IPP Pooling publishes first sustainability report, targets net-zero by 2045
25 Jul 2023 --- Wooden pallets pooler IPP Pooling, part of Faber Group, set a net-zero by 2045 target after a full audit of its operations found that 85% of its current carbon footprint came from materials and transportation. Publishing its first sustainability report, the company announced plans to improve the sustainability of its operations with an ambitious Environmental, Social, Governance strategy.
IPP identified key areas including reducing carbon emissions and increasing the circularity of its pallets. The realization of these goals include the reduction of transport emissions, which it aims to reduce by 30%, per trip by 2030 and the increase of sustainable procurement, with a minimum of 80% of wood to be verified as sustainable by 2025.
Additionally, the targets include reducing the number of pallets that are lost from its pool and improving their lifespan via repair and maintenance.
“Our net-zero ambitions will be achieved through a range of tactics. The first tactic we have implemented to help us reach our target is the reduction of the number of pallets that are lost from our pool,” Shelley Harris, commercial director at IPP shares with Packaging Insights.
“The sustainability of our operation is dependent on keeping pallets in our pool. Any pallet that is lost has a negative impact on our carbon footprint, so we have recently launched a pallet recovery drive across Europe as the first step on our road to net-zero.”
IPP Pooling identified reducing carbon emissions and increasing the circularity of its pallets as key areas for achieving net-zero.Sustainability charge
To support its journey to net-zero, IPP has installed an international Sustainability Community to further integrate its practices across all departments, with “sustainability drivers” appointed to create change on a local level.
James Goode, head of logistics at IPP, has been appointed to the role of sustainability driver to keep UK operations on target. “Since transport is responsible for a big share of our footprint, we are working on several initiatives to reduce transport emissions by improving efficiency, increasing utilization rates and also by optimizing our transport network,” he says.
Harris adds that in terms of the wider packaging industry, the company believes there is a need for greater use of reusables for a circular economy. “While the ongoing development of plastic alternatives is essential for the sector, wider take up of reusable packaging items offers the quickest route to greater sustainability in the sector, reducing carbon emissions effectively,” she tells us.
“The sharing, hiring, reuse, repair and refurbishment of products can significantly reduce costs and boost efficiencies, but unfortunately the percentage of the global economy that operates in a ‘circular’ way is still far too low.”
Targeting net-zero
Harris further elaborates that the company recognizes that its sustainability journey is ongoing and requires continuous improvement. “We will continue to review our plans to address the most significant sustainability issues within our industry. Our future digitalization plans will also help us to reach our net-zero target,” continues Harris.
“By capturing supply chain data, we will be able to work with our customers to improve their processes, supporting their sustainability goals and our own.”
Faber Group’s materiality assessment identified six most important Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) defining the Faber Development Goals with concrete projects and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to track progress towards the goals focusing on responsible production and consumption, climate action and partnership for the goals.
The sustainability effort has been divided into a Peak and Plateau program, with Plateau focusing on all relevant labor, social, environmental (office related) and ethical topics and containing dedicated policies, KPIs and projects. The Peak program focuses on improving environmental footprint and by doing so contributes to SDGs.
“We have selected areas that offer us the opportunity to make the most impact on reducing our carbon footprint and those of our customers,” the company concludes.
By Radhika Sikaria
