At TeraSpin, sustainability is an integral part of how the company operates. From strategic decisions to daily practices, environmental considerations play a key role in guiding the company’s actions. Hence, TeraSpin took up a project to reduce the environmental footprint of its product packaging. We realised that our current practices involved use of “virgin wood”, and that this has many avoidable consequences. We are pleased that we could fully substitute the use of jungle by plywood and corrugated board which have a much lower environmental impact.
| Details of saving in (FY 2023-24) | Volume (Cubic feet) |
| Virgin wood replaced by plywood | 650,403 |
| Virgin wood replaced by corrugated material | 499,390 |
Source: A.T.E. Business Central FY 2023-24
Before: Use of virgin wood for pallet, batten and top sleeve in packing as shown
After: Replaced virgin wood by corrugated ply for item no. 1, 2 ,3 & virgin wood pallet is replaced by plywood for item no. 4
The details
The term “virgin wood” typically refers to timber harvested from tropical rainforests, often without sustainable forestry practices in place. While not of a specific species, the use of such wood generally raises concerns about environmental harm due to the methods used to extract and process the wood, as well as the impact on the delicate ecosystems of tropical forests.
Use of jungle or forest wood has many negative impacts such as:
- Deforestation and habitat destruction
- Loss of biodiversity
- Threatened species
- Climate change acceleration
- Carbon sequestration reduction
- Disruption of water cycles
We performed a careful analysis of our packing needs in terms of strength and other characteristics to fully protect our products in transit and storage. We calculated loads, estimated possible shocks in transport, simulated mishandling and accidents, and other aspects such as failure modes. We have also conducted transport trial on rough roads to confirm the durability of packaging material & method. We found that we could replace the virgin wood we used without any reduction in function of our packaging material.
Use of plywood and corrugated material instead has these key advantages:
- More carbon sequestration (as old growth forests are most effective in this regard)
- Reduced environmental impact on tropical forests
Moreover, there are additional benefits we realised
- Cost-effectiveness
- Health and safety
- Design flexibility
- Reduced consignment weight helps to lower transportation emissions
Conclusion
TeraSpin is steadily working towards meaningful sustainability goals, with a focus on reducing its carbon footprint, minimizing waste, and conserving natural resources. These objectives are backed by specific targets, timelines, and measurable outcomes, reflecting the company’s commitment to contributing to a sustainable future. We hope this note will encourage you to try something similar in your workspace as well.