| Whether to use wood or plastic pallets has long | | | | Plastic can be reused more often, is cheaper to |
| been a debate in the logistics industry. Both have | | | | recycle and is not in short supply. It is not a |
| advantages, depending on the circumstances. | | | | villainous element. It can be quickly and easily |
| Some argue that wood, the traditional favourite, is | | | | recycled at low cost, making it environmentally |
| far more cost effective. Others say that plastic | | | | friendly and cost efficient. |
| pallets last longer and cost less to maintain, | | | | ISPM15 is an international phytosanitary measure, |
| making them more economical over their working | | | | first introduced in 2003 to stem the spread of |
| lives. Whatever your opinion, recent years have | | | | pests associated with shipping goods on wooden |
| seen the debate intensify dramatically. | | | | pallets. Wood is the breeding ground of insects |
| So what happened? Put simply, a short supply of | | | | such as the Asian Longhorned beetle, which |
| wood meant pallet prices rocketed. Fears of | | | | burrows into trees. Through importing and |
| bird-flu spreading to the UK provoked | | | | exporting, the beetle was artificially introduced into |
| contamination fears, and legislation to control pest | | | | other countries in wooden packaging material and |
| problems meant increased shipping costs for | | | | with no natural predators in these new |
| wooden pallets. Plastic pallets have come down in | | | | environments, devastated woodlands around the |
| real-term price too, making them more | | | | world. |
| economical. These issues have put the use of | | | | The majority of the main trading countries, such |
| wooden pallets under severe scrutiny. | | | | as the UK and the US, are already enforcing |
| Looking at these issues in detail, the most | | | | ISPM15. These also include Canada, China, Turkey, |
| worrying is the depleting supply of timber. | | | | Argentina, and Japan. |
| Demand far outweighs the supply and as a result, | | | | ISPM15 specifies that wooden pallets must be |
| the world's forests are being felled faster than | | | | treated before international shipping in one of two |
| they can grow. Forests prevent soil erosion and | | | | ways. The first is heat treatment. This involves |
| help stabilize the world's climate, consequently this | | | | heating the wood to a core temperature of |
| is an environmental concern. The cost implications | | | | 56°C for a minimum of 30 minutes. The second |
| have been enormous and have thrown the | | | | is fumigation, when methyl bromide (a lethal |
| economical advantages of wood pallets into sharp | | | | chemical suspected of causing cancer) is used to |
| question. | | | | fumigate the wood. Both these treatments are |
| Disposal of waste timber also impacts the | | | | time consuming and expensive. Plastic pallets do |
| environment. Millions of tonnes of wood are | | | | not harbour pests like wooden ones. As a result, |
| consumed every year. Only a small percentage is | | | | they are exempt from the ISPM 15 legislation. |
| recycled. In the UK, it is estimated that wood | | | | They do not require any expensive treatments |
| packaging accounts for 670,000 tonnes of waste | | | | before shipping abroad. |
| timber a year. Much of this is incinerated, releasing | | | | Plastic pallets utilise space better in warehouses |
| concentrated doses of carbon dioxide into the | | | | and on lorries and weigh up to 40% less than |
| atmosphere. This adds to the greenhouse effect | | | | wooden ones. This reduces transport, storage and |
| which is changing the world's climate. Some waste | | | | handling costs. Less energy is required to |
| timber is buried in landfill sites, but slow | | | | transport them, saving even more money. Plastic |
| decomposition causes a problem. Businesses are | | | | pallets also have a longer working life. The |
| now looking for other options. | | | | technology and cost of plastic pallets means they |
| Recent years saw the bird-flu epidemic escalate, | | | | are less expensive over their working lives than |
| with thousands of birds culled to limit the spread | | | | wooden ones. |
| of the disease. As wooden pallets cannot be | | | | So what conclusions can we draw? ISPM15 |
| sanitised, they are often discarded after one use, | | | | certainly gives plastic pallets the advantage when |
| especially if they have been transporting meat. | | | | it comes to shipping overseas. They do not |
| This adds to the waste problems. Plastic pallets | | | | require treatment (or proof of treatment). Often, |
| are easily sanitised by steam cleaning and | | | | only the purchase price of a pallet is considered. If |
| pressure washing, making them hygienic. They | | | | maintenance and transport costs are examined |
| can be used repeatedly, with little chance of | | | | over working life, plastic pallets are much more |
| contamination. | | | | cost-effective. Plastic pallets have become a |
| Because plastic pallets are easy to clean, they are | | | | practical, realistic, economical choice. |
| popular with pharmaceutical, food and beverage | | | | In terms of hygiene, plastic pallets are also the |
| companies. These kinds of businesses require | | | | clear winner. They are far easier to clean and do |
| clean, hygienic, safe transport. The fact that | | | | not harbour pests like wooden ones. They are |
| plastic pallets are immune to moisture, fat, acids, | | | | better in automated systems. They do not chip |
| solvents and chemicals has proven to be highly | | | | or contain nails, and weigh less. They also protect |
| advantageous. It is also a contributory factor to | | | | our forests by helping to conserve valuable wood |
| the expansion of the plastic pallets market. | | | | supplies. |