Not-for-profit pallet pool comes ashore

Modeled on existing European and Canadian pools, this NWPCA –operated program is expected to ease problems associated with damaged pallets.

By Tom Andel, Editor in chief -- Modern Materials Handling, 6/27/2008

The U.S. grocery industry has a love-hate relationship with wood pallets. The love has to do with how much it depends on these things to get products through its supply chains. The hate is expressed when pallet damage causes product damage. Bruce Scholnick, president of the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association (NWPCA), believes a solution will be available by the end of this year.

It will take the form of an industry-wide pallet supplier management system. The program will be directed by a not-for-profit entity, giving pallet owners a cost-effective advantage at the outset.  It will be governed by a board of directors comprised of pallet purchasers and providers. Pallet quality will be guaranteed through rigorous and continuous third-party inspections by qualified inspection agencies. 

Pallet movement will be managed by a secure closed-loop logistic tracking system operated by NWPCA in cooperation with pallet suppliers and owners. Each pallet will be a block style and have RFID and bar code identification.

“A number of large pallet users have told us they want to move away from stringer pallets,” Scholnick told Modern. “This will be a guaranteed buyback system, so once it’s up and running it will be a nominal cost program funded by its members. We’ll repair the pallets and the pallets will belong to the system. The members will own a fraction of the system.”

This program is being modeled on Europe’s EPAL and the Canadian Pallet Pool (CPC). The NWPCA is asking for industry help in further developing and refining it. To provide input or to get more information, contact NWPCA President Bruce Scholnick at 703-519-6104 or e-mail bscholnick@palletcentral.com.