Rob Devonshire, the recently-appointed Merchant Account Manager at The Pallet LOOP, speaks to PBM about his career background and the “transformational, circular economy, pallet reuse scheme to eliminate avoidable pallet waste in the UK construction sector.”
Q: How did you get into the industry and to your current position?
A: I came to the industry relatively late having spent my 20s playing and coaching rugby professionally in England and Ireland. I knew the playing side of my career couldn’t last forever so I took a role at a specialist door manufacturing company dealing with contractors, designers and end users.
This gave me a great insight into the supply chain and introduced me to the merchant sector. I then moved to Marshalls as an ASM which accelerated my learning and knowledge of the building merchant sector and led to roles with TP, Twyford/Geberit and VADO.
Now I’m at The Pallet LOOP, working to tackle the huge issue of pallet waste. While this problem affects all parts of the construction industry, my focus is on getting the merchant sector signed up to LOOP.
Q: How do you feel the industry has changed in recent years?
A: I think all aspects of the construction supply chain are now much more aware of their responsibility and the need to move towards more sustainable circular business practices that minimise their impact on the environment. The Government’s Net Zero plans have brought companies focus onto their carbon and general waste management strategies into sharp focus as they realise long-term plans need to be implemented now if they are to hit the required targets by 2050.
Q: So just how important is the issue of sustainability becoming to the merchant sector in particular?
A: I think the merchant sector is pivotal when it comes delivering a more sustainable construction industry. Day in, day out, merchants deal with manufacturers from multiple sectors and builders and contractors of all sizes and specialities.
At The Pallet LOOP, it was vital that whatever pallet reuse model we proposed had builders’ merchants at its heart.
As larger contractors, construction companies and manufacturers demand more sustainable ways of working from the building materials supply chain, the team at LOOP wants to do all we can to make these changes as simple and straight forward for merchants as possible. That starts with having a dedicated fleet of vehicles to collect pallets, a rapid, nationwide collection service that can help keep yards free of pallet clutter, and a financial incentive for every pallet returned.
“At The Pallet LOOP, it was vital that whatever pallet reuse model we proposed had builders’ merchants at its heart.”
Q: And how are thinks progressing at The Pallet LOOP, given that it is still a relatively new name in the sector?
A: The Pallet LOOP is changing the game when it comes to pallet use in the construction sector — offering companies a simple way to improve waste management, cut carbon and save money. Everyone we speak to — be that manufacturers, merchants or tier one contractors — thinks what we are doing is a great idea.
Now our green LOOP pallets are in the market, transporting bagged plaster and plasterboard from British Gypsum (and insulation materials from Isover), we’re working hard to spread the word and get all parts of the sector to change how they deal with pallets.
For years pallets have just been skipped or scrapped once they are free of goods. Our pallets are designed to be reused, so the challenge is to get the sector signed up and using the system.
It’s a shift that will take time. Changing behaviours is hard but we’re already seeing some of the biggest names in the sector sending back pallets — which is hugely encouraging.
Q: What words of advice would you offer those considering a career in the building materials sector?
A: I think the building materials sector is a fantastic arena to work in. It has its challenges like all sectors, but I genuinely feel that regardless of your background, education or sex it offers a really enjoyable and rewarding career.
I’ve got two kids and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this industry to them. My daughter was impressed to hear about Rebecca Hughes (Marketing Director of Talasey) becoming the first female recipient of the Industry Personality of the Year award at the recent BMJ awards. A few more highlights like that and I may be able to steer her away from her desire to study medicine!
Q: Which individual has influenced you most in your career?
A: I’ve been very lucky to work with some great people throughout my career, be they team members or managers. Each company I’ve worked for has taught me something different that’s given me a great bank of knowledge I can use today.
I’m still new at The Pallet LOOP but it’s already clear that the team are a fantastic bunch — with a real mix of professional backgrounds. I can already tell this company is going to have a big influence on my future, in a positive way!
Q: And finally, where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
A: We’ve got a really exiting future ahead of us at The Pallet LOOP and I can’t wait to help us achieve our vision. I’m part of a company with a clear ethos that will have a tangible, lasting, positive impact on this industry and I know I’ll be able to look back in the future and be immensely proud to say I was part of a business that made a difference.
Trust me, I never thought I’d be passionate about pallets but the team we have here has a way of getting under your skin, in a good way!
Click here for more information about The Pallet LOOP and details on collections.
The Pallet LOOP is billed as being a “transformational, circular economy, pallet reuse scheme to eliminate avoidable pallet waste in the UK construction sector.” The solution is designed to provide companies in the supply chain — including builders’ merchants — with a greener, leaner, safer and smarter way of transporting building materials, shifting the sector away from the current pallet practice of ‘deliver, distribute and discard’ to the principles of ‘recover, repair, reuse’.
Furthermore, the scheme incentivises pallet returns via a cost-effective, easy-to-administer collection system that pays up to £4 back for every green pallet put back in the LOOP by registered return partners.
