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May-June 2020

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8 PalletCentral • May-June 2020 palletcentral.com Opening Days A t press time, the country is slowly reopening its businesses, while the possibility of reinfection remains a concern for all. NWPCA staff has been working closely with members to ensure they have the information they need to continue to operate and create a safe environment for their workers. The fact that our industry has been deemed essential indicates that there is an emphasis on keeping some goods stocked against unprecedented consumer demand and getting products to where it matters the most. Regardless of the trajectory of business, NWPCA is incredibly proud of our members' ability to respond in such a rapid and calculated manner in a time of crisis. Resiliency efforts continue to this day thanks to the tremendous efforts of the pallet workforce. Like the rest of our industries, there's a lot of uncertainty out there. We want you to know that we have your back and are here to help you, inform you, as the country returns to normal. In times of need, you can call on us anytime! Pallet "Pulse of the Industry" Monthly Survey N WPCA started a new monthly 'quick survey' that gathers information on the pallet business environment to identify trends and top issues. In May, we asked members to project manu- facturing capacity and predict the same for their customers. We heard from 123 members, with more than half expecting their manufacturing to be down between 10-25 percent, and nearly identical for their customers. Most of the concerns were about all the unknowns – economy markets, reinfection, loans, politics, and getting the workforce back to pre-COVID levels and all that it entails. Read more about May's results on page 18. Continue to share how you're doing by participating in these important and telling monthly polls (still anonymous, get results immediately). We expect these INSIDENWPCA 'snap' surveys will be useful to build and share some trend lines for members. Access the latest survey at palletcentral. com (scroll to the middle of the home page). NWPCA EPD Project Nears Completion T he final report from the long-awaited Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) that was informed by the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is currently under review. This EPD is the first of its kind in the distribution packaging space. The document will provide users of pallets with transparent, certifiable information on the environmental attributes of using wooden pallets. We are excited and confident that this information will help inform your customers' supply chain sustainability initiatives and will lead to the increased specification and use of wood products. Special thanks go to our NWPCA Science & Technology Advisory Council, who played an integral role in developing the Life Cycle Assessment's scope and parameters. This project was made possible by NWPCA members and funding from the Pallet Foundation. Look for news of the EPD completion and a link to access the final report in the coming month or send us an email at info@palletcentral.com to receive it. NWPCA PalletPAC Activities T he NWPCA PalletPAC Executive Committee met on June 4 to discuss strategic contributions and activities through the November elections. In addition to its current slate of candidates that receive financial contributions to their campaigns, the PalletPAC Executive Committee authorized a contribution to the campaign of Congressman Dan Newhouse (R-Washington State, 4th District). Congressman Newhouse is a former small businessman and serves on the Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, Subcommittee on Homeland Security, and Subcommittee on Legislative Branch. PalletPAC Executive Committee Members include Mike Hachtman, Joe O'Brien, Howe Wallace and Bernie Kamps. The PalletPAC Executive Committee also expanded contribution policy to allow contributions to first-time candidates. To meet the criteria, candidates must have at least a 50 percent chance of winning the election and support the wood pallet industry. PalletPAC will contribute to first-time candidate Cliff Bentz, running for the 2nd Congressional District in Oregon. He will be replacing Congressman Greg Walden (whom PalletPAC has supported in the past). State Senator Cliff Bentz was pivotal in defeating Oregon House Bill HB4089; preferred purchasing of NWPCA Announcements and Upcoming Events

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