A Complete Guide to Wooden Pallets
07 Nov 2023
Introduction
For countless years, wooden pallets have been a pillar of the shipping, transporting, and storing industries across the globe. They’re easy to manufacture, come in a wide variety of weight-bearing capacities and sizes, and can be reused time and time again. In this complete guide, we will explain how wooden pallets differ, the requirements necessary to ship worldwide, and the essential creative and sustainable aspects that tend to go unnoticed.Â
Wooden Pallets VS Plastic Pallets
As many people are aware, pallets can be made from a variety of materials, such as wood or plastic. Each type of pallet material has its own advantages and disadvantages, but wooden pallets have their own niches that we believe could make them the ideal choice for many industries. The differences between wood and plastic may seem minimal, but by having a better understanding of which offers what, you can make a more informed decision for your business needs.
Wood is a widely available material that can be easily procured from all over the world. Wood is a natural resource that can degrade naturally, helping to avoid long-lasting waste. However, it is also strong, and with the right treatment, it is able to last for years of heavy use. Wooden pallets are capable of being widely recycled without any intensive treatments or machinery requirements, as simple hand tools can strip the wooden pallet apart into individual strips.Â
In comparison, plastic pallets are also capable of withstanding multiple years of constant use, potentially even more than wooden pallets, depending on the industry, but they require specific treatments in order to be recycled. Plus, any plastic pallets that do get sent to landfills instead of specialised recycling facilities can end up adding to yearly plastic pollution. Plastic and wooden pallets are both capable of handling heavy loads and while plastic pallets can be lighter weight while maintaining a similar weight capacity, wooden pallets have the advantage of typically being more cost-effective.Â
You can read more about the advantages and disadvantages of wooden vs plastic pallets in wooden or plastic pallets?
Types of Wooden Pallets
There is a wide variety of wooden pallets to suit all sorts of business purposes. Each one has a different weight capability, size and form, as well as hygiene capabilities. At Associated Pallets, we sell a massive variety to ensure that you can find the correct type to fit your shipping, storing, or transportation needs.
Recyclable Wooden Pallets
One of the best features of using wooden pallets is that they can easily be reused and recycled. Even after they have been worn down through constant use, collection services, such as ours, can ensure that the pallet is refurbished and resold instead of ending up in a landfill.Â
At Associated Pallets, we have second hand wooden pallets for sale on our website, ready for next day national delivery.
Heat Treated Wooden Pallets
Many wooden pallets are heat treated in order to meet high ISPM 15 standards. Learn about the implications of ISPM 15. These standards are set so that pests, diseases, and other nasty things are kept to an absolute minimum. Heat treatment is considered to be one of the best ways to treat wooden pallets because it doesn’t leave any potentially harmful chemicals while also removing pests and insects effectively. These features together make heat treatment incredibly popular for businesses with high hygiene requirements, such as food or pharmaceutical companies.
Discover more about how wooden pallets are heat treated and the importance of treating wooden pallets in this article: Are Wooden Pallets Treated?
Creative Uses
- Patio & garden furniture
- Shoe racks
- Swimming pools
- Garden boxes
- Play houses
One of the main draws of wooden pallets compared to other newer pallet materials is their ability to be reused for all sorts of creative purposes. Whether they are stripped down to raw materials or used in their full construction, wooden pallets can be transformed into all sorts of practical everyday objects and tools.Â
From wooden planters to shoe racks and furniture, wooden pallets only require simple tools to become reborn into creative DIY projects. At Associated Pallets, we have a mission to reduce waste and help create a more sustainable environment, and while our recycling and collection services have already helped to improve the sustainability of the wooden pallet industry, sharing the knowledge of how to reuse wooden pallets can be just as important.Â
Wooden Pallet AccessoriesÂ
There are a wide variety of wooden pallet accessories available for purchase at Associated Pallets. These accessories can help protect shipments from damage, help increase the waterproofing of wooden pallets and products, and even help store items in a more efficient way. Wooden pallets can be used for safely storing products and goods within a warehouse rather than just for large scale transportation. They are one of the most cost effective ways to store products, and are efficient thanks to their ability to rack and bear incredible amounts of weight. See more advantages of using wooden pallets for storage here on our blog.
Wooden pallet collars are a highly sought after accessory that can help make the most out of any warehouse or truck space. When combined with collar lids, they can make excellent boxes and can help keep products safe from spilling or falling over. Plus, once the job is done, they can be collapsed without any fuss. Check out our other articles if you need help figuring out how to quickly and efficiently disassemble and reassemble wooden pallet collars.
There are a lot of other uses for pallet collars beyond just storage, which you can find out more about here in what can pallet collars be used for? Some uses include easy wooden planters, birdhouses, and dog beds! Discover the creative uses for wooden pallet collars, and purchase your own wooden pallet accessories to get started!
Wooden Pallet Costs & Price Guide
The cost of wooden pallets can vary based on a number of factors, including the type, quality, and number, alongside any sort of treatment that the pallet may have undergone. Associated Pallets can provide high quality new and used wooden pallets and pallet accessories in both singular and bulk at a fair price. All our products are compliant with the ISPM 15 regulations, and we are certified by the ISO so that you can have total peace of mind.Â
You can learn more about the prices of wooden pallets on our website.
Further Reading
HOW DO I GET RID OF UNWANTED WOODEN PALLETS?
TIPS FOR DISASSEMBLING AND REASSEMBLING WOODEN PALLET COLLARS
ARE WOODEN PALLETS WATERPROOF?
WOODEN PALLETS TO MAKE FURNITURE
WHAT CAN PALLET COLLARS BE USED FOR?