Shelley Pierre, commercial director of IPP, argues the case for positive chaos in the battle against climate change
A hummingbird flapping its wings in one part of the world can generate untold consequences in another, according to the widely-respected scientific ‘chaos theory’.
Such small and incremental actions have provided a global theme in the wider climate debate led by Secretary General of the UN, António Guterres, who warned that ‘humanity is in the hotseat’ after July 2024 was recorded as the hottest month in human history.
Small islands such as the low-lying Maldives, which have done nothing in terms of creating the climate challenge, are now at risk of being swallowed up by the over-heated oceans that surround them. To prevent this, the industrialised nations must dramatically cut emissions and roll out robust renewable energy strategies to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C by the end of the decade.
There have been some positive steps from sectors, such as retail with renewable and re-usable packaging and the ability of customers to return single-use plastics to supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s, but there is still a long way to go. The mood music is positive but not everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet.
There have been recent stories of renewable packaging trials ending positively but not being immediately rolled out across retail estates. We have even seen the re-introduction of disposable cups in one well-known store which had successfully trialled customers bringing their own in to claim a free coffee with their shop.
The never-ending saga of the faltering deposit return schemes (DRS) in England and Scotland, designed to incentivise the return of the 13 billion plastic bottles sold in the UK every year, has also not helped the situation.
All of this has sent mixed messages to customers who want to be able to collectively flap their wings to do their bit for the planet.
As a business that has for more than a century been involved in the circular economy – the greener supply chain predicated on the maxim of the re-use, repair and repatriation of sustainable wooden pallets that help feed the food industry – we understand the wider need to creatively reduce the carbon footprint through logistical optimisation.
Networks of pallet repair centres feed the European operation that ultimately reduce empty running and unnecessary miles driven, which ultimately save costs and the climate as part of what we refer to as ECOnomics.
Sadly, only around 9% of global supply chain companies can claim to be part of the circular economy, a figure that has remained stubbornly low for many years.
Unfortunately, we do not have the luxury of many years to resolve the climate challenge – businesses need to act now. Retailers are taking a lead and championing the small incremental changes that are necessary to create larger, positive change and lead by example to help educate customers and suppliers to do the same.
Necessity is the mother of invention and there has never been a more pressing time than now to affect that change and create a positive chaos for us all.
