Despite a push toward pallet standardization by the World Bank, National Wooden Pallet and Container Association (NWPCA) members indicated overwhelmingly in a recent survey that standardization would have grave repercussions for many companies.

According to Palletcental, the official publication of the NWPCA, roughly two-thirds assert that standardization would not improve pallet quality and 89% indicate that customers would respond unfavorably to a strict standard. In fact, 84% of NWPCA respondents manufacture or recycle as many as 20 different types of pallets.

Citing the "failures of harmonization of pallet standards," the World Bank is advocating for a single, international standard for pallet size. In a policy paper, the World Bank comments that third world countries especially would benefit from a standard.

Dr. Mark White of the Virginia Tech Center for Unit Load, states, "There are six international pallet sizes in the [ISO] draft standard and that is five too many."

In a letter addressed to the World Bank highlighting the survey results, the NWPCA argued that a pallet standard implementation, "would have tremendous adverse impacts not only on the wood packaging industry, but throughout the global supply chain."