Why Wooden Pallets Remain the Number 1 Transit Packaging Solution

Whilst plastic pallets are built to be durable, requiring less repairs, they simply can’t hold as much weight as a sturdy timber pallet. This means that to ship large quantities of items, the weight must be distributed over a larger number of pallets. To ship some heavy products, plastic pallets may simply not provide a suitable solution. Many timber pallets can carry a load of as much as 1,000kgs.

If plastic pallets become damaged, in many cases, they must simply be replaced. However, this is not the case with wooden pallets; they are relatively easy to repair. Should a plank of wood become loose, it can be nailed back into place. Should a plank of wood be broken beyond fixing, it can simply be replaced by another plank, a much smaller cost than having to replace the pallet entirely.

In Great Britain, in 2015, the production of new pallets reached around 42.3m, whilst repairs totalled as many as 39m units. Given that plastic pallets are much more difficult to repair, it’s easy to understand why wooden pallets remain the number 1 choice in most cases.

When compared with plastic, wooden pallets are simply much cheaper to manufacture and buy in the first place.

There are a few reasons why wooden pallets are more eco-friendly than plastic alternatives. First of all, the timber used for wooden pallets is a renewable resource in most cases. To be sure of this, manufacturers will use only timber from certified sustainable sources. Wooden pallets are also a source of carbon neutral energy, meaning that if they are burned, they release only the same amount of Carbon Dioxide back into the atmosphere as the amount that was taken in through photosynthesis.

The amount of Carbon Dioxide released into the atmosphere through the manufacture and transportation of timber pallets is much smaller than the Carbon footprint of plastic pallets.

Wooden pallets are very easy to design and manufacturer, so pallets of all different shapes and sizes, including custom made solutions are easy to come by. Given that the manufacturing process for plastic pallets is more complicated and costly, it makes sense that wooden pallets are the first choice due to the simplicity in gaining bespoke solutions.

If you are looking for a cost-effective, durable and environmentally friendly transit packaging solution, you can visit www.nicklin.com or call +44 (0) 121 359 8101 for more information.