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Pallet C e nt ral • S e ptem be r- O ctobe r 2 0 24 27 SUSTAINABILITY BY DAN ROZANSKY, BUSINESS WRITER NATURE'S PACKAGING: THE LIFE CYCLE OF A WOODEN PALLET WITHIN A CIRCULAR ECONOMY F rom Forbes to Fortune 500 forecasts, sustainability has become a cornerstone of strategic planning, profit generation, and long-term resilience in today's business landscape. Currently, 37% of executives view sustainability as a basis of supply chain resilience, and that trend is rising. As the global focus shifts towards eco-awareness, the circular economy model is gaining prominence. is circularity model advocates for a cycle of continuous reuse to maximize resources and minimize waste, and it is where wooden pallets play the perfect role. On any given day, roughly 1.8 billion pallets are in circulation in the USA, and an estimated 90% of those pallets are made from wood. ese essential items crisscross the globe, bolstering the flow of goods with remarkable efficiency. From their humble beginnings in lumber yards to their indispensable presence in warehouses worldwide, wooden pallets exemplify sustainable practice in action. Life Cycle Stages Of A Wooden Pallet Wooden pallets are essential in the circular economy, demonstrating how sustainable practices can seamlessly integrate into everyday business operations. An impressive 95% of wooden pallets are recovered and recycled, underscoring their sustainability and the logistics sector's commitment to environmental responsibility. ese pallets are used in nearly every type of transportation and industry, highlighting their versatility and critical role in the global supply chain. Here's a closer look at the life cycle of these essential items: Produc on At the core of sustainable wooden pallet production is the commitment to sourcing materials from sustainably managed forests. During the manufacturing phase, efficiency and waste reduction are prioritized. State-of-the-art facilities meticulously process each piece of

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