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