Cemex: construction sector embraces pallet pooling to cut waste and carbon impact
Cemex UK has officially launched its partnership with The Pallet LOOP, marking a significant milestone in the reuse of pallets within the construction materials supply chain. The first load of Rugby Cement products on LOOP’s signature green pallets has now left the company’s flagship Rugby plant for customers nationwide. The partnership was previously announced in September.
What makes this development notable is its target sector. Construction has long been a laggard in pallet reuse: fewer than 10% of pallets are traditionally recovered, leading to an estimated 250,000 tonnes of wood waste each year. The Pallet LOOP, part of BSW Group, aims to change that by introducing a closed-loop pooling system specifically designed for building materials logistics.
The LOOP pallets are FSC-certified, engineered for multiple trips, and supported by a nationwide recovery network. Getting pallet users to return pooled pallets can be a challenge, particular in newer programs. In the case of The Pallet Loop, customers are rewarded between £2 and £4 for every pallet returned, a simple but effective incentive to keep them circulating rather than scrapped or burned.
Cemex 1st cement manufacturer to join The Pallet Loop program
Cemex is the first cement manufacturer to join the program, integrating the system into its Future in Action sustainability framework, an ambitious initiative to achieve carbon neutrality through circularity and innovation.
“For decades, wasted and abandoned pallets have posed a real challenge across the supply chain,” said Vicki Elliott, National Sales Manager for Bagged Cement at Cemex UK. “It’s great to see such a dynamic approach tackling this long-standing issue. The Pallet LOOP mirrors our commitment to circularity, and we look forward to expanding the service across the full Cemex portfolio.”
Andy Williamson, Managing Director of The Pallet LOOP, called the Rugby Cement launch “a major milestone” for both companies and the wider sector. “Our pallets are designed to be used, returned, and reused again and again,” he said. “By rewarding customers for every pallet they return, we’re making sustainability pay—helping companies lower costs while reducing waste and their carbon footprint.”
The initiative underscores a broader shift in the building materials industry toward circular logistics systems—a space that has lagged behind manufacturing and retail but now shows momentum. If LOOP’s model proves scalable, it could mark a new chapter in sustainable construction logistics, reducing both wood waste and emissions tied to single-use packaging.
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Rick LeBlanc, EMBA, is the founder and editor of Reusable Packaging News (subscribe to the free newsletter) and editor of Western Pallet Magazine. A supply chain journalist with more than 30 years of experience, he specializes in pallets, reusable packaging, material handling and related operations. Rick is co-author of Pallets: A North American Perspective and Pallets & Progress: A Collected History of Pallets and Palletized Handling 1922–1945. He is also an advisory board member of the Virginia Tech Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design. Read Rick’s full bio.
