Why Do Wooden Pallets Continue to Support Global Supply Chains? The Ultimate Guide

Is your shipment breaking down, transportation costs going up, or supply chain getting delayed? You’re not alone! Uninterrupted goods flow is essential for businesses to prosper in any industrial sector, market, or country in the present global trade system. Noticed or not, a hero is there to make sure products get to where they need to be promptly: wooden pallets! 

One cannot deny that a plethora of alternatives are open to use in the supply market chain (e.g., metal, plastic, etc.), and yet, wooden pallets remain the principal ones. The question is, what is it that causes companies in all parts of the globe to habitually rely on them as their first option?

At USA Pallet & Warehousing Inc., let’s delve into the enduring significance of wooden pallets for sale, their advantages, and why they continue to be the backbone of supply chains worldwide.

Wooden Pallets: The Backbone of Global Logistics

Here, we discuss some points that indicate the significance of wooden pallets in the global supply chain:

Affordable and Easily Accessible

The most significant advantage of wooden pallets is their affordability. Wooden pallets, as opposed to those made of plastic or metal, are:

• Cost-Effective: Wooden pallets are significantly cheaper as the wood materials and the manufacturing process for wooden pallets are much cheaper than those for plastic or metal pallets.
• Easily Accessible: By having a vast network of manufacturers and recyclers at USA Pallet & Warehousing Inc., a business can get wooden pallets from any place in the world. 
• Repairable With Ease: At a lower cost, broken wood shipping crates can be repaired, which helps to expand their usefulness. 

Crucial to Transportation and Logistics

One of the main elements of the transport system that allows smoother shipping processes is wooden pallets. These serve as a standardized means by which goods can be safely and efficiently handled. Basically, these are their main functions:

• Handling Ease: Either pallet jacks or forklifts are equipment specially designed to make the manual handling of products on pallets, the largest amount of work, with a minimum of effort. In this way, the application of these machines leads to a decrease in labor costs and a rise in productivity.
• Improved Storage: Products can be definitely stacked in a more logical and efficient manner using wooden pallets, and that is the main reason why storage or transit areas such as warehouses or freight containers with some available space can be utilized over their normal volume.
• Improved Product Safety: Pallets raise products off the ground, which helps to reduce damage from dirt, moisture, and pests.

Eco-Friendliness and Sustainability

Wooden pallets offer an eco-friendly alternative when sustainability is a top priority. This is the cause:

• Renewably Sourced: Wood comes from nature, and it is a renewable resource, taken from ecologically balanced forests.
• Recyclable and Reusable: Damaged or old wooden pallets can be recycled into furniture, biofuel, or mulch. This approach reduces waste. 
• Biodegradable: Plastic pallets usually end up in landfills and do not degrade, but wood pallets break down naturally.

Global Trade Standardization

The thorough use of wooden pallets ensures cooperation in industries and international trade routes. Standard pallet sizes, such as a 48×40-inch pallet, which is commonly used in North America, and a 1200×1000 mm pallet, which is used in Europe, make it possible for a spontaneous entry into the automated storage and material handling systems. A visit to standardization:

• Loading and Unloading: Cutting down on the amount of manual labor and transportation times.
• Streamlined Compliance and Customs: To comply with global shipping standards, such as the ISPM 15 heat treatment standard for exports.

Durability and Power

Pallet wood for sale is recognized for its durability and strength. These features make them perfect for handling heavy loads. They can hold weight from 1500 to 3000 pounds, according to the type of wood and construction. It is their capability to go through tough treatment in storage, trucks, and containers that makes them the most reliable option for the supply chain process.

Wooden, Plastic, or Metal Pallets? A Complete Comparison

Characteristics	Wooden Pallets	Metal Pallets	Plastic Pallets
Durability	Moderate	Very High	High
Eco-Friendliness	High	Moderate	Low
Cost	Low	Very High	High
Weight Capacity	High	Very HIgh	Moderate
Availability	High	Low	Moderate
Repairability	Easy	Difficult	Difficult

 

Definitely, metal and plastic pallets are not without their pros; however, it is the wooden pallets that provide the most balanced package of price, storage duration, and security, and for that reason, they are the most utilized types of pallets not only by the industrial sectors but also by the majority of sectors.

Which Industries Rely on Wooden Pallets the Most?

Various industries rely on the wooden pallet for their daily operations, such as:

• E-commerce and Retail
• Food and Agriculture
• Manufacturing
• Pharmaceuticals

Smart Maintenance Tips for Wooden Pallets

Businesses must follow the best practices mentioned below to enhance the life and efficiency of custom wood pallets:

• Frequent Inspection: Check out the symbols of damage like splinters, cracks, or loose nails.
• Right Storage: Keep the pallets in a well-ventilated, dry space to avoid moisture buildup and mold growth.
• Prompt Repairs: Replace broken boards or support weak areas to extend usability. 
• Observance of Safety Regulations: Ensure that pallets meet the safety and usage requirements of the industry standards.

How Wooden Pallets Will Affect Global Supply Chains in the Future

Wooden pallets are not going to be phased out with technological developments or the use of new materials, but they will still be very important in the supply chains that operate all over the world. Such an innovation as the use of smart pallets with the IoT tracking feature will certainly help the company to increase its efficiency. Moreover, the company’s business will turn out to be greener and more efficient. This is possible due to the adoption of eco-friendly forest practices.

The Bottom Line

Wooden pallets have been the fundamental elements of the global supply chain, whose various characteristics have already been pointed out, such as their environmental friendliness, long life, low prices, and adaptability. There are no businesses that do not use pallets to simplify and optimize their logistics, transport, and storage operations. They are indispensable in the supply chain, and it can be anticipated that wooden pallets will still be a reliable and green way for companies from all over the world to meet their supply chain needs as the need for them keeps rising.

USA Pallet & Warehousing Inc. is one of the leading wood pallet manufacturers near you and a supplier of new and recycled wood shipping crates, containers, and pallets, as well as warehousing services. We deliver high-quality, durable, and customized pallets to meet your business needs.

FAQs

What to use a wooden crate for?

Definitely, you can utilize it in an organized and stored manner, and we have uncovered a lot of ideas to do that. However, you just don’t have to stop at that; you can also reinvent this basic craft into a cabinet, a study area for the kids, or even an occasional table with an industrial look. 

Why use wooden crates?

Wooden crates are recyclable and reusable. Comparing the two shipment processes, a crate is made for several shipments and can be used in the future to save money. Typically, wooden crates can be recycled for multiple uses up to the point where they need to be refurbished, and the ones that have been damaged to an extent can also be restored to such a degree that they look like new again.

Is the pallet wood of good quality?

Wood’s leftovers are still durable and reliable. The wood from which pallet wood is made is quality wood, and it is simply a good product that is acquired with environmental and social awareness.

What size pallets sell the most?

Most pallets in a standard size of 48×40 or 48×45 had the highest sales, while pallets of a special size were less useful for other businesses, so they were sold less.