DELTAQ - A CIRCULÉIRE MEMBER

DeltaQ is a leading supply partner to the plastic manufacturing industry in Ireland. They work with their industry clients to analyse the technical needs of their products and then provide additives and compounds that give those products a wide variety of special properties, such as colour, strength, flexibility, temperature resistance etc.

Their customers come from all sectors ranging from medical supplies to the construction industry. DeltaQ prioritises sustainability and strives to assist Ireland in reaching its climate targets. Restructuring their shipments of materials from suppliers and product delivery processes was one of the steps they implemented to lessen their environmental impacts.

TACKLING PALLET & PACKAGING WASTE

In the past, when DeltaQ received their supplies, they arrived on a range of different sized wooden pallets. The size of these pallets frequently differed from the standard sizes that DeltaQ uses to ship their own finished products. Moreover, the supplies were individually packaged in 20kg plastic bags which were then wrapped in another layer of plastic for protection during transportation and delivery.

In between the pallet and the supplies was a thick custom branded cardboard skirt. All this single use packaging created significant waste. DeltaQ’s sustainability team saw value in addressing the financial and environmental costs associated with their disposal.

IMPACT TO DATE

DeltaQ identified products that they manufacture for which their supplier pallets could be re-used. This allowed the pallets to be redistributed to their customers rather than being thrown away. Previously, non-standard pallets were disposed of through a waste recycling provider. Through this initiative, DeltaQ has prevented the waste of 213 pallets since the beginning of 2023.A EUR sized wooden pallet has a partial carbon footprint equivalent to 5kg of CO2 (Deviatkin, 2019). Meaning that DeltaQ has prevented approximately 1065kg of carbon emissions, or 2730 miles driven by an average petrol powered passenger vehicle (epa.gov 2023).

DeltaQ also initiated a broader packaging review. They shifted to semi-bulk deliveries for key ingredients, which reduced the net number of pallets received and incurred more standard sizes. The transition to semi-bulk containers also resulted in a net reduction in plastic packaging waste as supplies are now shipped in one large container instead of packaged individually and there is no need for external plastic wrapping.

Where possible, DeltaQ requests that supplies are delivered in large unbranded cardboard boxes. Cardboard and un- branded packaging is easier to recycle and re-use. Also, the semi-bulk packaging either has a thin cardboard skirt or has none. The removal of pallet skirts has had an initial 30% reduction in cardboard use.

To further reduce cardboard waste, DeltaQ identified finished products for which they can reuse stock cardboard arriving with supplies. Furthermore, shifting to semi- bulk packaging allowed them to automate the material handling process, reducing manual labour and creating a better work environment for employees.

REPLICATION / SCALABILITY POTENTIAL

DeltaQ has already begun to explore other avenues for re-use of their packaging.

This process means engaging with and educating their own clients on the value of semi-bulk packaging and the use of packaging from recycled streams.

Starting conversations like these, with customers and suppliers, can have a ripple effect further up and down the supply chain, encouraging others to look at their own sustainability and environmental impacts.

Reusing packaging and packing materials is one of the simplest ways for businesses to reduce their environmental impact, and is easily replicable.

A noteworthy example is Freefoam, another Circuléire member that reuses pallet hoods and liners.