Sustainability
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The core principle of our business model at PPS is sustainability. Returnable transit packaging can benefit your business in a variety of ways while also reducing your environmental impact.
PPS’s strategy is based on sustainability, and promoting the circular economy by reducing packaging waste is a key component of that strategy, as it is one of the key benefits of Returnable transit Packaging. We work collaboratively with our customers to eliminate as much single-use packaging as possible from their supply chain. A big part of this is identifying the best returnable solution for their needs and providing services such as washing and management so that they can focus on leading their business while lowering their carbon footprint.
Our journey to a sustainable future:
PPS formed an in-house Social & Environmental team in 2021, with the task of identifying ways to reduce our environmental impact outside of our services. This team has been extremely successful and personally fulfilling for all members. Among the opportunities in which we have been involved are:
- Litter picking in both Uttoxeter and on Grimsby and Cleethorpes beaches.
- Donating to food banks in our local community.
- We held our own PPS Green Week, during which we participated in a variety of environmental activities and celebrations.
- Working closely with the Globe Foundation, which was founded in our hometown of Staffordshire, to improve the health and wellbeing of people and the planet through environmental education and awareness, and to reduce our impact on the climate.
- Stopping the use of single-use plastics in our offices and factories and investing in more sustainable products, such as company water bottles.
How introducing Returnable Transit Packaging promotes the circular economy and improves sustainability:
Many businesses are switching from single-trip packaging – such as cardboard and polystyrene – which due to the nature of the product play a large part in packaging waste, much of which may end up in landfill. These businesses have reduced their waste and carbon footprint by making the switch from single-use packaging production
Even when single-trip packaging is recycled, there is still a large amount of energy and natural resources required in order to repeatedly manufacture and recycle this expendable packaging. This is where reusable packaging can significantly reduce energy usage, raw materials and minimise landfill. Furthermore, the Packaging Waste Directive in the UK focuses specifically on avoiding packaging waste – something which has led to a rise in the popularity of returnable solutions.
Increased protection of the products in transit – minimising environmental costs of damage
Reusable packaging – being more durable and robust – also tends to offer better protection of the products within during transportation.
By minimising the damage that can occur during transit it ensures there is less waste from spoiled produce. Furthermore, spoiled produce that is unsellable also requires resources to dispose of, again possibly ending up in landfill, whilst also increasing the environmental footprint of a business if the damaged products need to be re-manufactured and a replacement shipped.
Minimising Co2 through more efficient transit
Reusable packaging can also help to minimise Co2 emissions through more efficient transit. Plastic Returnable Transit Packaging has the advantage of being uniformed and durable, and therefore ideal for stacking during transit. This ensures an efficient use of space – filling the vehicle to its capacity – and potentially reducing the number of required journeys to transport goods. Additionally, when empty, they can usually be collapsed or nested to prevent the shipping of “fresh air”. This also has benefits for storage too.
But what happens when our Returnable Transit Packaging becomes damaged?
Our Returnable Transit Packaging is robust, durable, and has a long lifespan, but due to the demanding environments it is often used, damages are possible. But broken and damaged products don’t mean end-of-life products! Our repairs service means we can repair damages to reusable packaging products, extending their lifespan and saving you money!
And in the rare instance that our repairs engineers can’t fix the damage that has occurred, the product isn’t simply discarded and added to the expendable packaging being sent to landfill.
We work closely with Venture Polymers, a leading plastic recycler to ensure that nothing goes to waste, giving you peace of mind and avoiding the issue of plastic waste.
But we are not only concerned with improving the health of the planet; we are also concerned with the well-being of people. What do we mean by this?
PPS collaborates closely with the Recycling Lives Charity to change people’s lives through offender rehabilitation, residential support, and food distribution. Working with Recycling Lives allows us to create jobs for people who face multiple disadvantages, bringing them one step closer to normal life and bringing about long-term change.
This commitment not only demonstrates the importance we place on sustainability, but our customers can have confidence that they are partnering with an organisation that takes the significant environmental challenges extremely seriously.
We’re proud to be an environmental leader in our industry and we are determined to continue planning for the future and voluntarily taking climate action.
