Top 3 Reasons Behind The Rising Popularity Of Wooden Pallets

By Author: Olivia Jackson
Total Articles: 2
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Pallets are typically available in wood, plastic and metal, with corrugated paper pallets also gaining in popularity. In the UK, most pallets used by pallet delivery and storage companies are wooden as this material is very versatile, heavy duty and low maintenance. All pallets are available to buy new, however, reconditioned wooden pallets have started to increase in popularity, with businesses and individuals alike expressing an interest in purchasing them. In this blog, we explore the top three reasons for this phenomenon.

What Are Reconditioned Wooden Pallets?

A reconditioned pallet is a pallet that has been previously used, then cleaned, repaired if necessary, tested for compliance with relevant regulations and made available for reuse. Wooden pallets are immensely versatile, strong, consistently shaped and pre-treated against pest infestations and rot, making them ideally suited to refurbishing.

A reconditioned pallet offers all of the benefits of a new pallet but at a lower cost.

1. Cost

This is the principal reason as to why reconditioned wooden pallets ...
... are so popular. A reconditioned pallet is tested and approved to the same standards as a new one, but because it has been used before, it is offered at a lower price than its brand-new equivalent.

Choosing a reconditioned pallet allows businesses to make considerable savings in their logistics supply chains without affecting the quality of their product or their choice of delivery options. Reconditioned pallets are accepted by all major pallet delivery firms and are repaired and tested to exacting standards to ensure that they perform appropriately in these situations.

Being low cost, they are also popular with the DIY-er who enjoys turning them into something new. Instagram and Pinterest are full of examples of furniture and other products that have been made with reconditioned pallet wood. It is ideally suited to this purpose as it is already treated against rot and pests and is available in a consistent shape that requires little adjustment.

2. Environment

With many businesses looking to make changes to minimise their carbon output, choosing recycled pallets over new supports and reinforces their green credentials. Reusing pallets not only makes sound economic sense but offers an environmental benefit too. Customers are keen to choose companies that have a genuine interest in helping the planet so publicising that all pallets used in the distribution process are reconditioned helps to support this agenda.

For the DIY-er too, repurposing pallet wood rather than buying fresh wood or new wooden furniture represents a lower environmental impact. By choosing to reuse what already exists, fewer trees need to be removed to create new wooden products. For individuals who have a concern for the environment, making their own products provides a sense of accomplishment as well as the satisfaction that they are minimising their own carbon footprint.

When a wooden pallet truly reaches its end of life, or the DIY-er has used all of the parts that they need, the offcuts or the entire pallet, in some cases, can be recycled at a recycling plant and brought back to life yet again, either as a new wooden product or broken down into wood shavings for the animal bedding industry.

3. Flexible Options

There are as many options for reconditioned pallets as there are new. Because reconditioned pallets have been specially tested and professionally restored to their original condition, they will function in exactly the same way as new ones.

Pallets are graded and available in a variety of sizes, weight-carrying capacities and applications. Grade 1A pallets offer a tonne lift capacity and are clean and sanitised sufficiently to be suitable for the most stringently regulated industries, including pharmaceutical and food, whilst the very robust 3 Legger Type Pallets are ideal for businesses that require regular movement of stock by forklift truck.

Summary:

Whether you are an individual looking to start a DIY project or a business aiming to save money and demonstrate your environmental values, choosing a reconditioned wooden pallet rather than buying new, will save you or your business money, improve your green credentials and still offer the same great choice of pallet types.

Reconditioned pallets represent a sound financial investment for businesses, often being suitable for reuse and still holding a residual value at end of life.