Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1370374
PalletCentral • May-June 2021 11 iStockphoto.com/lucky-photographer Grace Johnson is manager, policy and public affairs at NWPCA. She also manages the NWPCA PAC for the Association. She may be reached at 703.519.6104 or gjohnson@palletcentral.com. A principal focus of these efforts has been on rural infrastructure and increasing federal support to provide rural communities with the funding they need to rebuild aging infrastructure and expand broadband access and speed. Wood pallets literally move the world as roughly 90 percent of all pallets are wooden, and 90% of all products move on pallets. You name a company, and if they buy, manufacture, or ship goods, they use wood pallets. is means that our priorities are important to the economy of the United States. e priorities of NWPCA advocacy include the following: n Infrastructure: A main priority for us is a strong national infrastructure and anything that relates to the structure and flow of the supply chain. Our industry had a big win by being declared critical and essential infrastructure during the COVID-19 pandemic. n Sustainability: We are very proud of our environmental footprint, leading the nation in recycling and landfill avoidance with a product that has a potential "net positive" carbon footprint. is was highlighted in the newly released environmental product declaration. n Agriculture: We work with USDA and other agriculture interests closely, as you can't make a wood pallet without wood. Our work in the agriculture space allowed us to provide leadership in new initiatives designed to protect forests. n Invasive Species: Because of the value that solid wood packaging material provides to the marketplace and the success of the ISPM-15 program in minimizing the threat of invasive pests, the NWPCA advocates for increased funding to the US Department of Agriculture, Plant Protection & Quarantine for enhancements to the ISPM-15 program, additional inspections at ports of entry for cargo, including "hitch-hikers" in cargo shipments for import and exports, and accessible data collection and reporting that would support evaluation and costs of policy alternatives. NWPCA will continue to advance these priorities and be the top advocate for the wood packaging industry. Look for more meetings with Members of Congress in the future. It is important that members are represented and get involved, as you are the ones who live and work in the districts of our Representatives and Senators. iStockphoto.com/phototechno