Disposal of waste timber also impacts the environment. Millions of tonnes of wood are consumed every year. Only a small percentage is recycled. In the UK, it is estimated that wood packaging accounts for 670,000 tonnes of waste timber a year. Much of this is incinerated, releasing concentrated doses of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This adds to the greenhouse effect which is changing the world's climate. Some waste timber is buried in landfill sites, but slow decomposition causes a problem. Businesses are now looking for other options.
Recent years saw the bird-flu epidemic escalate, with thousands of birds culled to limit the spread of the disease. As wooden pallets cannot be sanitised, they are often discarded after one use, especially if they have been transporting meat. This adds to the waste problems. Plastic pallets are easily sanitised by steam cleaning and pressure washing, making them hygienic. They can be used repeatedly, with little chance of contamination.
Because plastic pallets are easy to clean, they are popular with pharmaceutical, food and beverage companies. These kinds of businesses require clean, hygienic, safe transport. The fact that plastic pallets are immune to moisture, fat, acids, solvents and chemicals has proven to be highly advantageous. It is also a contributory factor to the expansion of the plastic pallet market.
Plastic can be reused more often, is cheaper to recycle and is not in short supply. It is not a villainous element. It can be quickly and easily recycled at low cost, making it environmentally friendly and cost efficient.
ISPM15 is an international phytosanitary measure, first introduced in 2003 to stem the spread of pests associated with shipping goods on wooden pallets. Wood is the breeding ground of insects such as the Asian Longhorned beetle, which burrows into trees. Through importing and exporting, the beetle was artificially introduced into other countries in wooden packaging material and with no natural predators in these new environments, devastated woodlands around the world.