At Export Pallets, we understand how important of an aspect pallets are for your business, regardless of whether they are plastic pallets or wooden pallets. Therefore, weighing up which pallet is best suited to your needs is crucial. Whilst the majority of pallets in circulation are made out of wood making them far more accessible, plastic pallets still have their place in various industries and are an incredibly viable option. Let us help you weigh up your options and decide which pallet is right for you.
Plastic Pallets
Plastic pallets are a popular option for businesses. They are ideal for transporting products that need to be kept in a safe germ-free environment that also keeps them well protected during the logistical process. This includes businesses that operate in the food & beverage industry, as well as the pharmaceutical industry. Speak to us at Export Pallets about our high quality recycled plastic pallets.
Pros and Cons – Plastic Pallets
Pros
- Durability – Plastic pallets are resistant to moisture, chemicals and extreme weather conditions – making them much more durable than wooden pallets. Plastic pallets are also a lot less likely to break compared to wooden pallets.
- Hygiene – Plastic pallets are ideal for industries in the pharmaceutical, food and beverage sectors due to their inability to harbour any moisture, bacteria or pests.
- Lightweight – As plastic pallets are generally lighter than wooden pallets, this may save business owners by reducing shipping costs and make handling far easier.
- Don’t require heat treatment – Unlike wooden pallets, plastic pallets do not need to be heat treated or fumigated for transport as they are highly unlikely to harbour any bacteria – meaning your goods can pass through quarantine faster than products on wooden pallets.
Cons
- Expensive – Plastic pallets generally have a higher cost than wooden pallets due to the extensive production process and the materials needed to manufacture them.
- Smaller load capacity – Wooden pallets tend to be much sturdier and stronger in comparison to plastic pallets.
- Inability to repair – Once a plastic pallet has been damaged, it normally has to be replaced entirely as they are much harder to repair than wooden pallets.
Wooden Pallets
Wooden pallets are the most common type of pallets required by consumers. These pallets are known to be incredibly sturdy and are able to withstand a heavy weight load – suitable for most businesses looking to transport a large quantity of goods. In addition to this, wooden pallets come in a varying range of sizes to cater for a diverse range of products. At Export Pallets, we also offer custom sized pallets for our customers who need wooden pallets specifically tailored to their needs.
Pros and Cons – Wooden Pallets
Pros
- Cheaper than plastic pallets – Because of how much easier they are to manufacture (relative to plastic pallets), wooden pallets are much cheaper for businesses to source and secure compared to plastic pallets.
- Suitable for heavier loads – Due to the structural integrity of wooden pallets, they are much more suited to handle heavier loads in comparison to plastic pallets. Traditional wooden pallets have a maximum holding capacity of upwards of 500 kilograms depending on the strength of the pallet (insert link)
- Easy to repair – As wooden pallets are essentially made from wooden planks and nails, they are much easier to repair in comparison to plastic pallets – as a repair generally only consists of swapping out broken wooden parts for strong new ones.
- Repurposable – When you are done with a wooden pallet, apart from selling your wooden pallets back to us at Export pallets – there are many things that can be done with spare wooden pallets, such as a DIY wooden furniture, DIY vertical gardening features and so much more! Check out one of our previous blog posts showcasing 5 creative ways to recycle pallets!
- Easier to access – Wooden pallets are the most common kind of pallet available, therefore making them much easier to access than a plastic pallets.
Cons
- Prone to moisture, bacteria and pests – A major con for wooden pallets is its proneness to harbouring unwanted moisture, bacteria and pests. This generally tend to be the reason as to why businesses in the food & beverage industry and pharmaceutical industry tend to opt for plastic pallets.
- Requires ISPM-15 heat treatment – Choosing wooden pallets means having to pay costs to ensure that the wooden pallets that you are receiving have undergone an ISPM-15 heat treatment, in order to kill any unnecessary bacteria and eliminate any pests or moisture that may harm your products.
- Heavier than plastic – Wooden pallets tend to weigh over 10 kilograms depending on the size and condition of the pallet, so are heavy to lift and transport.
Which one should you choose?
Whilst both have their unique pros and cons, determining which one is the right one for you may have a range of differing factors. Choosing between a plastic pallet and wooden pallet ultimately depends on what you are after:
Plastic pallets are generally more suited if your business is in the food & beverage or pharmaceutical industry – or if you need durable and hygienic transportation needs that doesn’t require ISPM-15 compliancy.
Wooden pallets tend to be much more cost-effective than plastic pallets – and are able to withstand a heavier load capacity. Additionally, wooden pallets are much easier to repair if broken and repurpose once you have fulfilled your task with the pallet. Therefore, it is recommended to choose wooden pallets if cost, load, repairability and recycling are more important to your needs.
Regardless of what you need, at Export Pallets we are able to supply our customers with both plastic pallets and ISPM-15 certified wooden pallets. Contact us today to discuss which type of pallet would best suit your business needs – so we can find your perfect pallet. Get in touch with us on (03) 9369 4497 or email us at info@exportpallets.com.au.