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EnviroServ Polymer Solutions join forces with Bidfreight for mass production of new “green pallet”.

EnviroServ Polymer Solutions recently aquired their biggest contract to date for the supply of “green pallets” to Tetra Pak.

A Request for proposal to supply pallets to industry leaders is the product of a very unique alliance formed between EnviroServ Polymer Solutions, Novara Profile Extrusions (Pty) Ltd and Rennies Distribution Services. Each of these companies are specialists in their respective fields and have pooled their resources and expertise to develop a “green or hybrid composite pallet” manufactured entirely from recycled material which is able to replace traditional wooden and plastic pallets.

“Closed loop pallet “pools” can be rented through RDS at very competitive rates.

Last year EnviroServ acquired a 70% stake in Ply-Pak (Pty) Ltd, a company based in Pietermaritzburg, that manufactures a composite material mostly from waste paper and plastic and previously from Wood / Plastic Composites used for sun decks. The paper / plastic composite pallets are stronger, more hygienic and safer than wood for most applications. They are also more environmentally friendly as they are made from recycled materials.

.The “Green Pallet” concept is part of a sustainability project to utilize waste generated by Tetra Pak and their end user clients. The objective being to reduce their waste to land fill sites. The composite material used in the pallet, consists chiefly of the Tetra Pak carton waste, and recycled polymers. The weight of the prototype pallet was too high, thus, it was necessary to reduce the weight without affecting the pallet strength and durability. This resulted in an alliance with Novara Profile Extrusions (Pty ) Ltd. Novara have also developed an extruded “plastic profile” pallet, and it was decided to use their material for the “inner” slats, thereby obtaining a lighter finished product – one which compares more favorably with the weight of a traditional wooden pallet.
This new alliance resulted in the development of the “hybrid” pallet.

.To market the pallet a strategic alliance was formed between EnviroServ Polymer Solutions and Rennies Distribution Services.
RDS through its warehousing, transport and logistics divisions will manage and own the pallet pool.

The functionality of the pallets is further enhanced by the incorporation of RFID technology used principally to track the pallet’s movements. This also assists clients in monitoring the movement of their products, should they require this as an add on service.

The main disadvantage of a 100% injection moulded “plastic pallet”, is that once damaged it’s strength is compromised, and it is discarded, as it is not repairable.
The Green pallet hybrid has overcome this problem. The Novara slats are placed between the more robust composite material for protection and both are replaceable should any catastrophic damage occur.

The Tetra Pak pallet has undergone trials which have proved very successful and has been accepted by them.