Wooden Pallets
a sustainable and cost effective packaging option
Plastic pallets have been gaining in popularity in recent years, but wooden pallets are still in high demand, both to existing and new customers
Why use wooden pallets?
Wooden pallets are generally a cheaper alternative to plastic pallets, despite rises in timber prices, mainly because they are strong, can be re-used numerous times and can be repaired to further prolong their life. Even when beyond repair, pallets can be shredded to create wood chips, with a variety of uses.
We’re all trying to control costs and recycle more, so using wooden pallets is the appropriate choice for many types of business. Whirlowdale's Palogistics® pallet management system also supports the efficient movement of pallets between users.
As new wooden pallets have increased in price, the market has seen more of a lean towards reconditioned pallets – again, benefitting the environment. Many of our customers are trialling reconditioned pallets as a cheaper readily available pallet option, so far with excellent results.
Environmental benefits of using wooden pallets
In addition to the potential environmental benefits through recycling, wooden pallets are a good choice in the drive to reduce Climate Change. Timber is a renewable natural resource and is an environmentally friendly option for pallets and packaging. Trees absorb CO2 as they grow, and the production of a wooden pallet releases less CO2 into the atmosphere than other types of packaging material.
European timber is sustainable (forest cover in Europe is expanding by an area roughly the size of Cyprus, every year), with increasing quantities of the timber used for pallet production being covered by certification schemes.
European pallet production
Europe currently produces approximately 400 million wooden pallets a year; the UK alone makes around 60 million of these*. With timber being a renewable source it is hard to imagine these figures going any other way but up. Obviously the total number of wooden pallets in circulation throughout the UK and Europe will be higher as wooden pallets are repairable & reusable. Even at the end of a pallet’s life the wood can be re-used as an energy source or chipped to produce OSB or particleboards.
Hygienic wooden pallets
Whilst industries such as the Food & Drink or Pharmaceuticals industry, often use plastic pallets for their hygienic properties, wooden pallets are often a viable alternative. Wood has natural anti-bacterial qualities and if properly maintained can provide a hygienic support structure for sensitive products. Likewise, wooden pallets (both new and reconditioned) can be used for export, as long as the timber is treated to comply with ISPM15 regulations.
Your choice – wooden pallets or plastic pallets.
* Statistics provided by Timcon, the Timber packaging and pallet confederation.