El cargo Strategic Circularity: The Path to Capturing Value at Every Product Cycle apareció primero en T21.

In a world where excessive consumption and waste generation have reached unsustainable levels, the circular economy is growing as an essential alternative to mitigate environmental impact and optimize the use of resources.

This model challenges the traditional scheme of production and consumption based on the logic of extract, produce, use and dispose , replacing it with an approach where materials and products remain in use for as long as possible, reducing the generation of  waste and encouraging its reuse, recycling or regeneration.

An example of the implementation of the circular economy in the logistics sector is CHEP ‘s business model , based on the use of reusable pallets instead of disposable alternatives.

Unlike a traditional system where pallets are manufactured, used and discarded, CHEP operates under a pallet pooling scheme , where pallets are not sold, but rather rented and circulated efficiently within the supply chain.

“Every CHEP pallet that remains in circulation means less wood used, less waste generated and a positive impact on the regeneration of ecosystems,” said Samanta Rodríguez, CHEP Sustainability Manager in Latin America.

In addition, the company has developed key strategies to maximize its positive impact on the environment under three pillars: use of certified wood, forest regeneration and education and awareness .

Thanks to this model, 426 tons of waste will be avoided in Latin America in 2024 , which is equivalent to filling more than 60 thousand garbage trucks.

Art as an expression of the circular economy

To convey the impact of the circular economy in a visual and conceptual way, the artist André-Jacques Bodin created the installation Endless Cycle , a work that transforms numbers and concepts into a sensory experience.

“I am interested in telling stories through objects. Each one has a life before it reaches my hands and, by integrating them into a work, I give them a new meaning. With Endless Cycle I wanted to illustrate the circular economy and show how something seemingly ordinary, like a pallet, can symbolize a profound change in our way of producing and consuming,” explained Bodin.

The piece is made up of 426 reusable CHEP pallets, symbolizing the amount of waste that was not sent to landfills thanks to the use of this circular model.

Its structure is based on three intertwined spirals that represent the pillars of sustainability, community, planet and market.

“These types of artistic expressions help us visualize the impact of the circular economy in a tangible way. They remind us that every action counts and that the ‘use and throw away’ model is no longer sustainable. The key is to design products and processes that reduce waste from its source,” said Martha Niño, director of Urban Sustainability at the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) .

As governments, businesses and citizens adopt circular economy principles , it is possible to build a future where waste becomes resources and regeneration is an essential part of productive activities.

Comment and follow us on X: @jenna_GH_ / @GrupoT21

El cargo CHEP, the “art” of the circular economy apareció primero en T21.

Grupo Tarahumara , a company specializing in the marketing of fine fruits and vegetables, said that the growing demand for these products in Mexico has challenges such as maintaining the cold chain and having the units for their transportation.

Karla Morán, the company’s general manager, mentioned that 90% of the products it imports are transported via road transport, through alliances with transport lines.

In an interview with T21, he explained that Grupo Tarahumara uses 600 units per month , equipment that must have a refrigeration system to ensure the cold chain, therefore, it is key that companies have a preventive maintenance log to avoid failures along the way.

However, he said that the total transportation is insufficient to meet the company’s growth expectations, and that they will therefore work on signing more alliances.

“We are making commercial agreements with secure lines to improve capacity, we are looking for a win-win, where we give them the confidence that we will contract the service consistently and with timely payment and that guarantees that we will have the units and thus we can demand improvements such as refrigeration equipment and be able to have alliances and a common process to have a greater guarantee that the product we bring arrives well preserved,” he said.

He explained that future growth requires increasing the fleet by 10%, which would allow for greater capacity and meeting demand.

He said that this year logistics operations grew by 24% , which also meant an increase in installed capacity and strengthening alliances with key components of the chain.

He explained that more than 60% of imported products are moved by land and the rest by sea. “We bet on being large and strong distributors of imported merchandise to Mexico, without ceasing to work in key national seasons such as the national apple from Chihuahua, the grape from Sonora for consumption in the country, and also in distribution, although we bring fruit, what we sell is service , of taking the product to where it is requested with the greatest agility, optimization and above all taking care of the cold chain,” he said.

He explained that the company specializes in the movement of apples, pears, grapes, apricots, plums, kiwis, strawberries and other vegetables . “We try to have the product all year round and for that we have to go to the origins, depending on how the national and international production windows are opening, for example, we bring apples and pears from Washington and other fruits from California,” he said.

He indicated that although the United States is the main country where they import products, they also import from South America, mainly from Chile and Peru, and also from Italy and South Africa. The routes are through Mexicali and Nogales, as well as Manzanillo and Veracruz.

Grupo Tarahumara is in the process of building a new plant that will feature modern storage systems and advanced refrigeration . This new project will comprehensively improve cold chain management by integrating sustainable technologies, such as solar panels and automated processes, contributing to a reduction in the carbon footprint and operating costs in the long term.

In this sense, through CHEP , it provides innovative solutions to transform the management of your supply chain , reducing the risk of damage and loss of products, adapting to fluctuations in demand and improving the capacity to respond to interruptions.

Karla Morán pointed out that it is not only about preserving the temperature of the products, but also about ensuring that they arrive safely, and through the wooden pallets of this company, it is guaranteed that the merchandise is safe, unloading times are met, and sustainable packaging.

“We know that this is a big challenge because consumers are not willing to pay more for this type of packaging, but we have incorporated it and for us it has added value and is linked to our safety policy and also to environmental responsibility,” he said.

By 2025, he said, Grupo Tarahumara will work on distribution and logistics, but also on improving the automation of certain purchasing, marketing and inventory management processes, as well as incorporating more Artificial Intelligence, the collaboration of key partners and training to achieve sustained growth aimed at “offering services and products of the highest quality.”

Comment and follow us on X: @evandeltoro / @GrupoT21

El cargo Grupo Tarahumara Sees Challenges in Transporting Premium Fruits and Vegetables in Mexico apareció primero en T21.

Thanks to the implementation of its pallet reuse system, Grupo Lala received  the 2024 Sustainability Certificate awarded by the company CHEP , endorsed by the European consulting firm specialized in environmental impact RDC Environment , and highlights its commitment to environmental protection.

Through its business model based on the circular economy, CHEP has dedicated itself to renting pallets so that companies can use them throughout their value chain until they return to their hands again, under a strategy called pooling , counting on more than 360 million pallets worldwide .

In this sense, Lala managed to significantly reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions , generating significant savings in the distribution of its products, ensuring that they reach thousands of homes in Mexico efficiently and sustainably.

In 2023 alone, together with CHEP, Grupo Lala saved more than 9.6 thousand kg of CO2 emissions, which is equivalent to around 220 trips around the world by truck, as well as saving 25 thousand 311 m3 of wood , which represents more of 24 thousand trees saved from felling.

By opting for a shared and reusable pallet system, Grupo Lala significantly improved the environmental performance of its supply chain .

CHEP assured that the environmental benefits of a circular model, in contrast to the use of disposable pallets, include the reduction of wood use, the amount of waste and CO2 emissions. In addition, this model ensures a more efficient and deforestation-free operation , using standard pallets made with wood from certified sustainable sources.

Grupo Lala reaffirms that sustainability is the fundamental axis of its business model , seeking to add social and environmental value from an ethic of responsibility.

Comment and follow us on X: @GrupoT21

El cargo Grupo Lala, increasingly “green” in its value chain. apareció primero en T21.