According to a study by Hibin, the trade association of all building materials traders in the Netherlands, the wooden pallet is the most common one-way primary raw material in construction waste. During the Circular Packaging initiative meeting organized by Hibin, Xella Netherlands presented a sustainable initiative as a solution to this problem, becoming the first major manufacturer in the construction industry to replace wooden pallets with recyclable plastic pallets. This project starts with the replacement of our Ytong inner wall elements and is planned to be extended on the product range. The pallets are collected and reused at the construction site using a digital return system. According to Ad Blokker, program manager at Hibin, this reduces the administrative burden of the building materials trade. “That is a win, because our process does not have to change, the administration is reduced, and the end result is much more sustainable.”

Success in this endeavor is intricately linked to the collective efforts of our partners: The production and complete logistics of the recyclable plastic pallets are in the hands of Circular Plastics Alliance. The organization strives for a closed circuit of sustainable packaging. We also receive great support from the building materials trade, contractors and finishers.

Research shows that Xella saves 70 tons of CO2 emissions annually by switching to plastic pallets. According to Jeroen van Heerwaarden, Sales Director of Xella Netherlands, this demonstrates our sustainability ambitions. “We are not waiting for legislation or other parties to find out how we can take steps. As Xella, we take the initiative to lead the way in the field of sustainability and circularity. We consciously invest in, for example, transparent packaging film with minimal printing, but now also in return pallets made of recyclable plastic.” The pallets easily withstand a load of 3,500 kg, can be stored outside and can withstand the heavy demands of construction work. In addition, the unique logistics concept with controlled returns and quality control ensures having good pallets that can be continuously reused.