In light of major shifts in the global political and economic landscape, sustainability is increasingly becoming a central theme in international discussions, especially at platforms like the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29). As discussions on sustainable development intensify, companies are being urged to critically assess their operational practices to mitigate their carbon footprints.
Southgate Global, a leader in packing and material handling technology, is encouraging organisations within the manufacturing sector to modernise their approach to machinery maintenance. Instead of opting for replacement, Southgate advocates for the repair and renovation of equipment as a sustainable alternative.
A report from Deloitte published in 2024 highlights the significant environmental impact of discarded repairable goods, with the EU alone dealing with an annual burden of 35 million tons of waste, alongside the loss of 30 million tons of resources and a staggering 261 million tons in greenhouse gas emissions. The situation in the UK is equally pressing, with 6.3 million tonnes of waste being sent to landfill in 2022.
To combat this issue, Southgate is promoting the concept of evaluating machinery across its entire portfolio, which includes various types of equipment such as trolleys, shredders, strapping tools, void fill systems, and mobile power workstations. The company’s Technical Services team is dedicated to extending the lifespan of these products by helping customers determine what is worth repairing versus what has reached the end of its effective lifecycle. This assessment process considers not only the comparative costs of repair versus replacement but also the equipment’s age, typical lifecycle, and potential enhancements offered by new models.
One notable case involves a large e-commerce client that experienced considerable downtime due to damaged carts and trolleys. Following Southgate's maintenance plan and repair service, the client significantly reduced its downtime and capital expenditures by over £40 million in just one year.
Further analysis from Southgate reveals a striking statistic: the carbon footprint associated with replacing a roll cage trolley is six times greater than that of repairing it, largely due to the raw materials and processes required for manufacturing replacements. This finding underscores the environmental benefits of repair, transcending beyond mere financial implications.
John Maher, Head of Technical Services at Southgate Global, elaborated on the company's commitment to sustainability. Speaking to the London Daily News, he said, "At Southgate our mantra is ‘repurpose, repair before we replace’. We’ve invested heavily in our Technical Services team to help our customers not only reduce their downtime, but also their environmental impact and carbon footprint." He acknowledged the allure of rapid replacement services but positioned repair as a viable and more sustainable alternative.
The Technical Services team at Southgate offers extensive servicing options for packing and material handling equipment, regardless of the original supplier. Their recent introduction of the Southgate ServAgree app aims to simplify the servicing process, consolidating all necessary information for customers in one comprehensive platform.
Southgate Global caters to a diverse range of client requirements, whether for single site, multi-site, or cross-border operations within sectors such as warehousing, manufacturing, retail, e-commerce, and third-party logistics (3PL). The company is poised to address the specific fulfilment challenges faced by businesses while promoting sustainable practices in operational logistics.
Source: Noah Wire Services