Sustainability in action

ACQSYS Supply Chain Solutions Ltd started life as a simple commercial response to a problem in the last mile supply chain - how to stop losing delivery assets (roll cages, plastic trays and magnums) and reduce the capital required to replace those losses. We run a national recovery system that finds and repatriates transit assets for our clients.

It soon became clear that the work we do has a direct impact on the environment and how supply chains affect the planet. Transit equipment goes missing for many reasons, but the major causes of loss are:

·        Neglect and inattention by staff;

·        Theft for sale to scrap yards;

·        Theft for own use instead of buying or renting;

·        Management incompetence.

We can’t do much about the incompetence, but we can and do address the other causes.

Every time a roll cage or plastic asset is scrapped, there are serious environmental impacts:

·        Energy is used to operate the scrapping machinery;

·       Transport will be required to move the scrap to the next user;

·        The owner of the equipment has to buy a replacement;

·        New raw materials will most likely be used in the manufacture of the replacement;

·        More energy will be used in the manufacture;

·        Roll cages will need to be imported by sea and road, usually from China;

·        Plastic will need road transport;

·        Every action produces potentially damaging emissions;

·        Labour is involved at every stage.

This intensive use of resources can be avoided if the assets are not scrapped.

ACQSYS works to break the current linear economic model of “Take, Make, Waste” by interrupting the flow and introducing the possibility of “Reuse, Reduce, Recycle”. Through our actions, we intercept assets before the Waste phase and take the first step in creating a circular economy.

If you want to hear more about how we do it, do get in touch. You can also report abuse/loss of cages here too.

Bill Howie

[email protected]

Photo credit: Pixabay by vkingxl