The Merits of Reconditioned Pallets

Changes in recent decades have meant that the timber industry has begun to make an impressive contribution to the production of more sustainable timber products. There is no doubt that reputable companies now ensure that the timber they use for timber-based products comes only from sustainable forestry. This is obviously a step in the right direction after years of ignorance and lack of care for the environment, but there are additional ways that your company can make sure that the timber products they use, such as pallets, make a minimal impact on the environment. One key way of doing this is to make sure yourexisting pallets are reused wherever possible or that you buy reconditioned pallets.

Throughout the UK, 90% of all new pallets are still made from timber despite the introduction of plastic pallets. Usually this timber comes from the “unwanted” parts, the parts that are not used for furniture making or building materials.

The average lifespan of a wooden pallet is between 5 and 7 years. Once a pallet is damaged there are a number of options available to ensure it is fully utilised:

· recondition it

· use it as a fuel source

· shred it into useful wood chips

· make another use for it (such as garden furniture)

So how is a pallet reconditioned?

Reconditioning or repairing a pallet is relatively simple and can be completed by an individual with the right tools. However, with the sheer scale of repair required by some companies it may make sense to contract out this work to a specialist, who can do larger numbers of repairs more speedily and more effectively.

Larger companies have machines that will disassemble pallets so that all the reusable components can be used to make new pallets, or repair damaged pallets and all the pieces that are in disrepair can be made into wood chip or fibre. The types of machines used vary from cutting wheels and discs, to band saw cutters, to hydraulic equipment. It can be quite a sophisticated operation.

By the time pallets have been produced from their predecessors and are ready to go back to their owners, or be sold on, they are as good as new. One of the benefits of buying reconditioned pallets however is that they are cheaper to produce than new ones. It is estimated that they cost between 30% and 60% of a new pallet and as such are  an appealing option.

If you want to know more about the process for repairing pallets, or you are looking to purchase reconditioned pallets then visit  Nicklin to discuss your pallet needs.

A 5-step guide to managing the use of pallets

Pallets are used to assemble, store and handle goods, transporting them to various locations. Used pallets should be considered carefully to prevent any possible injuries.  Wooden pallets are heavy, and will need to be handled with care so that they can be reused for other products.  There are some measures that you can take to make sure that you load the pallets correctly, and use them in the right way.

Here are 5 steps to help you manage your pallets safely:

1.      Suitability

Pallets are designed for moving goods and can hold fairly heavy weights, depending on what type of pallet that it being used.  It is important to load a small amount on at a time, to prevent the pallet from collapsing or breaking.

2.       Loading

Items should be packaged correctly to prevent them from breaking when being handled on the pallet.  A special platform should be used to load the items onto the pallet, and further items should be added gradually.

3.       Height Requirements

The height should generally not be bigger than the actual base dimension of the pallet. Items should be carefully assessed and measured, to ensure that they will be safe when loading onto the pallet.  This way the goods can be safely transported.

4.       Pallet Use and Maintenance

When you pick a pallet that you wish to use, double check that it is not damaged in any way. Split or stained pallets could cause damage to other products, making it a costly error.  Pallets should be carefully examined upon the delivery of any items.  If any pallets require repair they should be sent back to the manufacturer or the pallet owner.

5.       Choosing A Pallet

Wooden pallets should be chosen carefully.  They are often used many times, so they need to remain in the best possible condition. It is important to look after your own safety, and make sure that you have the right equipment with you when using the pallets. 

Pallets are most commonly manufactured as ‘two way entry’ pallets, and ‘four way entry’ pallets.  Nicklin provide pallets to suit your needs, so that your goods can be handled and transported in the best way possible.  To find out more, please visit the Nicklin website at nicklin.com.  

The Main Benefits of Returnable Transit Packaging

Transit packaging solutions such as timber pallets, crates and cases can be manufactured for either single trip use, or as returnable transit packaging. Single trip packaging is designed to be used only once, which means that it should be disposed of once it arrives at its destination and is unpacked. Returnable transit packaging on the other hand, can be used time and time again.

