Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1464021
PalletCentral • March-April 2022 15 the International Standards Organization. Visit www.palletcentral.com/epd for more details. McClendon mentioned that other organizations took note and responded. "Forest Proud has created video snippets that we all can use in educating our clients. e CEOs of major forestry organizations sit on the Board of Forest Proud and are very impressed with our work." e NWPCA Industry Marketing Committee will be building a series of pallet-positive videos that members can use to educate our sales teams and then for our customers. is, combined with the Nature's Packaging® content, has so much potential," said McClendon, "but it is only potential and you have to use it." "Everything we do builds upon what we have previously done," he noted. "We look at the risks and exposures, how to mitigate them and get you engaged with the tools you need to succeed. ere is a lot we can learn from others." Uncertainty Collides with Prosperity "Pallet makers are feeling the free-trade backlash – one must look at the shortage of bolts and fasteners to see the squeeze," said Todd Buchholz, a former White House Senior Economic Advisor, who provided some framework to view the economic outlook. "Pre-COVID, the U.S. economy was in tremendous shape with low jobless rates, stocks were up. In February 2020, the Misery Index – a key indicator – was at an all-time low of 3.6%," he said. "During 2020, many believe it was a recession, but it was not. It was a cessation. A recession is where people run out of money, and there is excess inventory sitting on pallets, and no one wants to buy them. But we were required to stop, and the economy froze." there are over 1,000 Pallet Design System (PDS) users worldwide and that the Pallet Foundation conducts $500,000 in research per year on behalf of the industry. "We had several companies celebrate their 25th, 50th, and 75th anniversary as members." (See Inside NWPCA for those companies). NWPCA continued building relationships on Capitol Hill. "We recently conducted our first-ever meeting with representatives from the White House last year, and I am extremely proud to be a part of that. We were able to share who we are and what we do." Following that meeting, Virginia Representative Rob Whitman singled out the wooden pallet industry when talking about supply chain issues in a session on the Hill. "We don't do these things alone; we collaborate with other associations, as well, to accomplish the work we can do collectively." Big Picture NWPCA President/CEO Brent McClendon then welcomed attendees and provided perspective on the industry. "Everyone wants your pallets; we are back," he noted. "e business opportunities that you get from each other are invaluable." He spoke on the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), the most recent advancement brought forth from NWPCA and funded by the Pallet Foundation, which has the most potential for return on investment for pallet companies. "Ten percent of the industry had to participate in achieving the EPD. Why is that important? If you don't have complete data, you are just trading rhetoric. No other alternative to wood pallets has the EPD." is certification is "a report card on the impact on the earth" and signifies conformance with the stringent type III environmental declarations set by UL and