It’s not often that we tend to think about where most of our things come from. From what we wear to what we eat, almost everything we use on a daily basis has, in one way or another, been transported over by a plane, automobile or train. More often than not, the goods that you are presented with everyday will have been strapped to a crate or pallet at some stage on its commute to you.

Thinking about this concept on a global scale, it’s important to question how sustainable our shipping practices actually are, and whether there is a superior alternative to international trading methods.

In this short article, we discuss why of the multiple means of storage during international shipping, the use of wooden export crates and pallets are the most sustainable way of storage for the transportation of most goods.

Often when we think of the word ‘sustainability’, we tend to make a direct link to a product being environmentally friendly or green. When it comes to the production of wooden pallets and crates, minimal equipment, tools and blocks of wood are required to create a sturdy and reliable form of storage for transportation in a short amount of time. Whereas plastic alternatives have a more strenuous process of creation, where oil extractions, plastic production and moulding are required before they can serve for any purpose. Wooden crates and pallets can also be repaired relatively easily and are prone to last longer than plastic equivalents.

The real difference to sustainability between plastic and wooden crates and pallets is apparent in the process when the product no longer serves its original purpose. Even while the process of production already seems more environmentally responsible in comparison to plastic alternatives, the real damage to sustainability comes after the crates and pallets no longer serve their initial purpose.

Most export pallets and crates end up in landfill, however, unlike wood, plastic takes a much longer time to break down and can be harmful to the environment and other living creatures. Additionally, the process of recycling is also made much simpler with wooden pallets and crates as components are able to be reused in a matter of minutes, where recycling plastic involves the more difficult task of melting and resetting.

With all of that being said, it’s easy to see why choosing wood over plastic in your choice of export crates and pallets can reduce the impact on sustainability. Along with its environmental benefits, the use of wooden export crates and pallets also makes storage easy to pack when shipping, can be lightweight , and can also be used after the shipment for convenient storage.

If you’re looking to make the change to a more sustainable export crate or pallet solution, get in touch with the CMTP team today to discuss your freight requirements.