Every company that transports items such as raw materials, perishables or finished products will use pallets. Pallets will be used in all areas
of the transportation process, from storing the items in a warehouse to enabling them to be moved in bulk as well as keeping them protected and allow for easy movements during transportation. Pallets are the only way items are transported and so are utilized across the world in every warehouse, delivery truck and cargo ship. When thinking of pallet logistics we imagine wood, the larger part of pallets are made from wood and in the US the building of pallets accounts for nearly 50% of the lumber used per annum. Even though wood is, undoubtedly, the most popular material used in pallet logistics, there are many failings and not all agree that this is the best material to be used.
In recent years, environmental movements have questioned the amount of wood used per year and the issues that discarding these pallets when faulty, old or damaged has on the environment. Many landfills are overflowing, the ocean can take no more and the world is at a loss with what to do with discarded waste products and how to dispose of them in a safe, clean and environmentally friendly way. People are becoming increasingly concerned about the use of wood pallets where food items are concerned, due to the ability of fungal matters and insects to live on, in and around wood pallets. These concerns are more apparent during the summer when the weather is warmer, humidity is within transportation and there is a real breeding ground for insects and fungi, which will tamper on a much higher scale with the items, this causes many issues surrounding pallet logistics at certain times of the year.
Issues with using wooden pallets
There are, as stated above, many environmental issues which have been raised regarding the use of wood for pallet logistics, more so when they are intended for use for transportation of food items and further still when the summer comes – these issues are on a much larger scale due to the many illnesses which people could encounter because of tampered food items, increased in risk by the warmer weather.
Wood is a material that is porous – which means that is can easily absorb fluids, these fluids could contain bacteria that could be harmful to a person if consumed. Food sanitation risks are high like salmonella, E-coli and listeria. Recently the FDA have indicated that pallet logistics cannot be made from wood if they are to be used in conjunction with food processing procedures; due to the high risk of contamination. This is more so a problem in the summer months with the fungus and insects but also due to the humidity in transportation through the summer months the risks of moulds and mildews are more likely which again are dangerous for human consumption.
The way wood is treated is another concern; they can contain formaldehyde, which is known as carcinogen and can come into contact with food items during storage and transportation. Wooden pallets are also often treated to reduce the risk of insect infestation; such as woodlice, silverfish, fleas and beetles. The treatment is heated Methyl Bromide which is a toxic chemical posing a fire risk to cargo, as well as being extremely likely to leave a residue on the pallet logistics which can seep into food items.
Benefits of Plastic Pallet Logistics
Using Plastic in pallet logistics has a lot of advantages over more established wooden pallets. In the event of food safety, plastic materials cannot contain insect infestations and can be washed as well as thoroughly disinfected to eliminate any fluids that could have split during storage or shipment onto the pallet. Another benefit is the ability to allow an RFID tag to be embedded into the pallet to allow tracking during the supply chain; this is something not as fool proof with wooden materials. Plastic pallet logistics are also more cost effective, due to them having a much longer activity lifeline, less prone to damage and the RFID tag lasting the duration – meaning fewer need to be purchased.
Plastic pallets are also 100% recyclable. Pallets can be recycled as well as being constructed with recycled materials. Damaged plastic pallets can also be remoulded and reused to create more and any damaged pallets beyond repair can be reshaped to take up less space in the world’s landfills.
The lower weights of plastic pallet logistics provide a high cost saving for shippers. On average a standard plastic pallet will weigh around 30% less than the standard wood pallet, which means all costs are kept down from the initial purchase to the overall shipment of goods, which are priced by weight. Less fuel and carbon emissions are also used when transportation is for lower weighted cargo. Industrial accidents are also lower in risk with the use of plastic pallets, which provides a real benefit to employees who are less likely to injure themselves when carrying, lifting and transporting the pallet logistics. Wooden pallets can also be dangerous due to loose nails or screws that can cause lacerations and in extreme cases even the need for amputations. Safety within the workplace needs to be paramount; it is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that all employees are safe at all times. This is aided by the use of plastic pallet logistics, over wood due to them being fire retardant and certified to provide absolutely no fire risk within warehouses. Especially in warmer countries and during the summer months, warehouses can catch ablaze due to the smallest matter – aided by the dryer weather, if the warehouse is fully stocked with wooden pallets this could cause significant damage; drain profits incredibly and even mean a business may need to start again from absolute scratch. Businesses also face criticism, bad ratings and loss of clients if wooden pallets to contaminate food items leading to a consumer being ill. When it’s fully researched and considered, you can easily avoid summer pallet logistic problems by simply switching the material used and everybody wins.
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