One common reason that critics of wood pallets give for choosing other material types is the concern about deforestation in the country.
There may be many reasons to use plastic, metal, corrugated or other materials in pallets. But deforestation is not a major drive for many reasons. As we celebrate National Forest Products Week this month, it is important to look at the numbers behind the hype and hysteria.
According to the Forest Landowners Association (FLA), the United States has 20% more trees than it did on the first Earth Day celebration more than 40 years ago. At the same time, the U.S. has very productive forests in terms of timber production. The FLA also stated that the United States is the largest supplier of forest products in the world, providing nearly half of the global supply of wood fiber. About 91% of that material comes from private forestlands. Over the last several decades, the amount of harvested timber coming from government land has continued to drop.
Production on federal forest land peaked in the 1980s at about 12.7 billion board feet. Today, the production hovers around 2.8-3.3 billion board feet annually, a substantial decrease from historic highs. Private land has made up the difference.
What about when it comes to private land and total forest coverage? Is the U.S. widespread deforestation? The answer is no —here’s why:
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), domestic forest area is generally stable or increasing. The United States currently has around 823 million acres of forests and woodlands, accounting for over one-third of the national land area. This figure has been stable to slightly increasing for decades. Also, the USDA has found that agriculture and timber industries aren’t driving mass deforestation. Some of the major causes for any deforestation that exists is wildfires, urban development and other disturbances. According to Climate Scorecard, the growth-to-removal ratio is about 1.92, meaning nearly twice the volume of wood is growing compared to what is being removed.
And looking at the actual impacts of pallet production. Pallets are produced from low-grade material or waste wood, not grade lumber. The analogy has always been you don’t kill the cow for the hamburger meat. And that still holds today. Wood pallets ensure that low-grade material is utilized and not wasted. So, it actually reduces waste and uses a product that would largely already be cut down anyway.
It is a common misnomer that America’s forests are facing a serious challenge of deforestation. Recent data shows that the opposite is true, especially in the Appalachian hardwood area of the country. According to the Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers, Inc., the Appalachian hardwood forest has increased its growth to removals by more than 15%.
celebration more than 40 years ago. At the same time, the U.S. has very productive forests in terms of timber production. Timber
harvests are not deforestation if those forests are replanted and managed sustainably, which is the case for many private forests in
the United States.
A 2025 update to the Certified Appalachian Legal and Sustainable programs finds 2.82 trees are growing for every tree harvested or dying combined. The ratio rise proves that Appalachian forest has exceeded sustainability for two decades. The latest findings from the 344 counties of the Appalachian Hardwood Forest detail that the ratio continues to increase – up from 2.45 in 2017 and 2.29 in 2007.
“Because of natural regeneration and forest management in the Appalachian region, we have an extremely stable timber base,” said Tom Inman, AHMI president. “This updated analysis shows we are maintaining growth to removals of 2.82 to 1 – storing more carbon in trees and expanding the timber base for the future.”
The real challenge to America’s forests is improper management not deforestation. According to the USDA, over 80 million acres of National Forests are overstocked and at risk of insect infestations and disease that contribute to severe fire. These lands need active forest management, yet currently only a fraction of these acres are treated in any given year. The USDA explained, “A century of wildfire suppression, combined with the reduced level of active management on federal forests, have led to unnaturally dense and overgrown forests. This intense competition among trees for water, sunlight, and nutrients have left many forests weakened and vulnerable to severe catastrophic events.”
The U.S. is not undergoing a deforestation crisis in the classic sense. National forest area is largely holding steady, and overall biomass is increasing. However, there are major challenges such as wildfires, disease, overcrowding, invasive species and improper management and regulatory roadblocks that limit active management.
So, in reality, wood pallets can be part of the solution. And in most cases, wood pallets in the United States are produced from timber coming from actively managed, private forests. The reality is that everything has to be made of something, and wood is among the best resources to use to produce pallets from an economic and an ecological perspective.