Whereas single trip packaging is somewhat wasteful, returnable transit packaging has a number of benefits for your business and the environment.

Benefits for your Business

Strength and Durability – As returnable transit packaging is designed to be re-useable, time and time again, it is built to be much more robust than single trip packaging solutions. Single use packaging is usually built from wood in order for it to be easily disposed of; returnable transit packaging is most commonly made from plastic materials for extra strength and durability.

Products that are transported via returnable transit packaging are also less likely to be damaged in transit, therefore lessening the potential for damage related costs.

Cost – The cost of returnable transit packaging is reduced over time. The longer the lifespan of packaging, the longer the time the cost of packaging is spread over. Whilst in the short term, multi-use packaging is generally more expensive than single use packaging, over time, businesses can stand to save a lot of money.

Disposing of waste packaging materials whilst complying with government waste disposal regulations can in many cases be somewhat expensive, and therefore reduces the amount of profits businesses can make from their products. Returnable packaging helps to greatly reduce waste costs as it is designed to last; this in turn helps to significantly improve a business’s overall profitability.

Health and Safety – Returnable packaging is often designed for a specific use and as a result, it can be produced with health and safety in mind. By creating packaging firmly within the specification of making product handling easy and safe, there is a much smaller likelihood of health and safety issues.

Storage – Returnable transit packaging is often designed with storage and ease of transport in mind and is often stackable or collapsible.

Brand – Returnable transit packaging presents businesses with a valuable opportunity to increase their brand recognition. By emblazoning all packaging with their branding, both in terms of colours and logos, recognition of their brand can travel with their products.

Environmental Benefits

As well as helping to reduce costs, increase profitability and increase brand recognition, by making the decision to switch to reusable packaging materials, businesses can considerably improve their company’s environmental credentials. Many clients, customers and consumers may be more likely to choose a brand if they are seen to be doing their part to help the environment.

One of the most important environmental benefits of returnable transit packaging is that it helps to reduce the amount of waste that goes to a landfill site. With landfills quickly filling up, this is a massive environmental, social and political issue, so any attempt to combat the amount of waste going to a landfill site is a massive boost to a business’s green credentials.

By manufacturing reusable transit packaging, businesses can also stand to significantly reduce the amount of energy and raw materials that are used to create packaging solutions. This not only benefits the environment, but also creates economic benefits.

For more information on returnable transit packaging, you can visit http://www.nicklin.com/returnable-packaging.aspx.

The Benefits of ISPM 15 for Packaging Firms

Almost 95% of all deliveries made in the global distribution industry are packaged with one form of timber or another; from wooden pallets to packing cases, crates to dunnage. But until recently this wood was not subject to any international standards. This often resulted in environmental damage, as pests were spread from country to country, and ecosystem to ecosystem.

In a globalised world, with countries trading across borders like never before, this risk to the environment has grown at an exponential rate. So the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) introduced an international protocol known as the 'International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures Number 15', or 'ISPM 15' for short. This had two major benefits; it helped to protect the environment of every country that signed up, and it gave a safe and reliable standard for businesses in the timber transit packaging industry to adhere to.

ISPM 15 standards

IPSM 15 standards apply to all forms of solid wood, "including pallets, dunnage, crating, packing blocks, drums, cases, load boards, pallet collars and skids". They require that this wood is treated, either by heating it to a core temperature of 56 degrees Celsius for thirty minutes, or by fumigating it with methyl bromide. Since fumigation can have negative effects on the atmosphere, and is being phased out by the 'Montreal Protocol on Substances that Decrease the Ozone Layer', heating is the treatment that is most commonly used.

Pest control

The main benefit of following the ISPM 15 regulations for timber transit packaging firms is that it allows them to operate in an environmentally responsible manner.

