Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1536949
4 Pallet C e nt ral • July -Aug u st 2 0 25 PALLETCENTRAL, Volume 25 No. 4 PalletCentral ® is a bi-monthly publica on of the Na onal Wooden Pallet & Container Associa on™ © 2025 Na onal Wooden Pallet & Container Associa on. All rights reserved. NWPCA 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 560 Alexandria, VA 22314 703-519-6104 info@palletcentral.com Adver sing: To adver se in PalletCentral, contact Mark Barford at 703-519-0186 or mbarford@palletcentral.com. Publishing Partner: Tulip Media Group Subscrip ons to PalletCentral ® are complimentary, however you need to subscribe: PalletCentral.com/pallet-subscrip on >>Subscribe Subscribe to ensure you receive the latest edi on of PalletCentral ® and to make sure we have your correct mailing address and/or email address for digital edi ons. Please note that NWPCA does not sell our mailing lists. We only collect certain data to track our readership demographics. ©2025 NWPCA. All rights reserved. The views expressed in all ar cles, editorials and adver sements appearing in PalletCentral are solely those of the author and adver ser, respec vely, and do not necessarily represent the views of NWPCA. IN THIS ISSUE DEPARTMENTS 8 Le er From Our President 10 Inside NWPCA 14 Policy At Play 36 NWPCA Adver sers 20 34 Na onal Wooden Pallet & Container Associa on July–August 2025 • Volume 25 No. 4 38 | Ar ficial Intelligence (AI) & Enhanced Workplace Safety AI is transforming occupa onal health and safety—detec ng risks, enhancing training, and suppor ng safer work. But with new tech comes new responsibility. Ethical use, worker privacy, and job impact must stay front and center as AI becomes part of the safety conversa on. BY ADELE L. ABRAMS, ESQ., ASP, CMSP 42 | AI On Both Sides: How Smarter Businesses And Smarter Customers Are Crea ng A New Dynamic In 2025, it's not just about internal efficiency—it's about mee ng a new genera on of AI-powered buyers with smarter, faster, and more transparent solu ons. From quo ng to delivery, today's most compe ve manufacturers aren't just using AI—they're aligning with the intelligence of their customers. BY NWPCA TEAM 30 | Behind The Label: How The New PCR Helps Tell Wood Pallets' Sustainability Story The updated Product Category Rule (PCR) for wood pallets gives the industry a stronger, clearer way to measure and communicate environmental impact. It sets the founda on for credible, per-pallet EPDs—making sustainability claims more accurate and compe ve. Now, it's me to take the next step: join the Life Cycle Assessment survey and help shape the future of pallet sustainability. BY ANNETTE FERRI 34 | Working Smarter, Not Harder: How Smart Tech Is Rebuilding The Pallet Industry Pallet manufacturers are trading manual processes for AI-powered machines and real- me data. This shi is driving faster, leaner, and more efficient opera ons. In this Buyer's Guide, we explore how smart tech is reshaping the industry—turning insights into impact. BY MARK BARFORD 20 | 2025 NWPCA Associate Buyer's Guide In this exclusive edi on of PalletCentral, we have compiled a comprehensive list of companies that offer the essen al supplies and services your business relies on. 42