Wooden pallets have become an essential product for shipping because they are easy to move around and they have a strong enough base to carry large loads of products. The wooden pallets you use on a day-to-day basis are not all made the same. A pallet’s durability all comes down to the wood used to make it.
As you prepare your next pallet order, learn about the different woods used to make pallets, where the wood comes from, and how to reduce the number of new pallets you use in the future.
Softwoods
Some of the cheapest pallets are made of softwood. Softwood comes from trees like pine trees, which grow fairly quickly and are easy to harvest. The softwoods are not as durable as other woods, but their affordability makes them useful for a pallet. Chances are high that the wood will crack or snap after a dozen or so uses.
Because of the overturn of pallets, many companies will use softwoods to cut down on costs and recycle the broken pallets. One of the more common softwood trees in the industrial world is the Southern yellow pine. Like the name indicates, the pine tree is grown in southern states like Texas.
Along with pallet creations, the boards are used in house construction and utility poles. The pine has a very clean look and is easy to dry out for use in commercial products like pallets.
Hardwoods
If you’re seeking a pallet for more repetitive warehouse use, then consider a kind made of hardwood. With more density and strong wood elements, hardwood offers extra reliability for a slightly higher cost than softwood.
Hardwood pallets are typically constructed from oak trees. Oak is commonly used in furniture. Pallet companies may use pieces of oak wood with imperfections on pallets. The imperfections can create visual distractions on a finished piece of furniture like a table, but that doesn’t matter for pallets.
As far as wood use, hardwood pallets often feature thinner boards due to the strength of the oak. So not only do you have a stronger pallet, but you can cut down on the wood waste your company creates. The little steps will reduce your carbon footprint and the environmental impact your company has.
One of the biggest downfalls of using a hardwood like an oak tree is replenishing the tree back into the environment. Oak trees can take over 30 years to grow. The time it takes may not seem worth it to order new oak-based pallets and cause more deforestation of oak trees.
Recycled Woods
When you need pallets for shipping needs, you likely have a high turnaround. Pallets are shipped off and may stay with the receiving company or become damaged in the process. When you order pallets, look into recycled pallet options. With recycled pallets, you will dramatically cut down on the wood waste.
When you order recycled pallets, you can choose hardwoods like oak without the guilt of knowing that more trees will be cut down because of your choice. Online services may offer an exchange program so you can consistently rotate out your pallets and use recycled options a majority of the time.
Joining a pallet recycling program can reduce wait times and keep the constant cycle of pallet deliveries. Using recycled woods will help the environment overall, and you could save money by choosing recycled wood options over new wood.
Find out more information on our wood pallet orders at Pallet Plan B. We will help set up your company and deliver the pallets you want, whether you prefer softwood or hardwood varieties.
