Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1266845
6 PalletCentral • May-June 2020 palletcentral.com Board Officers Chairman Frank Shean, PLA Holdings – Valley Pallet Chairman-Elect Mike Hachtman, Relogistics Services. Past Chair Jordan Piland, Atlas Pallets/A Div. of Williamsburg Millwork Corp. Secretary/Treasurer Carolyn Beach-Skinner, Westside Pallet Director at Large Nick Wenner, Pallet Service Corp. President/CEO Brent J. McClendon, CAE Board of Directors Peter Berry, Berry Industrial Michelle Blizzard, Pallet Central Enterprises Henry Bowman, C&L Wood Products Dominick Davi, Greenway Products & Services Kathleen Dietrich, Commercial Lumber & Pallet David Grimes, Pallet Resources of NC Bernie Kamps, Kamps, Inc. Bryan Kesting, Madison County Wood Products Jeff Lewis, Atlanta Pallets & Services Steve Mazza, S&B Pallet Joe O'Brien, Industrial Pallet Shane Thompson, WestWind Logistics Howe Wallace, PalletOne International Director Mike Vrugteveen, Niagara Pallet & Recyclers Associate's Representative Randy Panko, Wood-Mizer International Director Emeritus Jan Fredell, Fredells Travaru AB 2020 SEASON SPONSORS Kiln-Direct.com 910-259-9794 | kiln-direct.com Mid Continent Steel and Wire 800-867-6245 | magnumfasteners.com Pallet Machinery Group 540-644-9220 | palletmachinery.com Pendu Manufacturing 717-354-4348 | pendu.com Profile Technology 800-369-4242 | profiletech.com PRS Group 217-291-0009 | prsgroupinc.com Rotochopper 320-548-3586 | rotochopper.com Smart Products 800-401-0099 | smartproductsinc.com Smith Sawmill Service 800-598-6344 | smithsawmillservice.com Universal Fastener Outsourcing 800-352-0028 | 911-nails.com Viking Engineering & Development 800-328-2403 | vikingeng.com I t is no wonder that actor John Krasinski's "Some Good News" (SGN) network YouTube Channel had tremendous success. We are in the midst of such chaotic, challenging, and troubling times for our economy and society that taking a break and celebrating the good news around us is something we all need. I'm impressed with how our industry has responded to COVID-19, providing safe workspaces, supporting our local communities with charitable contributions, and continuing to assure our supply chain moves the critical goods we need. It's also been heartening to hear the diversity and inclusion initiatives various companies are undertaking to be lights of healing and unification for the divisions that rock our communities. We recognize the integral role our industry has historically played in uplifting people and our communities. Your resolve to ensure that our country can fulfill its promise of justice, equality, and opportunity for all is inspiring. In keeping with the SGN approach, I'll highlight some critical research findings and good news about the positive role that wood pallets play for our environment and society. The industry has spent the last four years preparing for and submitting data to lead to an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for wood pallets. We built a great team of well-respected and trusted leading organizations. The U.S. Forest Service, Forest Product Laboratory, conducted research according to the International Organization for Standardi- zation (ISO) standards, and it was verified under the UL Environment EPD program. The results of this Pallet Foundation-funded research are fantastic! The environmental attributes of producing wood pallets from cradle to grave are taken into consideration. Because wood is not derived from fossil fuels, common industry practices like using wood residuals for fuel instead of natural gas, recycling the nails, or reusing pallet components may be considered significant "offsets." We have a very favorable carbon footprint story. The case could be made that wood pallets are not just carbon-neutral but also a net carbon-positive! Want more good news? We recently read a European study that indicates wooden pallets have 13 times higher antibacterial activity than plastic. The research, carried out by Institut für Holztechnologie in Dresden on behalf of EPAL Germany, suggests that bacteria has a lower survival rate on the wooden surface compared with plastic. And let's not forget another study, funded by the Pallet Foundation, with Virginia Tech and the U.S. Forest Service. The research confirmed that wood pallets have the highest recovery and recycling rate of approximately 95 percent! Alternative packaging materials, such as plastic, is around 8 percent, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Our industry is doing important work every day to ensure the supply chain moves with the most environmentally-friendly product around. You are doing important work every day to ensure a safe work environment for your employees. And collectively we are doing vital work every day to ensure that our industry welcomes diversity and inclusion. This is what I call "Some Good News." Sincerely, Brent J. McClendon, CAE President/CEO FROM THE PRESIDENT Some Good News