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Storage (Guest Post) G#40818

Storage Guest Post

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Sustainable Storage Practices Worth Considering In 2023

  • Up and down the UK, more and more of us are making conscious decisions to live more sustainably.
  • With an ever-increasing focus on the importance of minimising our impact on the planet, one area that has become particularly relevant is the storage practices individuals and businesses use.
  • In 2023 and beyond, there are all kinds of sustainable storage practices you can consider using.
  • Taking any of the approaches below can help in reducing waste, conserving energy while promoting an eco-friendlier approach in the process.

GBE Editorial Comment:

  • Businesses may have obligations:
    • financial records for 6-7 years,
    • professional indemnity insurance records for 21 years
    • Good archiving practices include:
      • Labels at one end of the boxes that shows when stacked
      • List content on a sheet inside the lid or loose inside
      • Data stamping when records can be removed, shredded, recycled
      • Stack similar related content on top of each other
      • Do not store similar related content in contours
      • Retrieving from a single stack is easier than dismantling many stacks

Use Reusable Containers

  • How many times do you grab a plastic bag from the supermarket for your shopping without even thinking?
  • If you can’t think of the answer, it’s time to reassess how you do things.
  • One of the best ways to be more sustainable with storage is by using reusable containers.
  • This means it’s time to ditch disposable plastic bags and opt for plastic, metal, or glass containers that can be used time and time again.
  • Reusable containers can house all your shopping and household items too.
  • This not only lowers waste but helps in minimising the environmental impact of the manufacturing process required for single-use items.

GBE Editorial Comment:

  • Cardboard archive storage boxes are robust and stackable (up to 8 in my experience)
  • Plastic archive storage boxes are probably more robust and stackable (ceiling height restriction applies)
  • Plastic archive storage boxes may become brittle if exposed to sunlight
  • Plastic archive storage boxes have a strong projecting rim that occupies space and reduced overall storage capacity
  • In flood prone areas or even blocked drain street floods, consider plastic storage containers at floor level and cardboard stacked upon them
  • Check historic records for flood levels and use plastic upto and above that level
  • You will need rubber seals on lids below flood level

Prioritise Composting

  • Composting is a fantastic way for reducing waste and being more sustainable with your storage solutions.
  • When you’ve cooked a big dinner and have leftovers that you would otherwise throw in the bin, why not grab your food scraps and other organic matter into a container?
  • Composting enables you to turn such materials into nutrient-rich soil which can be used for gardening and farming.
  • When you compost, you will be reducing the amount of waste that gets sent to landfill, while promoting sustainable agriculture practices in the process.

GBE Editorial Comment

  • Like all ‘Recycling’, segregation is only the beginning of the process
    • If you are not buying and using recycled you are not recycling
    • Do not rely on agricultural practices to use your segregated and recycled waste
  • Storing excess food in sealable reusable plastic containers, is preferable
    • As long as they will be eaten
    • short term in the fridge,
    • long term in the freezer,
    • Don’t cold store for long periods and then dispose of
  • Composting:
    • do not include meat, fish, poultry, they require different processes
    • do include all garden cuttings, vegetable and fruit waste
    • Build your own composting bins using excess to requirements delivery pallets

Storage Units

  • If you’ve got pieces of furniture that are taking up too much space in your home, rather than sending them to landfill without a second thought, it’s time to consider housing them in storage units.
  • You may have items you’re not ready to say goodbye to either.
  • Safestore have over 130 stores up and down the UK, meaning you’re never too far from a self-storage facility.
  • You can use their services to house your belongings.
  • There is the option to rent the space for as little or as long as you like too.

