The Zero Waste Model

Pallet Centralent

The global climate is at a crossroads. Consumer concern about climate change is applying pressure on companies to make changes in their operations and supply chains. Business leaders are now seeking a systematic shift to sustainability in their operations and tackling environmental stewardship in order to adjust to this new business environment.

The next question then translates to, “How”? The Zero Waste Model provides a usable framework that companies can leverage in their sustainability programs. In this Pallet Central Enterprises article, we will outline the essentials to the Zero Waste Model that can lay the groundwork for business leaders to make prudent decisions.

A Zero Waste Definition

The definition of Zero Waste has evolved since 2002, when the Zero Waste International Alliance (ZWIA) was founded. The specification’s most recent change occurred in 2018 and included the following:

Zero Waste: The conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.

The emphasis is on a holistic system, adaptable and flexible enough for widespread deployment. While the concept of recycling isn’t revolutionary, the Zero Waste perspective is. It’s a determination to create systems with no harmful byproducts or processes. The challenge is implementing the concept into a viable sustainability model.

Sustainability Model

Supply chain costs will remain volatile until the global market stabilizes, so businesses worldwide are searching for ways to operate with greater efficiency. This way, companies don’t have to pass price increases to consumers and can re-focus efforts toward genuine sustainability. Waste streams are pervasive across many industries, and opportunities abound for improvement with the right components in place in different operational processes. An easy example is the use of recyclable materials, like pallets, in a company’s supply chain.

sustainability model includes three pillars: economic, environmental, and social. The system must accommodate each one, or it won’t achieve the desired results. However, no pillar can override the others to take priority in execution. All three are equal in a sustainability model, and that’s why it’s beneficial when adopting the Zero Waste perspective.

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

A common phrase in the pallet industry is reduce, reuse, and recycle. These three steps are essential in Zero Waste Models; however, the Zero Waste framework within the model expands the concept by providing more detail. In example, the first “R” in the Zero Waste Model stands for rethink/redesign, meaning sustainability begins at a conceptual level. Businesses can reduce their carbon footprint by manufacturing items from recyclable materials, but it starts with redesigning production and resource consumption. Also, managing the waste byproducts in the supply chain are much more comprehensive when utilizing recyclable and reusable materials, once again pallets are a great example of this concept put into action.

The shift to sustainability in thought and process is systemic and starts at the top. Companies can partner with like-minded businesses to enable Zero Waste and conduct business in a loop of recycle and reuse. Supply chain partners that understand this mindset and incorporate it into their daily activities are invaluable.

A product’s lifecycle should anticipate reuse and recycling, not minimize it. As mentioned, wood pallets are a great example of the reuse and recycling process in the supply chain. In practice, companies can adopt a circular approach in pallet management instead of building them with new lumber. The idea is to enable efficient operations that maximize productivity and sustainability while reducing costs.

The Zero Waste Hierarchy

The ZWIA supports the initiative through its Zero Waste Hierarchy, a conceptual framework shaped like the upside-down pyramid shown above. This design emphasizes which steps are critical and the order in which they come. For instance, material recovery follows recycling/composting, an additional effort not included in previous waste stream processes.

The Zero Waste Hierarchy describes a progression of policies and strategies to support the Zero Waste system, from highest and best to lowest use of materials. It is designed to apply to all roles within a company, from C-suite to an individual worker.

The framework is applicable in public policy as well as the business world. The Zero Waste Model can be applied across various operational domains, and it’s vital to the initiative’s success. The three pillars of the sustainability model demonstrate where leaders can make tangible improvements and take a balanced, measured approach.

Rethinking/redesigning lies at the top of the model and provides an opportunity to avoid wasteful consumption during manufacturing and procurement. The following steps are to reduce, reuse, and recycle/compost, but the hierarchy continues. Material recovery is essential in a Zero Waste Model because the idea is to integrate recycling processes and move toward a more holistic approach. Residual management brings the model to fruition via stabilized landfilling and biological treatment.

Zero Waste aims to eliminate harmful byproducts and minimize environmental impact. It’s the summation of sustainability into executable systems, and executive leaders can redesign operations like the supply chain that embody the Zero Waste Model.

Conclusion

Sustainability and the Zero Waste Model can make a viable impact on the environment. It’s the next iteration of waste stream management and environmental responsibility and sound practices like good pallet management in the supply chain are the key factors in its accomplishment.

The Zero Waste Hierarchy gives business leaders and policymakers a visual cue that explains the essential facets, but good partners are essential to take the concepts in the framework and generate actual results. Each must be accountable for sustainability in the model to be effective. That’s the essence of Zero Waste Model and Pallet Central Enterprises is ready to discuss how you can achieve your sustainability goals and more.

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