This was not always the case; it was only in the 1980s and 90s that real research into the subject got underway. A growing fear that pests could spread via wooden packaging was confirmed by research conducted in 1997, which found that out of fifty wooden spools shipped from Asia to Canada, 24% contained wood-boring insects.

The true effect of insect migration is still be discovered, but there are many examples of instances where it has had a negative impact on forests and woodlands. Sirex woodwasp is thought to have found its way into Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in wooden packaging, and the red turpentine beetle is thought to have entered China’s pine forests in casings made from infested North American wood. Tree-killing insects such as the Asian long-horned beetle, emerald ash borer and brown spruce longhorn beetle, are currently attacking trees across North America, having arrived there in packing materials that were shipped from Asia.

Fortunately, the IPSM 15 regulations are putting an end to a spread of these pests. Packages could be rejected or even destroyed upon arrival at their destination, if they have been packed with non-compliant wood, and forests across the world set to benefit.

International standards

A secondary benefit for timber transit packing firms, is that the ISPM 15 is truly international. No longer will they have to comply with one set of regulations in one country, and a separate set of regulations in another. Firms operating out of countries with stringent safety protocols will not be made uncompetitive when competing with firms based in nations with fewer regulations.

The ISPM 15 regulations have been adopted from Argentina to Vietnam, and from Australia to Venezuela. In all, 77 countries had signed up to ISPM 15 by 2010, including 28 nations in the EU, and leading industrial nations such as Japan and the USA. Developing nations, which often do not have the infrastructure to enforce regulations, are also doing their best to come on board, and are likely to sign up over the course of the next decade.

ISPM 15 operates like a passport for timber packaging. Wood that is ISPM 15 compliant is stamped with a logo, which allows it to be traced, and verifies that the timber is free from infestation. This saves the need for tiresome and time consuming tests when importing packages, ensuring that transit firms can get on with what they do best; transporting vital packages across the world in a timely and safe fashion.

For more information on ISPM 15 wooden pallets, cases and crates, you can visit the Nicklin website.

Why Choose Timber for Transit Packaging

There are a number of reasons why using timber for transit packaging is still the top choice with companies throughout the UK and around the world and, despite the competition from the likes of plastic or metal, timber is still hard to beat. So what exactly are the benefits of using timber packaging over any other materials?

Environmental impact

Trees are known to help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Trees absorb CO2 - one of the main causes of global warming - which they use to grow, and the payoff for us is that they release oxygen back into the atmosphere. Timber used for transit packaging can be in the form of wooden pallets, cases or crates and using these products is one way of helping to sustain forests. It’s estimated that in Europe some 400 million timber pallets are produced every year, representing a saving of 12 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. 

Carbon neutral

Trees are also carbon neutral, so that as well as being beautiful to look at, providing us with shade, material to build shelter, and a source of food and energy, when a tree reaches the end of its natural life and rots or is burned, it releases the same amount of carbon dioxide it has stored. 

Use and use again

Wooden crates, cases, pallets, in fact any type of timber packaging, is naturally strong and durable and can stand a fair amount of handling – rough or otherwise – without suffering significant damage. When it is damaged, timber can be easily repaired and, if beyond repair, it can be recycled or reused in some other guise. Even when the humble pallet reaches the end of its productive life, it can be burned as an alternative to some other fossil fuels to generate power or heat for domestic and commercial purposes. Timber can also be shredded or chipped to be used as bedding for livestock, in the garden, playground, or as a natural product for landscaping projects.

Green credentials

Companies who choose to use timber transit packaging over plastic or steel are also sending out a message to their customers and the public as a whole. It may be a subtle message but it is still one worth making. Using a natural and organic material and one that is sustainable, such as timber, is a tangible way of showing consideration for the environment. 

Cost effective

Choosing to use timber transit packaging is also cost effective. Wooden packaging is in plentiful supply and is available in the UK, so there are no air miles involved in importing the material. Wood for packaging is relatively inexpensive to buy, is durable and dependable, cheap to repair and can be recycled when no longer good for its prime purpose.

