The True Environmental Cost Of Wooden Pallets

Pallets are everywhere, whether they’re made of wood or plastic. According to a 2017 study by Deakin University, there are approximately 140 million pallets on the Australian market. The majority of these pallets are made from wood. There are several environmental concerns that could arise with wooden pallets. Wood may appear to be the most environmentally friendly choice, but that isn’t the case anymore. This is due to the development of plastic pallets made from recyclable materials.

Plastic pallets are also lighter, and more hygienic. This article will give you a quick overview of some of the problems that wooden pallets may cause.

Also Read: Australian Pallet Standards Dimensions, Design, and Efficiency

Costs of Our Forests

The cost of wood is probably the biggest downside of pallet production. Range International estimates 40 percent of the timber used in the world is for pallets. Pallet trees are not among the most valuable of the timbers used in the industry. Pallets are not the only thing that makes logging companies prosper, but the production of wooden palettes is still a threat to forest preservation. Paper or wooden pallets are just two examples of products that require wood as their base material.

Hygienic Concerns

Wood is porous, so it can develop problems when it becomes old or infested with mold or insects. Before pallets can used or re-used, they must be treated in order to prevent these issues or eliminate problems that are already present. Many wooden pallets are thrown out because they have become damaged and therefore are not suitable to transport materials and products.

Recycling

Wood is more difficult to recycle than plastic due to the above mentioned hygienic issues and the fact wooden pallets often contain metal. Wooden pallets are recycled more often. According to estimates by institutions such as the US Forest Service they are not as recyclable as plastic. Another advantage of plastic pallets is that they can be made out of repurposed material.

The global pallet industry continues to make eco-friendly improvements. Growing concerns are being raised about the environmental cost of wooden pallets.

For more information about the benefits of environmentally friendly plastic pallets in Perth, contact our expert pallet suppliers at Swan Material supplies today.

Contact us by calling 0479 078 6630 or visiting our contact page. View our 34 Welshpool Rd in Welshpool WA 6106.