Tag Archive for: pallet
The National Wooden Pallet & Container Association (NWPCA) Secures Major Win for Wooden Pallet Manufacturers in New EU Packaging Regulation
March 26, 2024 – NWPCA today announced a significant victory for wooden pallet manufacturers worldwide following the finalization of the European Union’s (EU) Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). NWPCA’s successful advocacy efforts secured an exemption from the regulation’s reuse requirements for wooden pallets entering and leaving the EU under load.
The PPWR aims to tackle the pressing issue of packaging waste by introducing rules for all packaging placed on the EU market. Key objectives of the regulation include reducing packaging waste through recycling and reuse initiatives. As wood is a natural and fully recyclable material, NWPCA fully supported the PPWR’s aims to reduce waste and promote recycling. However, concerns arose regarding the prioritization of reusability over recyclability and the interpretation and implementation of the pallet reuse requirements, which posed a significant challenge to manufacturers and stakeholders.
Recognizing the potential impact on the wooden pallet industry and its users, the NWPCA engaged extensively with EU decision-makers, including the European Commission, the European Parliament, and member states in the Council of the EU. NWPCA explained the logistical issues with managing a reuse system of imported pallets and advocated for a targeted exemption to alleviate these burdensome requirements for wooden pallets entering and leaving the EU under load. Through consistent communication and collaboration with key stakeholders, NWPCA actively built support for this critical exemption.
Jason Ortega, Vice President of Public Affairs at NWPCA, stated, “This exemption is a clear win for wooden pallet manufacturers globally. Any company shipping goods into or out of the EU on a pallet will be exempt from challenging and costly reuse requirements. Wood pallets are made from a natural, renewable resource, and billions of them serve as the backbone of the supply chain. We know that in the United States, they are recovered and recycled 95% of the time, more than any other packaging product. We do not contribute to the growing global landfill problem. Our successful engagement on this issue minimizes supply chain disruptions and safeguards the pallet industry’s vitality.”
NWPCA’s success in securing the inclusion of the “within the territory of the Union” language in the final negotiated text is a testament to the organization’s steadfast dedication and collaborative approach. NWPCA acknowledges the invaluable support of its partners, including the international membership of the Global Wood Packaging Forum, the Canadian Wood Pallet and Container Association, the UK Timber Packaging and Pallet Confederation, and allies in the Canadian and United States governments, whose collective efforts helped raise awareness and advocate for the exemption.
The final adoption of the negotiated text by each branch of the EU institutions is anticipated to proceed smoothly, paving the way for the regulation’s implementation phase. NWPCA remains committed to supporting sustainable solutions within the transport packaging sector and celebrates this milestone achievement as a testament to the power of collaboration and advocacy.
Contact
Jason Ortega, JD/MBA
Vice President, Public Affairs
703.519.6104
Email
Global Wood Packaging Forum Celebrates Certification of Carbon Footprint of Wood Pallets
Statement from the Global Wood Packaging Forum
The Global Wood Packaging Forum (GWPF) congratulates the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association (NWPCA) and the Pallet Foundation on its Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for United States Wooden Pallets. This document, certified by UL (formerly Underwriter Laboratories) and produced in conjunction with Forest Products Lab, the research wing of the U.S. Forest Service, is the first of its kind for a product in the distribution packaging space. This declaration speaks to the quantitative impact that wooden pallets have on the environment beyond their reusable, recyclable and biodegradable qualities.
Brent McClendon, President and CEO of the National Wooden Pallet & Container Association commented, “We are proud of the results of this EPD. When considering its life cycle, wooden pallets can have a potential net carbon positive impact. Through the unique properties of wood, carbon offsets may be achieved by the reuse of pallet materials and substituting wood fuel from pallet waste (e.g., unusable pallets) for natural gas.”
EPDs provide consumers and professionals with transparent and product-specific environmental information through an independent validation from a third-party organization. A critical component of the wooden pallet EPD study is a life cycle assessment (LCA), measuring the impacts of a wooden pallet’s product stages of gathering, transporting and manufacturing raw materials, the use and repair of the pallet, as well as its end of life usage.
John Dye, President of TIMCON, the UK Timber Packaging and Pallet Confederation commented, “The industry has been promoting for years the environmental benefits of wood and now thanks to the work of the NWPCA these claims have third party verification.”
Scott Geffros, General Manager of the Canadian Wood Pallet and Container Association notes “This EPD sets that standard that all competing platforms to wood packaging must follow. It supports what we have long known about the sustainability of wood and wood packaging. The Canadian industry applauds the work of the NWPCA and The Pallet Foundation in making the EPD possible.”
As part of this process, a Product Category Rule (PCR) with UL was also developed. “UL applauds the efforts of NWPCA and the Pallet Foundation to develop a PCR and now issue an EPD for wooden pallets to better understand the environmental impact they have,” said Alberto Uggetti, vice president and general manager of UL’s environment and sustainability division. “The reusable nature of wooden pallets makes them a more circular, sustainable form of reusable packaging, and with this EPD, manufacturers will be able to communicate the impacts of their products with more transparency and confidence.”
Today, wood remains a fundamental and sustainable part of the supply chain from manufacturer to distribution center, and finally retail store. Wood pallets are moving goods billions of times a day globally; every day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Wood pallets and wood packaging truly do move the world, and this report confirm that it’s done sustainably.
The full wooden pallet EPD, including its methodology and data, and the corresponding LCA, can be found here.
About GWPF
The Global Wood Packaging Forum is a collaboration of associated wood packaging organizations and representatives from around the world that meets to discuss global issues that affect the industry.
About UL
UL fosters safe living and working conditions for people everywhere through the application of science to solve safety, security and sustainability challenges. The UL Mark engenders trust enabling the safe adoption of innovative new products and technologies. Everyone at UL shares a passion to make the world a safer place. We test, inspect, audit, certify, validate, verify, advise and train and we support these efforts with software solutions for safety and sustainability. To learn more about UL, visit UL.com.
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