GBE Editorial Comment: Storage Guest Post

  • Use remote storage for stuff that occupies too much storage space in the home
    • Do not overload your attic
    • Do not squash attic thermal insulation
    • Do not fill your garage to prevent car storage out of the weather
    • Garages now need an EV Electrical Vehicle Charging battery wall
  • Having storage might encourage us to keep getting more and storing more.
  • We might also consider giving stuff that we no longer use and probably never will, to charity or donate to the poor.
    • 7% of manmade CO2 comes from steel making
  • Plywood for strength, has lower environmental impact
    • Timber framing for strength, has significantly lower environmental impact
    • Growing timber sequestrates (extracts) CO2 from the atmosphere to make timber and releases oxygen in the process
  • Consider choice of materials if the building is thermally insulated
    • K value
    • Avoid overheating and potential to degrade stored items
    • Control moisture and potential to degrade stored items
  • Shipping containers
    • Redundancy of shipping containers in global shipping during economic slumps, covid and wars.
    • Reuse of shipping containers in storage facilities
  • CorTen (self corroding steel) used in shipping containers
    • CorTen requires high impact paints to be compatible
  • Air water and weathertight seals on shipping containers
    • Potential protection/degradation of goods stored.

Proper Shelving

  • Proper shelving and storage are essential for keeping items tidy and accessible, reducing clutter and minimising waste.
  • By using adjustable shelving and storage systems which maximise space, you can lower the need for additional storage units and save resources.
  • Proper storage also helps in protecting items from damage and prolonging their lifespan, meaning there’s a reduced need to replace items.

GBE Editorial Comment: Storage Guest Post

  • Consider the materials used to make storage racking:
    • Steel for strength, steel has high environmental impact,
      • 7% of manmade CO2 comes from steel making
    • Plywood for strength, has lower environmental impact
    • Timber framing for strength, has significantly lower environmental impact
      • Growing timber sequestrates (extracts) CO2 from the atmosphere to make timber and releases oxygen in the process

Bulk Buying

  • Now is the time to pay closer attention to how you shop.
  • If you’re the type of person that nips to the supermarket to buy one or two items, it’s time to change to bulk buying.
  • Purchasing in bulk is a sustainable storage solution that reduces packaging waste.
  • What’s more, you could even save some money.
  • When you buy in bulk, you lower the amount of packaging used, which tends to end up in landfill and pollute the environment.
  • Bulk buying is a fantastic way to lower transportation emissions.
  • This is because fewer trips are needed to restock supplies.

GBE Editorial Comment:

  • So much stuff is now purchased on line
    • Numerous liquid-free soluble products are being made available
    • Many low impact products are now available by post via letter box
    • Much more packaging from Amazon
    • Many more courier deliveries using small vehicles (with potential high impacts)
    • And risk of non-deliveries from Evri (regional variability)
  • Bulk buying may mean more trips with less bigger containers

Conclusions

  • Whether you’re the average Joe or a business owner, we can all come together and use sustainable storage solutions that can be highly beneficial in lowering our environmental footprint on the planet.
  • Many of our suggestions above are simple to carry out and implement into your day-to-day routine, meaning there are no excuses not to try one out today.

GBE Editorial Comment: Storage Guest Post

  • Trying out is one thing, adopting on a regular and ongoing basis is essential

Sophie James

© GBE GBC GBL NGS ASWS Brian Murphy aka BrianSpecMan **
22nd May 2023

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© GBE GBC GBL NGS ASWS Brian Murphy aka BrianSpecMan **
22nd May 2023

See Also:

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Template

  • GBE Brain Dump (Template) G#20308 (this page)

GBE Brainstorm

GBE Issue papers

GBE Projects

MIE        Materials Information Exchange:
W           http://www.salvomie.co.uk

BREMAP

Pre-demolition sites, Demolitions sites, Recycled materials, Salvage yards, Sites with recycled product needs
Before you skip it, click it!
W           http://www.smartwaste.co.uk

W           http://www.bre.co.uk

W         http://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk/seeds/pages/compost.htm

W         http://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk

© GBE GBC GBL NGS ASWS Brian Murphy aka BrianSpecMan **
15th January 2019 – 12th May 2023

Storage (Guest Post) G#40818 End.

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