ESG Institute » Artykuł Libra Partners-en

What were the main goals behind the creation of the new LIBRA PARTNERS business?

It all started two years ago, when together with my business partner, Rafał Szarzała, who is the CEO of LIBRA PARTNERS, we began thinking about a new branch of business. Our goal was not only to diversify the operations of SZARPOL, a company that produces synthetic nonwovens, but also to create something with a long-term perspective. We identified three key goals for our new venture.

First, the product we create should align with the principles of Sustainable Development and the Circular Economy (CE). Second, innovation was important to us, as innovative products have the best chance of success. Third, we needed to consider EU regulations, which may impact our business in the future.

Why did you choose to produce recycled plastic pallets instead of wooden ones?

To me, wood is a valuable resource that should be used in exceptional ways. I believe it’s best suited for making furniture and other valuable items, not for pallets, which are essentially invisible. In Poland, around 100 hectares of forest are cut down each month just to produce pallets! That’s where the idea came from – to create a substitute that could help reduce deforestation.

Our pallets are made from recycled plastic – for example, from packaging waste like cleaning product containers. After many months of research and collaboration with a design office, we managed to design a pallet that is not only lighter – weighing 9 kg compared to a standard wooden pallet at 25 kg – but also more durable.

Environmental protection and low CO2 emissions are concepts already present in every company’s operations. In the future, aligned with the Green Deal treaty signed by all EU countries to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, they will become even more important. I believe that plastic pallets will strengthen their market position in the coming years in relation to wooden pallets.

What are the main benefits of choosing plastic pallets over traditional wooden ones?

LIBRA PARTNERS pallets have many advantages compared to wooden ones. First, they are resistant to various weather conditions, making them more versatile. They are lighter and can handle heavier loads. They also have a documented lower carbon footprint compared to wooden pallets.

Additionally, in the antibacterial version of our MW01-MED model, we’ve used a patented antibacterial additive that ensures antimicrobial properties throughout the product’s lifecycle. Regarding this feature, we have an innovation certification at a global scale issued by Poznań University of Technology.

We can also customize pallets to meet our clients' needs, offering various colors and branding options. When it comes to pricing, of course, LIBRA PARTNERS pallets are slightly more expensive. However, considering the above-mentioned benefits and the fact that our pallets are proven to be ten times more durable, we believe they are a very attractive alternative to EUR-type pallets.

We have also introduced the possibility of renting LIBRA PARTNERS pallets, which significantly reduces the carbon footprint for a small monthly fee.

I believe that expenses related to improving the natural environment are essential in budget planning. Of course, we’re talking about companies that are or will be required to calculate their carbon footprint. I must also mention that EU funds are already available for consulting on implementing circular economy models, and funding for CE transformation will be made available next year. This means the possibility of replacing wooden pallets with LIBRA PARTNERS ecological pallets using EU resources.

How do LIBRA PARTNERS pallets contribute to carbon footprint reduction?

Since the raw material used to produce our pallets is 100% recyclable, we guarantee our clients the collection of used or damaged pallets purchased from LIBRA PARTNERS. These pallets are shredded, and the recovered material is used to manufacture new pallets. In this business model, there is no waste — it’s a Circular Economy model.

Our products have a significantly lower CO2 emission compared to wooden pallets. This is especially important for companies required to report non-financial ESG data within their supply chains.

As a socially responsible and environmentally conscious company, we also want our production process to meet the highest environmental management standards. We achieve this through a ZERO WASTE business model.

What does the Zero Waste strategy mean to you in the context of pallet production?

For us, the Zero Waste strategy is a key element of LIBRA PARTNERS' operations. We focus on eco-friendly solutions and have built a business model based on the Circular Economy. We want our products to be not only innovative but also compliant with EU regulations, which are gaining significance.

I believe that right now we are in a position to successfully implement our idea on a large scale, as we are truly ahead of the curve.

When considering budgets, we must remember environmental protection expenditures. This is especially important for companies that are or will soon be obligated to calculate their carbon footprint. There are also EU funds available to support the implementation of Circular Economy policies, and next year additional grants will become available for business transformation. This creates an opportunity to replace traditional wooden pallets with our eco-friendly solutions using these funds.

What does the implementation of an LCA report mean for you in pallet production?

As the first company in the European Union to produce plastic pallets, we implemented an LCA report that confirms the low CO2 emissions of our products. The LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) evaluates the entire lifecycle of a product – from production, through distribution and use, to disposal.

This is a huge achievement for us because it shows that using our pallets can almost halve the carbon footprint compared to traditional wooden pallets.

It’s also worth highlighting that plastic pallets are around ten times more durable according to studies. This is crucial, especially now when many companies are asking how to reduce CO2 emissions in their supply chains. We have a ready solution – we offer ecological LIBRA PARTNERS pallets, which can be purchased or rented, significantly lowering the carbon footprint.

What challenges did you face in introducing plastic pallets to a market dominated by wooden ones?

EUR-type wooden pallets are the most popular transport carriers in Europe. Thanks to the international organization EPAL, which brings together wooden pallet producers, the EUR pallet standard exists and is exchangeable during logistics operations.

The biggest challenge in introducing a new transport carrier like recycled plastic pallets is the standardization of pallets for exchange between a supplier delivering goods on plastic pallets and the recipient of those pallets.

To make a significant step in the widespread adoption of our pallets, customers’ recipients must accept the LIBRA PARTNERS pallet as an official loading unit, just like wooden pallets are today. This would enable pallet exchange and smooth logistics operations between parties, and thus large-scale implementation of an eco-friendly alternative such as LIBRA PARTNERS pallets.

How does LIBRA PARTNERS support customers in transitioning to more eco-friendly solutions in their supply chains?

During many conversations with clients, I’ve confirmed that many manufacturing companies struggle with post-production plastic waste. Together with a major producer from the food sector, we are currently testing a solution to help the client manage their waste by using their production waste to produce our ecological pallets.

This approach brings the Circular Economy model into the enterprise. The client doesn’t have to buy wooden pallets, which reduces deforestation, and the carbon footprint across the entire supply chain is significantly reduced.

Interview with Maciej Włodarczyk, Co-founder & Chief Operating Officer at LIBRA PARTNERS

Dołącz do naszej listy mailingowej i otrzymuj najświeższe wiadomości ESG