“Few people realize the significance of this issue — there are about 700 million pallets produced and recycled each year in the United States alone,” said Chuck Ray, associate professor of ecosystem science and management in the College of Agricultural Sciences. “There are 2 billion pallets in use in this country.”
Plastic pallets have a much longer life cycle than wooden pallets because plastic pallets are usually not broken or damaged and normally can travel more than 200 round trips before being taken out of service. But they are typically derived from petroleum or natural gas products, which greatly increases their carbon footprint.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Weighing in on a debate that has raged for decades, Penn State researchers, after conducting a series of ultra-detailed comparisons, have declared that shipping pallets made of wood are slightly more environmentally friendly and sustainable than those made of plastic.
