlie Luxton dive into a pressing issue within the construction industry – pallet waste.  Each year, the industry uses around 20 million pallets, yet only 10% are recovered or reused. The rest end up in landfills, contributing to significant waste and environmental damage.  Joining the discussion is Paul Lewis, Founder of Pallet Loop, who is on a mission to transform how pallets are used, tracked, and reused in construction. Paul shares how his innovative approach is set to tackle this issue.  Key Highlights: The Pallet Loop Initiative: Discover how Pallet Loop is pioneering the first reusable, trackable, and returnable pallet specifically for construction, potentially cutting pallet-related emissions by 40%.  Paul compares the construction industry to the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, where reuse rates reach 98%.  Learn about the deposit-based model inspired by Germany and Norway’s bottle recycling schemes, designed to maintain the value of pallets.  Explore the innovative logistics system Pallet Loop has developed, featuring Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to efficiently recover pallets.  Economic and Environmental Impact:  Paul reveals shocking statistics: 6000 acres of forestry are felled annually to produce single-use pallets for construction.  Hear how poor design contributes to waste and how Pallet Loop promotes standardisation from the outset to combat this issue.  Understand how Pallet Loop not only reduces waste and carbon emissions but also offers a cost-effective solution for the supply chain.  Paul discusses how Pallet Loop has helped suppliers like British Gypsum meet their Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) goals, addressing Scope 3 emissions without increasing cost for clients.  Overcoming Industry Resistance:  The discussion highlights the challenges of persuading a traditionally change-resistant industry to adopt sustainable practices, often hindered by economic pressures and procurement processes. Paul outlines his vision to overcome these barriers by extending reuse principles throughout the entire construction supply chain, with plans to expand the loop system to include other materials like cement bags and bulk packaging.  Resources:  Pallet Loop  British...

Om Podcasten

Making your organisation sustainable doesn't have to be complicated... Learn the proven strategies that transformed ordinary businesses into sustainability leaders, and how to implement them in your organisation today. Struggling to make your organisation more sustainable without sacrificing business performance? Each month on Sustainability Solved, Will Richardson & Charlie Luxton unpack how leading companies are cracking the sustainability puzzle - and extract the strategies you can actually use, regardless of your industry. We dive deep into real success stories, breaking down exactly how organisations overcame common sustainability challenges, from supply chain emissions to waste reduction. Through candid conversations with leaders who've been there, you'll get battle-tested approaches, practical frameworks, and actionable insights you can implement today. Whether you're just starting your sustainability journey or looking to accelerate progress, each episode gives you concrete tools to drive meaningful change while strengthening your business. Ready to turn sustainability from a challenge into competitive advantage?