Aug 06, 2008
Independent Study Confirms iGPS' All-Plastic Pallet Is ...
Posted by : ueb555
Independent Study Confirms iGPS' All-Plastic Pallet Is ...Independent Study Confirms iGPS' All-Plastic Pallet IsEnvironmentally Superior To Multi-Use Wood PalletsCopyright 2008 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved 2008-08-04 ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- A comprehensive, independentstudy comparing the environmental impacts of iGPS' all-plasticpallet and the typical pooled multi-use wood pallet hasunequivocally documented that iGPS' pallet is far superior. Inevery measured dimension -- including global warming, ozone layerdepletion and acidification -- iGPS' plastic pallet was shown tohave a significantly lower environmental impact. "This independent life cycle analysis confirms withoutqualification that we have developed the environmentally superiorproduct we set out to create," said iGPS Chief Executive OfficerBob Moore. "Not only is our 100% recyclable plastic pallet lighter,stronger and safer than the typical pooled multi-use wood pallet,but even using the most conservative assumptions, it's also fargreener. The facts speak for themselves." The analysis, conducted by Environmental Resources Management(ERM), a global leader in environmental consulting services, is thefirst study to measure the total life cycle impact of both iGPS'plastic pallet and the typical multi-use wood pallet. The study, utilizing internationally recognized methodology,measured environmental impacts, taking into account palletdurability and useful life, material composition, trip distancesand weight. The ranges of environmental impact differences betweeniGPS' pallet and the typical multi-use wood pallet, usingconservative and more realistic assumptions for the impactcategories studied, were -- -- Abiotic depletion: iGPS' pallet had 25% - 35% less impact --Global warming: iGPS' pallet had 65% - 70% less impact -- OzoneLayer Depletion: iGPS' pallet had 91% - 92% less impact --Photochemical oxidation: iGPS' pallet had 60% - 65% less impact --Acidification: iGPS' pallet had 60% - 65% less impact --Eutrophication: iGPS' pallet had 75% - 80% less impact -- Aquaticecotoxicity: iGPS' pallet had 50% to 55% less impact -- Terrestrialecotoxicity: iGPS' pallet had 90% to 92% less impact "This study sets the record straight with respect to the claim thatthe pooled multi-use wood pallet is the most environmentallyfriendly pallet solution," Moore said. "The dramatically smallerenvironmental footprint of the iGPS pallet establishes it as thetrue benchmark of sustainability for pallet systems. We are proudto offer the world's supply chain a lighter, stronger, safer andgreener platform, and we look forward to the day when our forestswill no longer be sacrificed unnecessarily for wood pallets." A summary report of the ERM life cycle analysis can be viewed at ,where visitors can also calculate the greenhouse gas emission reductions and fuel savings made possible by converting to iGPS'lighter, plastic pallets. About iGPS iGPS is the world's first company to provide manufacturers andretailers with an all-plastic pallet pool with embedded RFID-tags.iGPS's state-of-the- art pallets are 30% lighter than wood, whichsaves on transport costs, are easier to handle and eliminateprotruding nails and splinters that cause workplace injuries anddamaged equipment. In addition, embedded RFID tags enable shippersand receivers to track and trace shipments in real time. Launchedin March 2006, the company is led by pallet and supply chainveterans with decades of experience. iGPS () is headquartered inOrlando, FL., with offices in Dallas, New York and Bentonville,Arkansas. Pegasus Capital Advisors, a private equity fund manager withoffices in New York and Cos Cob, CT, retains a majority interest iniGPS. Founded in 1995, Pegasus provides capital to middle marketcompanies across a wide range of industries, with particular focuson businesses that make a meaningful contribution to society bypositively affecting the environment, contributing tosustainability and enabling healthy living.Glossary of life cycle analysismeasures: Abiotic depletion is related to the extraction of scarce mineralsand fossil fuels and is arrived at by comparing amounts extractedto remaining reserves. Acidification is the reaction of acidic gases such as sulphurdioxide that react with water in the atmosphere to form "acid rain"which can cause ecosystem impairment. Aquatic ecotoxicity is the impact of manmade and natural materialsand activities on aquatic organisms, from the subcellular, throughindividual organisms, to communities and ecosystems. Eutrophication is the increase in chemical nutrients -- typicallycompounds containing nitrogen or phosphorus -- in an ecosystem. Itmay occur on land or in water. The impact may include excessiveplant growth and decay, resulting in a lack of oxygen, impairedwater quality and increased stress on fish and other animalpopulations. Global warming potential (GWP) is the ratio of heat trapped by oneunit mass of the greenhouse gas to that of one unit mass of CO2over a specified time period. This trapping of heat has beenimplicated in climate change. Ozone depletion potential (ODP) is the relative value thatindicates the potential of a substance to destroy ozone gas ascompared with the potential of chlorofluorocarbon-11 (CFC-11) andhas been connected with the destruction of stratospheric ozone,increasing the amount of harmful UV light hitting the earth'ssurface. Photochemical ozone creation (summer smog) is due to nitrogenoxides and volatile organic compounds combining in the presence ofsunlight to form low- level ozone. At low level, it is implicatedin impacts such as crop damage and increased incidence of asthma. Terrestrial ecotoxicity is the impact of manmade and naturalmaterials and activities on terrestrial organisms, from thesubcellular, through individual organisms, to communities andecosystems.
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