Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/666889
palletcentral.com PalletCentral • March-April 2016 13 Comparing Wooden Pallets and Cardboard Pallets Wooden pallets and corrugated cardboard pallets both have roles to play in shipping goods around the world. But arguments that cardboard pallets are more environmentally friendly, safer, or more versatile fall flat. Environmental Impact • Wooden pallets are the best option environmentally. It's true that cardboard pallets are lighter than wooden pallets. The life- cycle carbon footprint of a pallet is about a lot more than weight. • The carbon footprint of manufacturing a cardboard pallet can be five to ten times larger than manufacturing a comparable wooden pallet. • A wooden pallet requires fewer chemicals to produce than a cardboard pallet. • Wooden pallets last longer than cardboard pallets, especially when exposed to the elements. That means fewer of them need to be manufactured, saving energy. • And the vast majority of wooden pallets are reused or recycled. Versatility & Safety • Wooden pallets are used for a wide range of products. They're a flexible option that can handle complex needs, such as very heavy or irregularly shaped shipments. • Wooden pallets are suitable for a wide range of environmental conditions. In contrast, cardboard pallets lose strength when exposed to moisture, and naturally lose strength over time. This can raise questions for worker safety. • Wooden pallets can handle a wide range of support and racking conditions. Wooden pallets can handle stacking; cardboard pallets often cannot. • Supply Chain Logistics is a complicated and intricate national web of distribution centers, trucking and warehouse hubs that span the country. Even a small untested change could be disastrous to human life and safety at the speed of movement of goods from manufacturer to retailer to customer. Washington, DC and visited several Oregon congressional offices. Staff met with the offices of Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR 1st District), Congressman Peter DeFazio (D- OR 4th District) and Representative Kurt Schrader (D-OR 5th District). The concern was that similar legislation would be introduced in Washington, DC. Representatives from changethepallet.org had indeed visited Bonamici's office, but had not been to other Oregon delegation offices. While we don't oppose using the best product available for the most advantageous cost, we do oppose unfair market practices, and rules and regulations that would interfere with free and fair trade. This is also why resources dedicated to initiatives like Nature's Packaging are important because they educate the public about the benefits of wood and wood packaging. Paired with the facts on the benefits and safety built into wooden pallets, it's not surprising the bill was defeated. Resources that you will find at naturespackaging.org are the same as that were used during the Oregon campaign, including the sidebar to this article, "Comparing Wooden Pallets and Cardboard Pallets." PC