Circle Economy Logistic Module

AI Quick Summary

We are on the verge of realizing a pallet that is not only recyclable but can be used and reprocessed 100% in a closed cycle. The materials, which have been produced as semi-finished products for the automotive industry for many years, can be processed in a few highly efficient production steps in an energy-saving and ecological way and can be renewed from their original state or transformed into a completely new product in the Cradle to Cradle cycle. Until today, almost exclusively wooden pallets (4.5 billion pallets are in circulation worldwide) are used in logistics as carrier units for the transport and storage of goods. We are on the verge of realizing a pallet that is not only recyclable but can be used and reprocessed 100% in a closed cycle. The materials, which have been produced as semi-finished products for the automotive industry for many years, can be processed in a few highly efficient production steps in an energy-saving and ecological way and can be renewed from their original state or transformed into a completely new product in the Cradle to Cradle cycle. Thanks to the natural fiber composite material together with the honeycomb core made of the same material, we can weld the elements without using adhesives and thus achieve enormous stability.Based on the first mock-up, we can reduce the weight by a whopping 65% compared to a conventional wooden pallet of 25 kg and achieve a weight of approx. 11 kg. Due to the weight reduction, we achieve an enormous ecological benefit in the form of savings in CO2 emissions, in the reduction of fuel consumption, the increase of battery life for electric vehicles and a higher degree of utilization of the transport weight, since significantly less packaging weight is transported. As a result, we also achieve significant and resource-saving added value in the upstream and downstream processes. For example, a truck with 33 Euro pallets reaches a weight of 825 kg with the pallets alone. With our Circle Economy Logistic Module, the weight is only 363 kg, which corresponds to a weight saving of 462 kg.The SolutionOur Circle Economy Logistic Module is recyclable and can be used and reprocessed 100% in a closed loop. The production can be realized highly efficient, energy and resource saving with the technologies available today and can even be made initially from recycled materials. The Module can be renewed from its original state in the cradle to cradle cycle or converted into a completely new, equivalent product. In a first step, we want to use the new Circle Economy Logistic Module with suitable partners in a closed cycle for tests in order to gather experience. With the appropriate equipment, the pallet should be able to deliver important data to the recipient, such as location, temperature or condition of the goods carried on the pallet. Other information important to the user can be collected with tools built into the Circle Economy Logistic Module and communicated live as needed. By extending the useful life of the pallets, as well as the possible additional benefits, we see good opportunities to create an economic added value in addition to the ecological one. The useful life can be precisely determined with the help of the above mentioned tools, a check, a reordering for renewal or a conversion into the original materials for the purpose of creating new Circle Economy Logistic Module can be automated. In this way, it can be ensured that the Circle Economy Logistic Module are sent for reuse and that the cycle is maintained. With our mock-up (pictures attached) of the planned Circle Economy Logistic Module we were already allowed to carry out first tests at a logistics company and had a very good response. Especially the possibility to keep the Circle Economy Logistic Module 100% in a closed loop and the significant weight saving was recognized as an enormous added value.

Project Idea Metadata

Project Idea Name: Circle Economy Logistic Module
Date: 3/31/2022 8:40:15 PM
Administrators:
- Jürg Zwahlen

Project Idea Description

Until today, almost exclusively wooden pallets (4.5 billion pallets are in circulation worldwide) are used in logistics as carrier units for the transport and storage of goods. We are on the verge of realizing a pallet that is not only recyclable but can be used and reprocessed 100% in a closed cycle. The materials, which have been produced as semi-finished products for the automotive industry for many years, can be processed in a few highly efficient production steps in an energy-saving and ecological way and can be renewed from their original state or transformed into a completely new product in the Cradle to Cradle cycle. Thanks to the natural fiber composite material together with the honeycomb core made of the same material, we can weld the elements without using adhesives and thus achieve enormous stability.Based on the first mock-up, we can reduce the weight by a whopping 65% compared to a conventional wooden pallet of 25 kg and achieve a weight of approx. 11 kg. Due to the weight reduction, we achieve an enormous ecological benefit in the form of savings in CO2 emissions, in the reduction of fuel consumption, the increase of battery life for electric vehicles and a higher degree of utilization of the transport weight, since significantly less packaging weight is transported. As a result, we also achieve significant and resource-saving added value in the upstream and downstream processes. For example, a truck with 33 Euro pallets reaches a weight of 825 kg with the pallets alone. With our Circle Economy Logistic Module, the weight is only 363 kg, which corresponds to a weight saving of 462 kg.

The Solution

Our Circle Economy Logistic Module is recyclable and can be used and reprocessed 100% in a closed loop. The production can be realized highly efficient, energy and resource saving with the technologies available today and can even be made initially from recycled materials. The Module can be renewed from its original state in the cradle to cradle cycle or converted into a completely new, equivalent product. In a first step, we want to use the new Circle Economy Logistic Module with suitable partners in a closed cycle for tests in order to gather experience. With the appropriate equipment, the pallet should be able to deliver important data to the recipient, such as location, temperature or condition of the goods carried on the pallet. Other information important to the user can be collected with tools built into the Circle Economy Logistic Module and communicated live as needed. By extending the useful life of the pallets, as well as the possible additional benefits, we see good opportunities to create an economic added value in addition to the ecological one. The useful life can be precisely determined with the help of the above mentioned tools, a check, a reordering for renewal or a conversion into the original materials for the purpose of creating new Circle Economy Logistic Module can be automated. In this way, it can be ensured that the Circle Economy Logistic Module are sent for reuse and that the cycle is maintained. With our mock-up (pictures attached) of the planned Circle Economy Logistic Module we were already allowed to carry out first tests at a logistics company and had a very good response. Especially the possibility to keep the Circle Economy Logistic Module 100% in a closed loop and the significant weight saving was recognized as an enormous added value.