More for less

One last point in favour of timber packaging over plastic or metals, is the fact that during the production process, timber has a so-called negative carbon intensity. In plain language, this means that the level of carbon dioxide stored during production and transportation, is greater than the process itself produced!

For more information on timber for transit packaging, you can visit the Nicklin website.

How Innovative Packaging Designs Are Helping To Reduce Waste

If you work in the packaging industry, then you’ll be aware that there have been huge changes in recent years which have contributed to packaging companies overhauling outdated packaging solutions.  The government and consumers have put pressure on packaging firms to not only reduce the amount of packaging used for a product, but to also use recycled components where possible as well as making sure that the packaging can be reused or recycled after its initial use.  Of course, whilst this has been happening, consumers also want to ensure that their product is sufficiently packaged so that it is not damaged by the time they wish to use it!

Redesign

With the changes in criteria which packaging firms need to meet, designers have really had to think outside the box in order to come up with brand new solutions which are not only environmentally friendly, but also fit for purpose.  They’ve had to cut any unnecessary materials from the packaging so as to reduce waste right from the onset, and in many cases this has helped to reduce the cost of the unit.  Just think about Easter eggs; in the past, chocolate eggs would be wrapped in foil before being encased in a plastic shell which was placed inside a cardboard box.  These days, the eggs are simply covered in foil and then placed inside the cardboard box which features an integrated cardboard base which the egg can sit inside to prevent it from rolling around the box.

Food Wastage

A recent report¹  stated that the UK has managed to reduce food wastage in the supply chain to just 3% - when you compare this to Russia whose levels are at 40%, you can see that the UK has had great success at implementing successful changes.  Food wastage is common and previously poor packaging may have contributed to high levels of waste, but this seems be being bought under control by some innovative packaging designers.

Celebrations

The packaging industry is one of the main industries which has had to make significant changes in recent years in response to public demand, and so far, the changes have been extremely positive.  However, no industry should remain complacent, and packaging designers should continue to come up with new designs and ideas which will help to continue to transport the way we see packaging in years to come.

If you require any help with packaging for your product or if you require advice on UK packaging legislation, please feel free to visit the Nicklin website.  

Source ¹: http://www.packagingeurope.com/

Why Are ISPM 15 Standards So Important For International Trade?

By law, all timber transit packaging must be compliant with ISPM 15 in order to be shipped internationally. ISPM 15 (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures for Wood Packaging) are the globally recognised standards for the treatment of all solid wood packaging materials. In order to be ISPM15 compliant, wood packaging must be heat treated. This means that wood is heated to a minimum temperature of 56 degrees Celsius for at least 30 minutes.

Roughly 95% of all international deliveries are made using some form of solid wood transit packaging, whether it be timber pallets, timber packing cases or timber crates. However, the international timber trade greatly increases the risk for the transfer of foreign pests or even wood diseases from one country to another if unprocessed. Understandably, this could have the potential to have terrible effects on native timber, as well as affecting a country’s ecosystem. In some cases, insects carried in timber packaging could even cause illness to humans.

ISPM 15 compliant heat treating is therefore essential to prevent the dangerous spread of pests and disease. By heat treating wooden packaging solutions, insects, bacteria, disease and other threats to ecosystems can be killed off, leaving wooden packaging safe to be transported. An ISPM 15 mark allows packages to be traced, and verifies that the wood used is free from any infestation.

At Nicklin, you can be sure that our wooden packaging solutions comply with international standards, as not only are our products marked as ISPM 15 compliant, you can trust that all timber is correctly heat treated as we have the facilities to do this on site. We have a specialist heat treating kiln on site, allowing us to take complete control of the ISPM 15 heat treating process of all of our timber pallets, cases and crates. Our customers can be confident that everything in our power is done to prevent the spread of pests and disease through global shipping.

If you are unsure about which countries outside of the European Union require timber transit packaging to be ISPM 15 compliant, you can view our global guide for more information.