A pallet is just a pallet, right?

Something Instagrammers ‘upcycle’ into sofas, garden bars and herb planters. But before they end up living their life on someone’s feed, they play a vital role in safely moving goods from location to location.

They might be the supporting role of the industry, but we think their performance is award-worthy. And we’re here to talk you through the things you might now know about the humble pallet.

The Role Of Pallets In Freight

Pallets are flat, wooden structures used in container shipping for supporting goods. They act as a solid base upon which cargo items are placed, making for easy and efficient handling, transport and storage during the journey to their destination. 

Goods placed on a pallet are secured using straps and wraps to stop them from moving around in transit. The process of storing consignments on pallets is called palletising and is key to both ensuring goods remain free from harm and processing consignments as fast as possible. 

What Are Heat-Treated Pallets?

Over 90% of the pallets used in shipping worldwide are made of wood, and wood – from trees – is not a sterile material. Pallets are heat treated to ensure they conform to hygiene standards and that no bugs or pests are hiding within the timber.

To be efficiently heat-treated, pallets must be heated to a core temperature of 56℃ for 30 minutes. Maintaining this temperature for some time kills bugs and larvae that might be living within the wood.

Why does it matter, you might ask. So what if some harmless critters have made a home in your pallet?

Why It Matters

First off… Bugs don’t have the brains to avoid damaging your goods! And damaged goods mean time and money lost.

And, taking in the bigger and more important picture, sterilised pallets make sure that bugs aren’t accidentally transported from one country to another. This can be an issue because introducing potentially invasive species into places they do not belong can cause environmental biodiversity issues. 

UK Requirements

Wooden pallets are subject to checks either upon or after entry to EU countries to ensure that they have been sterilised to prevent the spread of wood-borne pests.

Every wooden pallet that is heat treated is stamped with a wheat symbol to indicate compliance with ISPM15 regulations. This tells everyone involved in the shipping process that the item has been heat-treated to the proper standard, meaning it can be confidently transported. A trademark is also included on individual parts of the pallet to describe which company they belong to.

The Benefits Of Using Heat-Treated Pallets

There are several benefits to using heat-treated pallets.

Pest Control

Heating pallets to a core temperature of 56℃ for 30 minutes rids the wood of any bugs or larvae which might still be hanging out in there. This protects the local environments of destination countries from the introduction of potentially harmful critters.

Resilience

Sterilised wooden pallets last longer than if left untreated because they don’t degrade as quickly and put up a better fight against mould and dampness. 

Lighter Weight

Heat-treated pallets are very slightly lighter, which can make a difference in the cost of shipping huge consignments.

Internationally Recognised

There are more than 80 countries requiring wooden packaging to conform to ISPM15 regulations.

Alternatives To Heat-Treated Pallets

To avoid worrying about pallet certification for international shipments, there are a few alternatives to consider…

Corrugate Pallets

These are 20kg lighter than a wooden pallet, so reduce your overall shipment weight. Corrugate pallets can be collapsed, meaning they’re easy to store and don’t come with the hazards of splinters and nails like wooden pallets. 

Presswood Pallets

This style of pallet is constructed from 85% natural wood fibre along with man-made resin and moulded at high temperatures to enhance durability. Made from 100% recycled wood waste, they are a green option that is lighter than timber pallets but still super strong – carrying loads of up to 1250kg.

Plastic Pallets

Incredibly lightweight and exempt from ISPM15 regulations, plastic pallets can be reused over 200 times and can be washed and sterilised easily. This makes them the perfect pallet for food and pharmaceutical industry cargo. 

Heat-Treated Pallets Are Worth Your While

They might cost a little more, but since they last longer and protect your goods, heat-treated pallets are a worthwhile expense. 

Have you got a consignment that needs careful packing? Unsure which mode of freight will best suit your cargo? Let us help! Contact Millennium today.