Environmental Survey Is a Game Changer for Wood Pallets: Do Your Part for the Industry, Identify Costs Savings in Your Business

Sometimes to truly improve your business, you have to take steps that require hard work and some sacrifice. However, the payoff in the end, is more than worth the struggle. That is the scenario the wood pallet sector faces as its tries to put together a comprehensive Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) survey for the industry. The first step is a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) survey that will provide data to develop a comprehensive EPD.

In order to be successful, the survey needs to quantify environmental and energy costs for at least 20% of the annual production (by volume) in the country. And the only way to reach that lofty goal is for major pallet producers and recyclers as well as many mid-sized to small players to participate. A comprehensive EPD is the best way for the wood pallet sector to tell its positive environmental story. Unlike a basic life cycle analysis, which tend to be easy to manipulate, a comprehensive EPD would set wood pallets apart, and would give the industry a marketing tool that no other packaging material is likely to match, because it is certified by a third party.

If you want to end the debate over which type of packaging is best for the environment, this tool once completed would go a long way in putting wood pallets way ahead in the discussion.

The wood pallet industry has known it has a great environmental story to share, and now it is time to scientifically show it. Wood is renewable, biodegradable, reusable, and recyclable. When it comes to energy and natural resource impact, wood wins too. So, how can we prove we are the best? That’s where a proper EPD makes all the difference.

The Pallet Foundation is funding the development of a scientifically-sound EPD, which will report a standardized environmental impact of a generalized wood pallet. A wood pallet EPD will also be the first of its kind in the supply chain, signifying to pallet users the extent of industry’s dedication to environmental sustainability.

 “I feel that in my gut we’ve always had the best product out there when it comes to the environment, but I never had a third-party verified tool to make the overwhelming argument,” said Bob Wenner, president of Pallet Service Corp. in Maple Grove, Minnesota and chairman of the Pallet Foundation. “The wood pallet EPD provides that opportunity.” 

The National Wooden Pallet & Container Association and the Pallet Foundation have teamed up with experts from the United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) to collect the data and crunch the numbers. The Pallet Enterprise is also supporting this endeavor having recognized its importance to the future of the industry.

Brad Gething of the NWPCA stated, “The collection and analysis of comprehensive data from the industry is a necessity. This project is a monumental undertaking that will require data on the production of at least 170 million pallets. We need companies like yours to fill out the survey. Otherwise, we don’t have a good representation of the industry, and we lose the reliability of the data.”

The information obtained in this process will be kept confidential and will only be seen on a company basis by researchers at the FPL. These third-party researchers guarantee strictest privacy of confidential data. The information in aggregate will be provided in the EPD to the industry and third parties. But that information will not be individually identifiable via company. Even the sponsors of the EPD will not be able to see individual responses.

One good advantage of the EPD process is you will find out how your company compares to industry averages, and the survey can be a great tool to identify energy and other waste factors in your operation. If you want to get leaner and meaner, this process can help you locate parts of your operation that are under-performing.

The Pallet Foundation will develop a video tutorial to help train people in the process. You will be able to call on experts for help through the entire process to ensure the survey and data collection are done right. However, the process does require a careful analysis of your energy usage based on individual aspects of your plant.

Gething explained, “We won’t sugar-coat things. Filling out this survey is going to take some time. We’ve done our best to streamline the process and provide guidance where possible.”

Questions will be concentrated on annual production for the year 2018. The requested data will include: production data, electricity usage, fuel consumption, material flows and environmental emissions. The researchers realize that you may not have all the information requested, especially when it comes to process specific data. They are asking that pallet companies provide estimates where specific measurements are not available.

So, what do you need to do? The survey data collection process will end the first quarter of 2019. The NWPCA will contact you with the survey and other information you need to conduct your analysis and collect data.

Why should you do this? It will truly help the industry to stand alone on the issue of environmental stewardship and responsibility. Secondly, only participants will be able to quantify their standing in the industry and identify ways you can save costs. Third, this effort is expensive and would cost you thousands of dollars if you undertook it yourself. Now, you can participate and come up with the conclusions for free. All it takes is some of your management time.

Visit www.palletcentral.com/lcasurvey to take action today to preserve your markets and competitiveness for the future. Please do not delay.

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Chaille Brindley

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