Boosting the circular economy with the reuse of pallets
The wooden pallets used to transport material to construction, are often stored without use until they deteriorate or end up in landfills. The reuse of these helps to reduce soil erosion and reduce CO2.
As part of the commitments made in its ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) plans, URSA continues to join forces to contribute to sustainability objectives, not only in the context of its activity but also in that of the building sector as a whole.
The company, which proudly applies the rule of the three Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle), has launched a project in Germany, which is fully applicable to the rest of its operating units, to promote the circular economy to reduce waste, and encourage reuse.
And it is doing so with a vital and omnipresent element in the world of logistics: the pallets used to transport material to construction sites safely and which are often stored without use until they deteriorate or end up in landfills.
Once the glass mineral wool product has been delivered and unpacked and agreed with the customer, our partner Boomerang will collect the pallets from each customer's premises. Then, if necessary, they will repair them before returning them to URSA's factory in Delitzsch (Germany), where we will use them again.
"This is a further step in our overall aim to improve production processes by reducing the use of raw materials and natural resources, reusing products, and recycling," explains Fernando Mingo, head of URSA's Circular Economy department. "As far as possible, we also want to integrate this culture into our customer relations.
The circular economy and its socio-environmental impact are present, in various ways, in six of the 17 UN SDGs (end of poverty, sustainable cities and communities, responsible production and consumption, action for water, underwater life, and life of terrestrial ecosystems).
The reuse of wooden pallets also helps to reduce soil erosion and extends the "carbon store" effect of this material, as one cubic meter of wood contains more than one ton of CO2.
With this project, URSA aims to have a returning rate of 40% in Germany in 2023, reducing its use of virgin wood and, avoiding the felling of hundreds of trees, preserving biodiversity.
“Combating the effects of climate change and building a better and more habitable world is more urgent than ever. We must all assume our share of responsibility in activities that may seem banal but are the ones that end up making a difference," concludes Fernando.
