Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1370374
12 PalletCentral • May-June 2021 palletcentral.com L et's jump straight to the point. UL's certification of the wooden pallet is a strong selling point to your customers who are working on their carbon emissions plans. Many small, medium, and large companies are under attack from environmental groups and local communities, and it is evident that businesses must know their environmental strengths and weaknesses. One only has to look at the automotive manufacturing industry and their recent affirmations to go all-electric by 2030 and beyond (a lofty, but noble goal) as a measure of the consumer's expectation that everyone be more responsible for the environment. UL has certified the "Industry-Average Wooden Pallet EPD" with the recognized date of July 1, 2020. is certification signifies that the EPD is now in conformance with the stringent type III environmental declarations set by UL and the International Standards Organization. is certified document explains the environmental attributes of a wood pallet, and through the unique properties of wood and the industry's commitment to sound environment practices, a net carbon positive potential exists. We have discussed in prior columns the weight of the UL stamp of approval for the wooden pallet industry and the environmental aspects inherent in wood. e next step to leveraging the UL certification is educating your customers about emissions specific to their brand, and the global movement to reduce carbon footprints to zero. Ultimately, this will be an issue most businesses will have to address. e Biden Administration set into effect on January 20, 2021 an executive order to mandate "all executive departments and agencies to immediately review and, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law … to immediately commence work to confront the climate crisis. 1 " It orders agencies to "capture the full costs of greenhouse gas emissions as accurately as possible, including by taking global damages into account. Doing so facilitates sound decision-making, recognizes the breadth of climate impacts, and supports the international leadership of the United States on climate issues… An accurate social cost is essential for agencies to accurately determine the social benefits of reducing greenhouse gas emissions when conducting cost-benefit analyses of regulatory and other actions." Reading between the lines, "regulatory and other actions" usually equates to holding business accountable through stringent rules that can bring potential hefty fines. In an article on Earth.org, "Reducing Carbon Emissions Will Benefit the Global Economy – Here's How," they state: e climate crisis is the most pressing issue humanity is facing today; global temperatures have increased by 1C since the pre-industrial period and under current policies, are expected to increase by 3.1-3.7C by the end of the century. Compounding the problem is that carbon emissions remain in the atmosphere for 100 years and up to 80% of this dissolves into the ocean over a period of 20-200 years. e crisis not only has impacts for the environment, but also for the economy. Evidence shows that reducing carbon emissions will benefit the economy, but will governments make the decisive actions needed? By Caryn Smith Wood is the Best Choice When it Comes to Emissions WOOD WORK AT