Mary B Walsh is the founder and Managing Director of Ire Wel Pallets Ltd. Established in May 1990, IWP is a sustainable pallet and packaging solutions provider, supplying pallets, boxes and crates to its exporting customers in the Medical Devices, Pharmaceutical, Food, Drinks, Electronics and Engineering industries, amongst others. Based near Gorey, Co. Wexford, IWP operates from the first purpose-built pallet manufacturing facility in Ireland, incorporating a state-of-art ventilated storage facility for kiln dried timber and pallets in addition to the production facilities on-site. Investments of €4.5m between 2015 and 2019 have introduced new technology on site that has given the company more control over its production, quality and stock. The IWP pallets are an example of the circular economy in action: IWP products are sustainable, energy efficient, repairable, recyclable and reusable. A pallet’s lifecycle can be up to – and even beyond 25 years during which time it continues to store carbon until it has reached the end of its life. After this, it can be recycled usefully. The company is exploring export markets, including the UK, and is continuing expansion plans for the business.www.iwppallets.com