Used Wooden Pallets
Did you know that over 90% of the pallets used for storage and distribution throughout the world are made of wood, and the great majority of them will be used ones? Because of their robust construction wooden pallets can be repaired and re-used a number of times and while plastic pallets are useful for some industries they are more expensive, cannot carry as heavy a load and are not repairable when damaged.
One of the advantages of using wood as a material for pallets is that it can be repaired or reconditioned to extend its life. Using wood is cost effective and environmentally friendly as it comes from renewable sources. Wooden pallets can also benefit the environment and the economy as at the end of their life they can be chipped and turned into useful products such as animal bedding or playground mulch. Additionally, used pallets have been found to be stronger than new, because of the amount of time they have been exposed to the atmosphere which has dried, or seasoned, the timber more than when it was first manufactured.
There is a vast market for used wooden pallets of all sizes and weights, which are bought and then, if necessary, repaired or reconditioned for onward sale. With timber shortages causing the price of new timber to rise (an average of 35% this year), the need for reconditioned used pallets is becoming more pressing, both from a cost and a sustainability point of view. As pallets are removed from the market, replacing them becomes more expensive and increases freight costs – which is not helpful in the current economic climate.
Any repairs to wooden pallets should be done by responsible companies to ensure that the correct standards are maintained so that the pallet performs as it should and is not weakened. When reconditioning pallets, companies like Whirlowdale check that the pallet is as good as, if not better than, new. Whirlowdale are constantly looking to develop better methods to restore used pallets and because their business is expanding, they are always in the market to buy used pallets to add to their stock.