ALDI relies on Düsseldorf pallets made of plastic

ALDI Nord and ALDI Süd will replace wooden pallets (80×60 cm) with the so-called Düsseldorf pallet made of plastic company-wide starting in autumn 2020. The new pallets are more economical and completely recyclable.

(Essen/Mülheim a.d.R.) ALDI Nord and ALDI SÜD are introducing a Düsseldorf pallet made of plastic company-wide. Starting in autumn 2020, both discounters will gradually replace the classic wooden pallet sized 80 by 60 centimeters with a durable and more economical plastic version. The so-called “plastic Düsseldorf pallet” (KDP) is completely recyclable and is already made up of about one-third recyclate, meaning recycled plastic, including material from the yellow bin. The KDP is produced by Walther Faltsysteme.

“The plastic pallets are technologically state of the art. A true innovation for optimizing supply chains in the grocery retail sector,” says Stefan Ruhland, Director of Logistics Management at ALDI SÜD. The pallet offers a static load capacity of up to 1,000 kilograms and a dynamic load capacity of 500 kilograms and is suitable for all common conveyor systems. A special contour is integrated into the pallet deck, which makes the KDP particularly compatible with the well-known reusable crates from the fruit and vegetable sector, providing particularly high slip resistance and stability. Carrying handles and anti-slip plugs ensure greater work and transport safety.

Pooling system replaces exchange principle
Unlike wooden pallets, there is no exchange principle with the KDP. Instead, the provision of the KDP for suppliers is done through a pooling system operated by Polymer Logistics. After each cycle, empty pallets are checked for damage and cleaned by the service provider. This way, the pallets also meet higher hygiene standards. Another advantage: Integrated RFID chips and barcode labels allow for precise location tracking of each pallet. “The pooling service provider can track at any time how many pallets are in the depots, with the supplier, and with the retailer. This also leads to less pallet loss,” explains Arne Ringkowski, Team Lead Return Logistics at ALDI Nord.

Easy repair and recyclability
Düsseldorf pallets made of wood are usually no longer usable after a few cycles, and repairs are often uneconomical. “The KDP can be repaired without much effort due to its modular design. Defective runners can simply be replaced. Discarded elements are recyclable and will be fed into a recycling process,” says Arne Ringkowski. “We are convinced that our suppliers will also appreciate the advantages of the KDP. Visually, the new pallets are also an asset and ensure an appealing presentation of goods in the stores,” adds Stefan Ruhland.

Since 2016, the KDP has been in use at HOFER and has been continuously optimized since then. Due to its good practicality and consistently positive feedback throughout the entire supply chain, ALDI Nord and ALDI SÜD have decided to introduce the KDP on a large scale.

Photo: ©ALDI SÜD

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