New partnership for recycling PE film

Fastenal, a U.S.-based industry supplier, and wood-alternative decking company Trex have announced a partnership that will see Trex repurposing Fastenal’s discarded polyethylene (PE) stretch film. PE film, widely used in logistics, stabilises products on pallets to make them safe for transport. It also serves as a protection against external influences such as dust, dirt, or moisture, and helps prevents theft of the goods.

Through the partnership, Fastenal is collecting used PE film in its distribution centres, branches, and customer-specific onsite locations and shipping it to Trex to use the material in the manufacture of composite decking products. The entire portfolio of Trex’s composite decking is made from 95% recycled and reclaimed materials, including a mix of PE film, known as pallet wrap in the distribution industry, and industrial wood scrap.

"Pallet wrap is vital to our daily operations, but once the product is unwrapped, we have no use for it," said Dave Olson, director of EHS & Sustainability for Fastenal. "Working with Trex to turn all that potential waste into sustainable outdoor building products is a win for both organisations."

As Fastenal receives high volumes of pallet wrap as part of inbound shipments from its suppliers, it expects to divert an estimated 600,000 pounds of plastic from landfills in the first year of the programme alone. The company said it invested more than $300,000 in equipment and infrastructure in its United States distribution centres to bale and consolidate used PE film that it then ships to Trex for recycling.

The global pallet wrap market is estimated at $6.14 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow 4% every year to $9.12 billion in 2033, analysis by Future Market Insights indicates. In North America, the market grew by of an average of 3.1% every year from 2018 to 2022. The PE film is used in huge volumes by logistics companies, among others, and more often than not ends up in landfill.

Companies like Trex are working to change that pattern, with the U.S.-based manufacturer saying it repurposes 400 million pounds of plastic film a year, reportedly making it one of the largest recyclers of PE film in North America. Through its NexTrex Recycling Program, Trex partners with commercial businesses and community organizations across the country to collect and transport recycled plastic material to its manufacturing facilities in Winchester, Virginia and Fernley, Nevada.

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