Using second-hand storage for warehouse operations can benefit not only your business, but the environment too.
Pallet racking and recycled or reused plastic containers means you’re employing a cost-effective solution with a proven track record in the sector. It can also save you money and preserve the planet’s resources by reducing the volume of new materials required.
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Environmental impact
The accumulation of plastic waste from packaging and storage materials is a significant contributor to landfill waste and global pollution, with 36% of all plastic manufactured in one year being used for packaging. Everything from medicines and pharmaceutical products to retail products and food and drink tends to use plastic for protection.
Companies are looking for the cheapest ways of packaging and storing their goods and plastic often fits the bill, but this adds to the existing environmental burden that plastic waste produces. Recycled plastic and used storage containers could be the solution to reducing global plastic waste.
Why is plastic so popular for warehouse storage?
Plastic is durable and can protect your goods from impact damage, damp or dirt ingress. It’s almost indestructible, but lightweight at the same time, making it easier and cheaper to transport. In fact, plastic can be up to 40 times lighter than glass, reducing energy consumption during transportation.
Despite the advantages, plastic comes at an environmental cost. The estimated weight of all the plastic waste ever generated is a massive 6.3 billion tonnes, which is 20 times greater than the combined weight of every human being on the planet!
Surveys have revealed using recycled storage solutions can save as much as 50% in costs - and who doesn’t want to save money in today’s economic climate?
How does recycled plastic reduce greenhouse gases?
The recycling process of old plastic can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around 23% compared with the costs of manufacturing new plastics, which requires significant amounts of fossil fuel and energy.
Beyond the obvious environmental benefits, using second hand storage in your warehouse can lead to less procurement and disposal expenses. Used storage solutions are just as durable and functional as new ones, meaning they can contribute to efficient operations in terms of storage, sorting and transport within a warehouse.
Solent Plastics offers a range of used products that are ideal for warehouse operations.
800-litre used folding plastic pallet box
Our 800-litre folding plastic pallet box bulk storage container, with two access doors, is a lightly used storage solution with an extra tough design.
Featuring two drop down doors on the long sides for easy access, it is available either with three skids or skids around the entire edge. In good used condition, it has no damage and no labels on the box, with all the hinges and doors intact and in working order.
Offering heavy-duty protection, thanks to being manufactured from robust plastic, this huge 800-litre volume pallet box is ideal for bulk handling and distribution applications. It can be stacked empty and full, with up to 500kg per box. A drop-on lid is available and there are drainage holes in the base.
Used 42-litre heavy duty metal swingbar container
Solent Plastics’ used 42-litre heavy-duty stack/nest metal swingbar container is a fantastic crate at an affordable price.
Ideal for warehouse use, it’s made of high-quality Polypropylene material offering 260mm of usable height. The metal swingbars are used to stack the containers when full or nest them when empty, with hand grips added on the ends for easy lifting and handling.
Structurally sound, with some being slightly dusty, with external stickers which can easily be cleaned up; they are ideal for stock control, warehousing, retail use, distribution and logistics and can also be used for fruit and vegetables if required.
605-litre used solid-sided pallet box
Our used 605-litre standard size Dolav solid sided pallet box is a bulk storage container with three skids.
Manufactured by Dolav, a leading manufacturer of storage solutions, this used pallet box has three integral skids on the base for forklift or pallet truck entry. In used condition, it may be dusty and have scrapes from previous use, but it can be cleaned easily. Some may have a company logo embossed on the side.
The one piece injection mould design makes it particularly durable and sturdy, with a 1,200kg load capacity and 5,000kg stacked load capacity. It can be used on racking and is suitable for use in a commercial or work environment.
Extremely heavy-duty, they are designed for rigorous long-term use, with solid sides and base for extra protection. They are manufactured from industrial quality HDPE structural foam and are built to last a lifetime.
Second-hand storage in warehousing surely ticks all the boxes!
