Some facts about pallets from the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association: 

NWPCA: 

There are roughly 1.8 billion pallets moving through the nation’s supply chain on any given day.  It’s estimated that 90% of the nation’s supply chain moves on a pallet and 90% of those pallets are constructed from wood.   

HQ Observation:  

It’s no secret that the demand for all sorts of wood pallets is greater than the supply.  If there was ever a time to see how important we are to the nation, it is now.  We are all scrambling to get as many pallets out our door as we can muster.  The shelves in our stores are barer because of this pallet shortage.   

NWPCA: 

One-third of the US is forested and there are 20% more trees than there were 50 years ago. 

HQ Observation: 

I’ve been in this industry for almost 40 years.  There was a time when we had to defend the wood pallets against charges of environmentalists because of our use of wood. 

Wood pallets are reusable and are reused extensively.  Wood pallets are recyclable and almost every one is used as a pallet or turned into a useable product when its usefulness as a wood pallet is done. 

Rather than an environmental threat, pallets enhance the environment.  Products move efficiently on them.  They do not use up a resource.  The lumber resource we do use is renewed faster than we use it. 

NWPCA:  

The pallet industry is an economic force.  Some estimate as much as $31 billion in economic activity.  We impact more than 173,000 jobs. 

HQ Observation: 

I don’t know about you, but most of the folks I meet grossly underestimate the breadth and depth of the pallet industry.  When you describe how far we reach and the essential nature of our product, things light up.  Pallets are to be respected   

I’m proud of who we are and what we do.  Proud enough to have made a career in this industry.  I hope you are as well.