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Pallet C e nt ral • May -Ju ne 2 0 26 1 1 some products over others, especially when those policies are based on a misunderstanding of wooden pallets. Wooden pallets are not the same as plastic or other alternatives. In fact, we have proof that our product is effective, sustainable, and a true example of circularity. A Blueprint For Effective Advocacy In the summer of 2023, Woodpack Global started working with EU decision-makers in Brussels. To this date, no other group has prioritized more the issue that has the potential to cause the most disruption to the supply chain and our industry. Our voice in Brussels made all the difference. e campaign focused on three things: data, presence, and precision. e team gathered solid facts, including life- cycle assessments, landfill-avoidance studies, and the Environmental Product Declaration. All of these showed that wooden pallets are among the most circular packaging products available, with repair, remanufacturing, and recycling rates exceeding 95%. Your data and the studies funded by the Pallet Foundation gave undisputable merit to our argument. en the team showed up. We held dozens of in-person meetings across all three EU institutions, provided briefings at the US and Canadian embassies, and had over a hundred direct contacts with all 27 member-state governments, building the relationships necessary to be heard. At a point in the process when most Parliament offices had stopped meeting with industry stakeholders, Forward Global, our consultancy in Brussels, secured meetings with key offices, including the lead negotiator on transport packaging. In order to achieve results, the ask had to be surgically precise: rather than seeking a broad carve-out, we proposed narrow language limiting the reuse requirement to transport packaging used "within the territory of the Union." Securing The Exemption In November 2023, the European Parliament accepted Woodpack Global's proposed language. is marked a critical achievement and milestone on the path to success after less than five months of work. However, the Council of the EU did not initially include the same wording. e team kept pushing during trialogue negotiations in early 2024, and by March, all three institutions agreed to add the exemption to the final text. e regulation also included a separate exemption for custom-designed transport packaging so that pallets made for specific loads would not have to fit into standard reuse systems. is was our backup plan if the broader exemption did not succeed. In the end, we achieved both. ese results protect any pallet manufacturer shipping goods into or out of the EU, whether they are in Berlin, Belfast, or Cleveland, Ohio. Vigilance Through Implementation Securing the right legislative language was crucial. However, putting it into practice brought a new set of challenges. When the draft of the Commission's guidance leaked in late 2025, we identified an interpretation that could have weakened the exemption the industry had won. e team acted quickly by sending formal letters to the Commission, alerting member state representatives, briefing the trade department, and raising awareness in EU media. is ongoing engagement is what turns a legislative win into lasting protection. Gratitude And Partnership is result would not have happened without EU policymakers being open to real discussion. Lawmakers from all three institutions listened, asked tough questions, and wrote language that balanced environmental goals with the realities of global trade. We are very grateful for their engagement. We also thank our partners: the international members of the Global Wood Packaging Forum, the Canadian Wood Pallet and Container Association, the UK's Timber Packaging and Pallet Confederation, and our allies in the Canadian and United States governments who raised these issues in their own talks. A Model For What Comes Next e PPWR campaign shows a clear path for legislative success: get involved early, be armed with solid data, talk directly to the people making the rules, make a specific and realistic request, and keep working even after the headlines fade. Whether it's the PPWR in Brussels, SB 54 in Sacramento, or a future regulation, the lesson is the same: when our industry supports advocacy based on facts and strong relationships, we succeed. ese wins are not just policy victories; they are real protections for pallet manufacturers and their customers to continue using the most sustainable transport packaging available. "All of these showed that wooden pallets are among the most circular packaging products available, with repair, remanufacturing, and recycling rates exceeding 95%. " Jason Ortega is senior vice president at Woodpack Global. He also manages the Woodpack Global Political Action Commiee for the Association. He may be reached at jason@ woodpackglobal.org or by calling 703.519.6104.

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