‘Greener’ plastic pallets gain traction

Plastic pallets are beginning to replace those made of wood as shippers and transporters embrace green business ethics which, in the case of plastic pallets, are accompanied by long-term cost savings, according to Kamal Diaite of Extruwood. A number of factors come into play when comparing plastic to wooden pallets, he says. Plastic pallets are 100% recyclable. This means if a plastic pallet becomes damaged, it can simply be reworked and turned back into a new pallet without the need for new resources or unnecessary waste. The material used is plastic bottle caps and other highdensity polyethylene which would otherwise have ended up in landfills. Plastic pallets need never end up in the landfill as the material can continue to be recycled. In contrast, most wooden pallets must be replaced or repaired after limited use, and as a result millions of trees are felled each year for pallet production. Most of these pallets end up in landfills, as firewood, or as scrap litter, according to Diaite. Extruwood sees demand for recyclable pallets increasing as the regulators focus more closely on the carbon footprint of the transport industry. “Given that the road transport industry alone is responsible for 18% of global CO2 emissions and that South Africa is highly dependent on road transport – well over 80% of freight in the country is moved by road – vehicle and fleet owners can expect that a great deal of ‘green’ regulations will affect, if not target, the transport industry,” he says. In addition to being recyclable, plastic pallets are easily sanitised, have high odour resistance, a much longer service life span, and are more durable than wood. They also offer better product protection. Wooden pallets are susceptible to bacterial and chemical contamination, rendering them unreliable for fleet companies transporting food and other sensitive product lines. Heat treatment of wooden pallets, required to prevent the transfer of plant pests from one country to another, adds to the burden of CO2 emissions. “Extruwood pallets have been designed to meet the most exacting demands of logistics and warehouse operators – being incredibly tough and durable. They do not deteriorate in any weather conditions, and are ideal for cold storage situations, especially for food items.” Extruwood pallets are tailormade for applications and are also backed with a guarantee.