Wooden transport pallets are an essential packaging item in global logistics, with numbers up in the hundreds of millions in circulation currently. With a large percentage of the world’s resources being used to make pallets - contributing to deforestation, habitat loss, and waste due to their relatively short lifespan.
Historically, plastic pallets have been seen as an alternative, especially in industries like food and pharmaceuticals that require strict hygiene. However, not all plastic pallets are created equal. Many are made using mixed materials or include metal reinforcements, making them non-recyclable at the end of their life. Additionally, some lightweight nestable plastic pallets are designed for one-time export use, resulting in waste rather than contributing to a circular economy.
However, in recent years there has been a surge in the development of nestable plastic pallets that are not only durable but also fully circular. AION, a Norwegian company specializing in sustainable packaging design, recognized this gap in the market after working with the seafood industry. These industries rely heavily on efficient logistics and face significant waste from single-use pallets. To address this, AION developed the "AION Nestable Pallet," a reusable, circular pallet made entirely from recycled plastic waste.
The AION Nestable Pallet stands out for its robust design and sustainability. Crafted from 100% recycled materials—specifically, recycled plastic waste from industrial sourced big bags used in ex. fish feed transportation. This pallet exemplifies circular economy principles. It is designed without reinforcements, ensuring it can be fully recycled at the end of its lifespan. This solution also addresses a key issue in plastic pallets, which often suffer from brittleness and short lifespans due to mixed-quality materials.
The pallet is also lightweight and durable, weighing just 10.2 kg, reducing fuel consumption and emissions during transport. Its design also provides extra strength without adding weight, extending its lifecycle several years.
As regulations tighten around single-use packaging, industries are looking for solutions that can align. The shift toward reusable, recyclable pallets is not just about reducing immediate waste but also about future-proofing logistics systems to be more efficient and environmentally friendly. Sustainable industrial design highlights how a focus on material selection and innovation can transform packaging systems. By using recycled materials and implementing designs that prioritize longevity and efficiency.
AION emerges as a subsidiary of Aker ASA, driven by a sustainable business model innovation inspired by Aker BioMarine's ESG ambitions on circularity for plastic waste streams.