Reclaiming Wooden Pallets: the Sustainable Future for the Industry
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With millions of pallets entering circulation every year, sustainable management has never been more critical. Manufacturing new wooden pallets can be a damaging process to the environment. It requires cutting down trees whenever new timber is needed, which has a knock-on effect on the vital carbon sequestration that trees perform.
To combat the harvesting of natural resources, industries that use pallets are changing their practices to be more sustainable. Despite the number of new pallets rising since the year before, 53.9 million pallets were repaired in 2024, demonstrating a clear shift in priority for the industry.
Due to their material, pallets can either be recycled or reused, depending on the integrity of them. Most of the wood used to make wood pallets is similar in quality to lumber used to make furniture and other durable goods. As a result, pallets can often be reused multiple times over in their intended form, with only minor refurbishment where necessary.
Non-reusable pallets that are past their prime can be recycled and repurposed as mulch in landscaping and gardening. This is just as beneficial, as it keeps bulky waste out of landfill where it would otherwise be taking up space and potentially creating hazardous conditions.
By extending the lifecycle of pallets through either repair or recycling, we significantly reduce demand for virgin wood and help lower carbon emissions associated with the manufacturing process such as logging, manufacturing and transport.
Here at AWS Nationwide, we are committed to providing closed-loop recycling solutions for niche recyclables, including our reliable and sustainable pallet collection service nationwide. We work with a number of businesses across multiple sectors to support them in their goals to becoming more sustainable.
Our service works through our online portal, where collections can be booked for guaranteed collection within 7 days. A fleet of rigid vehicles or artics arrive on your site to pick up the pallets where they will go to be processed at our facility. Full compliance documentation will be supplied and we promise competitive rates with no hidden charges.
Working with AWS Nationwide ensures compliant, traceable, and efficient recycling solutions with flexible collection options and on-demand services. Get in touch to find out more: 02392 604 351 | enquiries@awsnationwide.com