Although not used extensively until recent years, plastic pallets have been around since sometime around World War II. Import and export between Europe and the US encouraged the wide usage of plastic pallets in an effort to reduce the amount of pest infestations wood can typically incur. However, there are substantial benefits to using plastic over wood and in some cases, metal.
Amongst the many uses that plastic pallets provide, they can be reused, they do not need to meet additional requirements to be used in export, there are several options to use depending upon the need, they are cost-efficient, anti-bacterial, can be sanitized easily, offer versatility depending upon the model and they are quickly gaining popularity amongst several companies for these reasons. For instance, Automotive Tier 1 manufacturers, Fortune 500 businesses, scrap steel businesses, freight companies and consumer product manufacturers utilize plastic pallets for their efficiency and durability.
To be used in export, wood pallets are required to be heat-treated; however, plastic pallets do not require this element of heat-treating in order to be used. Plastic pallets are ready to be used without additional requirements, which save the user money. Metal pallets are more durable than plastic ones, but are costlier. Depending upon the need, each is suited to the types of items being shipped.
In addition to being easier to clean than wood, plastic pallets are not permeable, like wood, and are more resistant to water damage and odor. Also, they are less likely to break, are fire-retardant, are more durable than wood, weigh less and offer a greener approach at conducting business as they’re reusable, require little to no maintenance and avoid the necessity of cutting down trees to create. In the event that plastic pallets need to be recycled, they can be. Moreover, for tracking purposes, plastic pallets can have RFID chips molded into them.