As more companies strive to minimize waste and reduce costs, the circular economy is revolutionizing how businesses manage their resources. Recently, Relogistics’ Director of ESG Jess Bonsall shared her insights on the intersection of the circular economy, sustainability, and the benefits of implementing reusable packaging solutions.
What Is the Circular Economy?
At its core, the circular economy is about keeping materials and products in circulation for as long as possible, reducing waste and conserving resources. Jess explained, “Rather than taking packaging and throwing it away once it’s reached its final destination or is no longer in use, that item is reused. It’s recaptured and put back into circulation—whether it’s transporting goods, as in the case of a pallet, or repurposing other materials.”
This approach emphasizes reuse over disposal, offering a more sustainable alternative to traditional linear supply chains where materials are used once and discarded.
Circular Economy vs. Sustainability
While the circular economy is a crucial element of sustainability, Jess noted that it’s part of a broader strategy.
“Circular economy principles fall under the umbrella of sustainability. It’s a subset of practices that can help reduce waste and support initiatives like waste diversion and reducing the number of items going to landfill.”
By applying circular economy concepts to transport packaging like pallets, totes, or cardboard boxes, companies can support larger sustainability goals while also enhancing operational efficiency.
Reusable Packaging Helps Advance the Circular Economy
Relogistics has built a business around advancing the circular economy by helping companies manage and reuse their transport packaging materials. Our teams work with customers at their warehouses or distribution centers to sort through packaging materials and assess their condition. For example, if a pallet isn’t cracked or broken, it can go directly back into circulation. If repairs are needed, we send it to a repair center.
This hands-on approach extends to other materials like cardboard boxes and reusable plastic containers (RPCs). Materials are cleaned, sorted, and repaired as necessary to ensure they’re ready for reuse. Jess added, “You’re not taking materials and tossing them into a dumpster. Instead, they’re actively being sorted, packaged for reuse, and sent back into circulation.”
Why Is the Circular Economy Important to Relogistics’ Customers?
Reusable Packaging Can Reduce Costs
For many businesses, the circular economy isn’t just about sustainability—it’s also about cost savings. Jess shared an important point,
“There is a huge amount of cost savings that comes with reusing packaging materials. Every piece of packaging material has a dollar sign attached to it.”
When materials like pallets or totes are lost or discarded, companies are essentially losing money. Relogistics helps mitigate these losses by managing reusable materials, ensuring they’re sorted, repaired, and put back into circulation. “Our customers benefit from both a dollar standpoint and a sustainability standpoint. Reusing materials instead of throwing them away helps reduce waste and preserves resources.”
Improve Warehouse Utilization
Relogistics’ Total Pallet Management (TPM) services and reusable asset depots provide businesses with flexible options for managing and reusing packaging materials. Whether at a customer’s facility or an offsite depot, Relogistics ensures materials are carefully inspected, sorted, and repaired as needed.
Leveraging Reusable Asset Depots
Warehouse space is incredibly valuable to Relogistics' customers. That’s where goods are stored, and where sales and customer connections happen. With this, Relogistics often encounters limited available space in warehouses or distribution centers.
Implementing offsite solutions, such as with our reusable assets depots, is one way our teams address this challenge. This allows customers to conserve their existing warehouse or DC space, while still benefiting from circular economy practices.
“By managing reusable packaging materials offsite, we help customers avoid the cost losses that come with losing or discarding those materials. It’s all about striking a balance between space and sustainability,”
The process is straightforward: Customers can send trailer loads of pallets, boxes, and totes to an offsite location where Relogistics handles the same sorting and repair procedures. This frees up valuable warehouse space while ensuring materials are properly managed and returned to circulation.
How Technology Enhances Sustainability and Efficiency
Technology is a game-changer in advancing the circular economy. “To create defensible metrics around sustainability and reuse, you need data. Technology helps track packaging materials, measure the work being done, and create audit-ready data for sustainability reporting.”
With evolving regulations around sustainability transparency in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and beyond, this data is becoming increasingly critical. Jess also noted that automation plays a significant role in improving efficiency and worker safety: “Automation supports worker health by managing heavy materials like pallets, reducing strain. It also improves efficiency by speeding up sorting processes and ensuring materials are ready to go back into circulation.”
Embrace The Circular Economy
The circular economy offers a practical, impactful approach to sustainability, and reusable packaging is a key component. Through hands-on sorting, repair, and the use of technology, Relogistics helps businesses conserve resources, reduce costs, and minimize waste.
“The longer we can keep materials in circulation, the less waste we generate. Circular economy practices are not just responsible—they’re essential for businesses looking to achieve their sustainability goals.”
Relogistics is proud to partner with customers to embrace the circular economy and create meaningful change in their operations that both support sustainability and boost the bottom line.
If you need help with pallet management, repairs, or logistics services, Relogistics is here to assist you. With our expertise in pallet management and supply chain solutions, we can help streamline your operations.
Need support? Contact us today through Relogistics Contact or explore our pallet management services.