Published: 26/02/2021, 13:00
Your guide to Packaging Waste Reduction on site | Brammer Buck & Hickman
With the focus now more so than ever on reducing waste, tackling climate change and ensuring an environmentally clean future, how you can ensure the best waste reduction practice at your site is a hot topic.
According to the Government Statistical Service, the latest estimates indicate that England’s Commercial and Industrial waste generation was around 37.2 million tonnes a year.
So, when national figures are going up, how can you ensure that your site waste statistics are going down? It may seem like a small matter compared to the wider issues of waste reduction in manufacturing, but every bit of reduced waste matters.
One of the biggest and most popular ways to reduce onsite store waste is by using alternatives to “Plastic Packaging” this can be using Pre stretched pallet wrap which uses 40% less wrapping, Jiffy Bags with paper pulp instead of plastic bubble, paper tape instead of plastic tape, plastic picking bags to biodegradable materials where possible and nowadays, it’s just as easy to get your hands on environmentally friendly products. Just one small change could mean a big change in overall waste, for example, you can start by swapping plastic bubble wrap in favour of paper-based equivalent craft paper void fill. In some cases, this can be cost neutral!
Consider stocking products in bulk to reduce single-use plastics. Remember that when you buy items individually, they still must be packaged and sent to you. Combat extra waste by ordering in bulk which, over time, will reduce not just packaging but transport emissions! You often find that ordering in bulk even saves you money.
However, make sure not to overbuy. For all sites, overstocking can often create a considerable amount of waste, especially with products that have a ‘use by’ date. To reduce waste through these types of products consider implementing a batch cycle system with your items to ensure the oldest stock is issued first. Then be sure to regularly schedule a cleanse of all held stock.
It’s also important to remember that sometimes, it’s not just your own waste reduction effort that counts! Don’t be afraid to ask your suppliers to consolidate packaging to reduce waste too. This can be packing parts into reusable euro boxes instead of cardboard boxes. Plus, don’t forget to ask your suppliers what ethical materials they use instead of single-use plastics. Most large companies will have an ethical/environmental policy.
On site, the most common waste product is shrink wrap, bubble wrap, gap-fill packing, grippa / self-seal bags, and cardboard boxes. Ensure you have the right recycling system on your site to see your overall waste reduce considerably.
Remember
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!