Sustainable packaging firm Priory Direct has removed more than 170,000 metres of plastic tape and strapping from its own operation by switching to sustainable alternatives.
In the spirit of practising what they preach, the team at Priory Direct, which supplies sustainable packaging to over 21,000 businesses (eg Bamboo Clothing, Vivobarefoot, Dryrobe) is continuously looking for ways to reduce the environmental impact of their own operation. Shipping bulky orders of packaging also requires robust packaging but following trials, the firm successfully replaced all use of layflat tubing to hold orders together with a gum paper alternative, and cut 75,000 metres of pallet and machine wrap, as well as increasing the recycled content of this material by 50%.
In addition, plastic wallets that were previously used to protect delivery notes on orders have been entirely removed and replaced by paper wallets, and these are now only provided on an ‘opt in’ basis. In total, the changes have amounted to 170,180 metres of plastic tape, wrap and strapping removed from the firm’s operation.
The switch is one of numerous efficiencies implemented by the firm’s Head of Operations, Darren Goodbody, since joining Priory Direct in 2021. He highlights that as well as being less damaging for the environment, which supports the firm’s underlying mission to reduce the impact of ecommerce on the planet, efficiencies usually also come with cost savings and in some cases additional income streams.
Darren said: “Whilst as a firm we support other businesses to become more environmentally conscious, we are also on a journey towards greater sustainability ourselves and we face similar challenges to our clients when shipping bulky goods of various sizes. But we are always asking ourselves ‘how can we improve what we do and reduce our impact?’
“The whole operations team is always coming up with ideas. Most of the time these efficiencies also come with cost savings because we are either reducing the amount of materials we need or finding new uses for products once we’ve used them in the spirit of circularity.”
Since joining the business, Darren has introduced several improvements, including a larger range of box sizes to support rightsizing of packaging and minimise the amount of ‘air’ being shipped as part of orders. Any unavoidable ‘air’ is now being filled with Priory Direct’s shredded cardboard waste, and this material has also been added as a product line for clients to buy more sustainable void fill instead of plastic alternatives like bubble wrap. This is one example of efficiencies leading to a new income stream.
Darren was also behind the firm’s decision to begin shipping the majority of Priory Direct’s orders in used cardboard boxes, saving the firm approximately £90,000 per year. The move also led to Priory Direct launching a used cardboard box range for customers, providing a new income stream whilst helping to reduce waste and support customers in their sustainable choices. As a business, reusing or finding new uses for ‘waste’ materials also cuts down on the cost of their disposal.
Josh Pitman, Managing Director of Priory Direct, added: “As businesses, it's crucial that we push each other to continuously improve and look for new solutions to drive the UK's transition to net zero. I strongly believe that by embracing innovation and collaboration even businesses operating in the most challenging spaces can find ways to make significant reductions in their environmental impact and I'm proud that our whole business exists to support these improvements across a wide range of verticals.
“Having a sustainable focus can go hand in hand with commercial innovation and success and I think it’s important to highlight that link. Our best ideas are ones that support our sustainability journey at the same time as contributing to our bottom line, either by reducing costs or bringing in more income. The next project we’re working on is focused on energy efficiencies.”
Based in Kent, Priory Direct is a certified B Corporation and working towards becoming net neutral.