When it comes to the material handling industry, the majority of the costs associated with shipping product in and out consists of third-party logistics, containers and pallets. Warehouses, businesses or organizations that make use of pallets generally choose wood over plastic. In fact, it’s estimated that roughly 93 percent of all pallets are wood. While plastic pallets do have their advantages, there is a reason that the majority of pallets being used are made from wood. The following are the five main reasons why most organizations use wood pallets:

1. Wood pallets cost less

Wood is simply a cheaper material to construct pallets out of than plastic. It’s also much easier to build a wood pallet than it is to manufacture a plastic pallet, which also contributes to the higher cost of plastic pallets. Wood pallets generally don’t cost more than $12 a piece (although higher quality versions can cost as much as $25 each), whereas plastic pallets can cost between $25 and $100 each depending on their quality. If you’re consistently having to refill your supply of pallets, then buying wood pallets is going to be the most cost-effective option.

2. Wood pallets are easier to repair

If a plastic pallet is damaged during use, odds are you’re going to have to replace it. While some damage may not affect the function of the plastic pallet, such as a small crack or a chipped edge, it will be more vulnerable to future damage as a result. Wood pallets have the advantage of being repairable. In fact, Greenway provides a repair program in which twe will come and pick up damaged wood pallets for repair, which will cost less than having your damaged wood pallets replaced by new wood pallets.

3. Wood pallets are easily replaceable

Wood pallets are much easier to replace than plastic pallets as a result of their cost. Additionally, in an open-loop system where you constantly have to replace your pallets, you’re likely going to want to go with the more affordable option. Besides the cost, there are just more wood pallets available at any given time (as mentioned before, 93 percent of the pallets being used are wood, after all). This also means that wood pallets will be replaced much quicker than plastic pallets. If you need to keep up with steady orders, then waiting for your pallets to arrive can be extremely detrimental to your business.

4. Wood pallets are easily customized

Customizing your pallets can make them a lot more effective when it comes to meeting the specific requirements of your business. Customizing wood pallets is much more cost-effective than customizing plastic pallets. This is because wood pallets can easily be built to your specifications and at varying strengths. It will take much longer to customize plastic pallets for your purposes, which means that you won’t get a very quick turnaround either if you choose to go with plastic. This can make things difficult if you’re constantly ordering replacement pallets that are customized to your company’s needs.

5. Wood pallets can be recycled

Wood pallets are actually one of the most recycled items in the country. In fact, a bigger percentage of wood pallets are recycled than the percentage of aluminum cans or paper that are recycled each year. Those wood pallets that do end up in landfills won’t have nearly as negative of an impact on the environment that any plastic pallets will if they end up there.

Besides being able to easily recycle your wood pallets with Greenway, you can also purchase used wood pallets at a lower cost. By reusing, you’re basically recycling.  Additionally, the production of plastic pallets results in a ton of greenhouse emissions, making wood pallets a much more environmentally-friendly option.

These are five reasons why wood pallets are used on a much larger scale than plastic pallets throughout some of the biggest industries in the country, including the food and beverage industry, the chemical industry and the general manufacturing industry. When it comes down to it, wood pallets will simply have a smaller impact on your bottom line than plastic pallets.

For information about the wood pallets that we have available and how they can be customized to fit your specific needs, be sure to contact us at Greenway Products & Services for a free pallet quote today.

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