Over the last couple years, a marketing and policy war has been fought between the makers of wood pallets and plastic pallets. It has largely been waged between the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association and iGPS, the makers of plastic pallets.
Both sides are furiously touting the benefits of their products, and the hazards of the other. Wood pallets, you learn, are the most affordable solution, are biodegradable, eco-friendly (because they're made of scrap wood that would otherwise be wasted), and highly reusable. Plastic pallets, on the other hand, are affordable, eco-friendly (because the resin can be re-molded when one is broken), highly durable, and so on.
The websites of both groups are full of dire warnings about the state of the battle: NWPCA says it "did not look for a fight with the plastic pallet industry, but the ongoing campaign of misinformation and intimidation by iGPS must be confronted and beaten back by a united wood pallet industry." And iGPS's home page includes a link to an inflammatory 60 Minutes video (more on which below), as well as a letter from iGPS CEO Bob Moore responding to "false and reckless statements by the NWPCA."
But the PR war has continually stepped up in intensity, with iGPS alleging last year that, because wood pallets are porous, they can harbor "dangerously high" bacteria counts, and that a quarter of wooden pallets tested harbored Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria bacteria. (That salvo was picked up by 60 minutes, which ran a video on the discovery.)
Last month, that battle hit a new crescendo, when an outgoing U.S. Senator stepped in on behalf of the wood pallet industry. According to an article in PlasticsToday by Clare Goldsberry, Chris Dodd, the now-former Democratic senator from Connecticut, sent a letter at the end of his term to the FDA, warning of hidden dangers of plastic pallets.
Goldsberry writes:
Dodd's letter to the FDA urged the agency to notify "food manufacturers, transporters and retailers inspected by the FDA that plastic pallets containing decaBDE are inappropriate for use in scenarios that may bring decabromine into contact with food," according to a release by the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association. Dodd recommended the FDA "Develop and disseminate education and training materials for FDA inspectors to enable them to identify plastic pallets that contain decaBDE, recognize scenarios of use that may bring decaBDE into food contact, and be provided clear guidance regarding enforcement and reporting requirements."
In response, iGPS is calling for a formal investigation into the misleading and abusive trade practices of the wood pallet industry, saying the Jan. 5 actions by the wooden pallet industry spread "false and misleading information about the safety of plastic pallets" and epitomize the "reckless and disreputable character of the industry."
In a statement released by iGPS, Chairman and CEO Bob Moore, said, "There is not a morsel of truth in former Senator Dodd's letter. Either the Senator was purposely misled or he decided to do a friend a last-minute favor by repeating spoon-fed mistruths and scare tactics."
Good times in the trenches. We don't cover the pallet debate very often -- I guess you could say we're agnostic on the different technologies -- but in 2009, we reported that three companies were switching to plastic pallets, and way back in the archives from GreenBiz.com's 10-year history, there's this report from 2000 looking at a House bill that would provide incentives for businesses to reuse pallets and plastic containers.
Let's throw open the debate: Do you have a preference for wood or plastic pallets? If so, why? Let us know in the comments, or shoot me an email if you'd rather share your thoughts privately.
Pallets photo CC-licensed by Frank Vincentz.
The use of wood or plastic
The use of wood or plastic pallets really depends on several factors. 1st, Wood pallets can be gotten in any size/configuration. Available plastic pallets are limited. This may change in the future, who knows? To say Plastic is non-contaminateable is a misnomer. Both are contaminateable. Just in different ways. The answer is separate the packaged product from the pallet by a fresh plastic sheet. It's being done by food processors already. Then there's the storage and return issue. Wood or Organic pallets can be easily disposed of and recycled in multiple ways. Plastic offers few alternatives but to re-ship back to the originator. This works fine with high volume regular end point delivery points, but not so well with the occasional or spot point of delivery market. Or with the independent multiple distributor market. What do you do with those plastic pallets? Store them? Truck them to the dump? No-one will take them for anything other than re-use as pallets (at a cost). The issue needs refining at best. Either way, the main point is what's better depends on the specific needs per shipper.
No one size fits all
No one size fits all cases.
What type of pallet material a company should choose depends on the industry and the company’s specific supply chain. No matter what the material, the most efficient supply chain is the one with the lowest emissions and least waste generated by transport packaging, such as pallets. Switching from disposable to reusable pallets can improve a supply chain’s efficiency. The StopWaste Business Partnership, a free Alameda County, CA program not affiliated with any industry, helps companies evaluate and implement reusable transport packaging solutions. Visit www.UseReusables.com for information, case studies, and training opportunities.
Don't forget that 2,4,6 TBP,
Don't forget that 2,4,6 TBP, a wood pallet chemical treatment agent which can be converted to TBA, was the underlying cause of many drug recalls, including the Tylenol recalls. So if you are looking at wood pallets and have sensitive materials, make sure you get heat treated pallets and not chemically treated pallets.
Most wood pallets shipped to
Most wood pallets shipped to other countries have to be treated to ensure they are not carrying invasive species. This can be done by heat or chemical treatment (methyl bromide). Although the use of this chemical is being phased out, these pallets are still in circulation. So, if we are using wood pallets, we are making sure we are using the ones that were treated with heat.
Hi Matthew, I like you am
Hi Matthew,
I like you am agnostic when it comes to material of choice. The best choice really depends on the application, reuse rate, etc.
Just to clarify one of your early comments, iGPS is not a plastic pallet maker. It rents them to pallet users.
Sincerely
Rick LeBlanc
Editor
Reusable Packaging News
The benefits of plastic
The benefits of plastic pallets far outweigh the cost of using wood and the risk wood pallets pose to the supply chain.
dodd is an idiot he was in
dodd is an idiot he was in charge of financial reform and failed.
dodd failed to take a political position when he was in office now that this idiot is gone dodd takes an awkard position that is not backed up by any science or statistics..dodd has hurt america and will be held accountable even while he is out of office.
the wood pallet industry is a low skilled,repetive,brainless industry
and who performs the majority of labor in the wood pallet industry? mexicans.
For any food or pharma
For any food or pharma related products I would prefer plastics pallets be used. They are much more hygienic and the scare tactics used by the wood pallet supporters is just an all out effort to preserve their monopoly.