Introduction
This article covers everything you should know about Shipping Pallets.
Continue reading to explore topics including:
- What are Shipping Pallets?
- Materials used in Shipping Pallets
- Different types of Shipping Pallets
- Standard sizes for Shipping Pallets
- Phytosanitary Standards for Shipping Pallets
- And more…
Chapter 1: What Are Shipping Pallets?
Shipping pallets are foundational platforms designed to support various goods, products, equipment, and materials, facilitating easier handling during transportation and storage. Introduced alongside forklifts in the early 20th century, pallets replaced older storage methods like kegs, boxes, and barrels. This innovation greatly improved material storage, organization, and protection, making pallets essential in modern warehousing. Currently, about two billion pallets are in use worldwide.
The standard pallet dimensions in North America, especially the United States, measure 48 x 40 x 6 inches and weigh between 30 to 40 pounds. While pallets come in various sizes, the standard size remains dominant due to its compatibility with warehouse racking systems. Pallets are made from materials like wood, plastic, metal, paper, and recycled aluminum or paper, with wood being the most commonly used.
Designed for efficient handling by forklifts or pallet jacks, shipping pallets simplify stacking, moving, and storing goods. Different industries use customized pallet designs to better protect products and streamline logistics. Depending on the goods being transported, additional security measures like plastic wrapping or strapping are often applied.
Plastic pallets provide several benefits, including greater durability, strength, cost-effectiveness, and resistance to microbes and chemicals. As a result, they're becoming the preferred choice for many pallet applications.
Given their crucial role in logistics and supply chains, organizations set standards for pallet sizes and sanitation practices. These guidelines help reduce shipping delays and potential issues while protecting worker health, end-user safety, and the biodiversity of destination areas.
Chapter 2: What Materials Are Used in Shipping Pallets?
Shipping pallets are fundamental components in modern logistics, offering safe and efficient ways to transport goods globally. Different materials are used to make shipping pallets, each with unique advantages and limitations based on operational needs and industry standards. Choosing the right material is essential for ensuring load stability, meeting hygiene regulations, reducing shipping costs, and maintaining reliable cargo handling across industries.
Wood Pallets
Wooden pallets remain the most common choice in shipping and warehousing due to their versatility and availability. They're the standard for moving bulk products, industrial materials, furniture, packaged goods, and non-perishables. Known for their durability and strength, wooden pallets are cost-effective and easy to repair, contributing to their lasting popularity. Typically made from hardwoods like oak or softwoods like pine, they provide a high-friction surface for safer handling with forklifts or pallet jacks.
However, wooden pallets can be heavy, increasing freight costs and making manual handling more difficult. Their porous nature attracts pests like termites and makes them vulnerable to moisture, mold, and chemical damage. In food or pharmaceutical industries, this may require frequent sanitization or treatments like varnishing or heat treatment. Additionally, wood pallets may need certification to meet international shipping standards. Engineered alternatives address these limitations:
Plywood Pallets
Made from layered wood veneer bonded with adhesive, plywood pallets are lighter than traditional wood pallets, making them suitable for air freight and medium loads. Pressure-treated plywood resists pests and microbes. These pallets offer consistent strength and stability, making them ideal for export shipping where ISPM-15 compliance is required.
Engineered Molded Wooden Pallets
Also called composite or presswood pallets, these are made by fusing wood fibers or recycled wood with resin under heat and pressure. The result is a lighter but equally strong pallet that meets IPPC ISPM-15 standards for international shipping. These pallets display a certification stamp showing phytosanitary compliance, crucial for global trade.
The IPPC ISPM-15 Certification Stamp includes:
- Wheat Stamp: Indicates IPPC compliance (left side of pallet information)
- Country of Origin: Two-letter code
- Treatment Provider: Alphanumeric producer identification
- Treatment Code: "HT" (heat-treated) or "MB" (methyl bromide treated)
- Agency: Inspection authority
Like standard wood pallets, molded wood versions can absorb moisture if left outdoors. Indoor storage or protective covers help extend their lifespan.
Presswood Pallets
Made from compressed wood particles or recycled materials, presswood pallets are lightweight yet sturdy. Their space-saving nestable design makes them ideal for return logistics and e-commerce. While cost-effective and customizable, they're still prone to moisture absorption, limiting their use in humid environments.
Plastic Pallets
Plastic pallets, made from advanced polymers, are increasingly popular for their lightweight, durable, and hygienic properties. Industries like pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, and electronics often prefer plastic pallets for clean, contamination-free transport that meets health standards. Made through processes like rotational molding, thermoforming, or injection molding, they're customized for automated warehouses and export shipping. Resistant to corrosion, chemicals, and moisture, plastic pallets don't harbor bacteria, making them ideal for closed-loop systems and cold storage.
Common plastic materials include:
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
PET plastics are popular for lightweight export pallets due to their affordability, recyclability, and rigidity. Their moisture and chemical resistance makes them suitable for pharmaceutical and food industry use where hygiene and sustainability matter.
High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
HDPE pallets offer excellent strength-to-weight ratios and impact resistance, performing well under stress during transport and storage. Commonly used in warehousing, chemical processing, and heavy industries, they withstand harsh chemicals, making them valuable for hazardous goods.
Polypropylene (PP)
PP pallets provide maximum rigidity and longevity, performing well under continuous loads. Though pricier than HDPE, they're preferred where structural integrity is paramount.
Recycled Plastic Pallets
Made from HDPE, PP, blends, or composites, recycled plastic pallets support sustainability efforts. Produced through injection molding, foam molding, or extrusion, they're tailored to application needs, offering eco-friendly solutions for various industries.
Advanced Composite Material (ACM)
Made from 100% recycled polyolefins, ACM pallets represent sustainable pallet technology. Combining post-industrial and post-consumer plastics creates strong, reusable pallets. Popular for one-way shipping, they offer cost parity with wood while supporting zero-waste initiatives.
