The future of shipping materials is changing, but don't worry bubble wrap isn't going anywhere. What I am writing about is a change in the shipping industry choice of materials. In the United States the majority of goods are transported on semi-trucks through the vast interstate system. Goods that end up in stores are packed on pallets which have been designed to work in this trucking system. The system is effective and it works well, goods are transported and pallets which can easily be loaded or unloaded with the proper equipment. At least that's how it used to be but now the system is changing because of the materials used in pallets wood.
The end of wood pallets and the beginning of plastic pallets
The era of wood pallets is winding down, mostly because of environmental concerns. Wood pallets represent a large portion of the timber being consumed today, which has very serious impacts on the environment. The lumber industry still uses outdated methods of rapid deforestation to harvest the wood needed for plastic pallet. Also because the consumption rate of timber was larger than the replenishing rate of the forests, the price of wood began to rise. It was these factors which combined to create an industry ready for The end of wood pallets and the beginning of plastic pallets and corrugated pipes.
The Positives of Plastic Pallets
Once the first plastic pallets were introduced to the industry their added benefits became obvious. Plastic unlike wood will not retain the odors of the materials being shipped. This makes plastic pallets ideal for food or other aromatic goods, because they can be used with any different types of materials without odor stains. Plastic pallets are also easier to clean because they can get wet without the fear of rotting. Plastic pallets also have a longer lifespan than wood, and when they do break or get dropped they can easily be recycled.