5 Ways Better Pallet Management Supports a Sustainable Supply Chain

1. Repair before replacing. Every repaired pallet saves 15–20 board feet of lumber. A facility that repairs 1,000 pallets per month avoids cutting 180,000 board feet annually.

2. Choose recycled over new when possible. Recycled pallets use 40–60% less embodied energy than new construction.

3. Implement a closed-loop return program. When your supplier picks up empty pallets on the next delivery, you eliminate landfill disposal and keep wood in circulation.

4. Right-size your pallets. Oversized pallets waste lumber and truck space. A properly sized pallet reduces both material use and transportation emissions.

5. Track your diversion rate. Measure how many pallets you repair, recycle, or return vs. how many you discard. Set a target — 85% diversion is achievable for most operations.