Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1436421
22 PalletCentral • November-December 2021 palletcentral.com One challenge that the pandemic and current supply chain difficulties has brought to light is the Mexican pallet industry's dependence on imported wood. ere are political and practical nuances of the Mexican market that has brought on a wood shortage in the country. Historically, local wood was rarely sourced because of inconsistencies in harvesting and drying. More dependable sources were found in the import marketplace. "Mexico's forest industry does not produce enough quality fiber to meet pallet-makers' demands due to the uniqueness of land ownership rules, improper forest management, illegal harvesting, harsh rainy seasons and lack of standardization to dry the wood. More reliable sources are found in the United States and South America, namely Brazil and Chile. Yet, some Mexican companies have taken it upon themselves to work hand-in-hand with a few local lumber suppliers to raise standards and awareness, since supply chain issues have made it difficult to get imported wood." "We want to support those initiatives," says Carr. "In an effort to be fully present in the Mexican market, we have established key outreach efforts in social media and communications in Spanish, called NWPCA Español." NWPCA launched this initiate to serve a very specific goal: Be a unifying voice that advocates and promotes the Mexican wooden pallet and packaging industry. "I'm really excited about our ongoing work, as there is so much potential to grow our network, strengthen existing relationships, and develop new partnerships with other like-minded institutions in Mexico," says Carr. Key initiatives launched include: n Monthly newsletter: e "boletín" is focused on issues of interest to the Mexican wooden pallet and packaging industry, as well as a vehicle to convey important NWPCA news in Spanish. While the boletín is geared toward the Mexican market, other Spanish-speaking members can request to receive our Spanish updates. Hilary Carr has a PhD in Government and Electoral Behavior from the University of Essex, England. She is bilingual and has more than 10 years' experience working in the Mexican public sector: including with the Mexican Office of the President and Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She was also the lead author of a recent research project examining the wooden pallet industry in Mexico. Caryn Smith, Driven By Design, is editor of PalletCentral and a regular contributor. n Two informational webinars were held looking at issues relevant to the Mexican market and one virtual networking roundtable in Spanish. n Members have access to two online, on- demand courses in Spanish through the NWPCA's initiative with AICC and ongoing effort and commitment to provide continued education and learning opportunities in Spanish. n NWPCA microsite was launched: palletcentral. com/tarimas-de-madera, as well as a LinkedIn account, both in Spanish to increase the footprint and share/create valuable contact for our Mexican members of the NWPCA and Spanish-speaking pallet and packaging industry. n Spanish-language Publications: e PDS User's Guide is now available, and the NWPCA Fire Manual is already in circulation. "NWPCA really wants to be a unifying voice that advocated and promotes the Mexican pallet industry. e information we share, such as a recap of June elections and the repercussions of that, news from the lumber market, implications of supply chain problems and maritime shipping are all relevant to this segment," says Carr. "Some current members from Mexico learned how the PDS software can help them re-engineer their products using other wood species. is has proven beneficial to them. I believe NWPCA can be a valuable resource to the Mexican pallet market going forward, and I'd like to thank everyone that participated in this project." e NWPCA has additional initiatives, such as the Hispanic Council, that have overlapping interests, namely language and cultural ties. With the two initiatives in place, serving a more culturally diverse segment of the industry – a clear goal of the association – is on its way to a thriving reality, which benefits the whole industry. NWPCA really wants to be a unifying voice that advocated and promotes the Mexican pallet industry. The information we share ... is all relevant to this segment. Courtesy of Pallet Design & Support Mexico