Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1519794
34 Pallet C e nt ral May -Ju ne 2 0 24 Find new customers. Grow your business. This is a 21st century pallet marketplace. The best place to find new customers is also the fastest-growing online pallet marketplace: PalletTrader. Backed by your trusted partner Bettaway, PalletTrader has the data intelligence and access to markets you need to succeed. Find out how PalletTrader can help you at PalletTrader.com I ndustries worldwide are making great strides in advancing their sustainability initiatives. Compared to three to four years ago, sustainability has become a top priority for many of the world 's leading organizations. With two billion pallets in use every day and nearly 94% of companies using wooden pallets in their operations, the sustainability of wood pallets has significant potential to reduce global warming emissions and lessen pressure on landfills while still efficiently moving goods around the globe. Wood pallets fit in the push for sustainable practices because of their natural environmental attributes. Wood is renewable, reusable, and recyclable, unlike other packaging materials that require complex recycling processes. Wood pallets are recycled, not just recyclable. Prioritizing wooden pallets helps reduce the use of non-natural materials, improving the sustainability of the supply chain and playing a crucial role in decarbonizing global supply chains. "Our industry stands at the forefront of sustainability, leading substantially in the recovery, refurbishment, and recycling of wooden pallets. We have a 100%-recyclable product, and our recycling rate is approaching zero waste, exceeding 95%," stated Brent McClendon, NWPCA President and CEO. "is extremely high recycle rate is a testament to our industry's dedication to minimizing waste and underscores its vital role in promoting a circular economy." A Leap Beyond Packaging Norms Findings from Virginia Tech's 2018 research project on the recycling rate of wood pallets revealed in a peer-reviewed article in Bioresources Journal (March 2020) details how the wooden pallet industry has an impressive 95% recycling rate. To test the 2018 results, additional research was conducted in 2023 using a new methodology. e results show the wooden pallet industry is approaching a new milestone in sustainability as the recycle rate climbs even higher. Building upon the foundation of the 2018 research project, the new study by Virginia Tech reaffirms the industry's recycling efficiency at 95%. e study also introduces a novel