Plastic pallets utilise space better in warehouses and on lorries and weigh up to 40% less than wooden ones. This reduces transport, storage and handling costs. Less energy is required to transport them, saving even more money. Plastic pallets also have a longer working life. The technology and cost of plastic pallets means they are less expensive over their working lives than wooden ones.
So what conclusions can we draw? ISPM15 certainly gives plastic pallets the advantage when it comes to shipping overseas. They do not require treatment (or proof of treatment). Often, only the purchase price of a pallet is considered. If maintenance and transport costs are examined over working life, plastic pallets are much more cost-effective. Plastic pallets have become a practical, realistic, economical choice.
In terms of hygiene, plastic pallets are also the clear winner. They are far easier to clean and do not harbour pests like wooden ones. They are better in automated systems. They do not chip or contain nails, and weigh less. They also protect our forests by helping to conserve valuable wood supplies. Plastic pallets manufacturer also provides corrugated pipes.
ISPM15 specifies that wooden pallets must be treated before international shipping in one of two ways. The first is heat treatment. This involves heating the wood to a core temperature of 56C for a minimum of 30 minutes. The second is fumigation, when methyl bromide (a lethal chemical suspected of causing cancer) is used to fumigate the wood. Both these treatments are time consuming and expensive. Plastic pallets do not harbour pests like wooden ones. As a result, they are exempt from the ISPM 15 legislation. They do not require any expensive treatments before shipping abroad.