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lakelandadmin

lakelandadmin
In ENVIRONMENT, PALLETS

Environmental Benefits of Wood-Use for Pallets

Did You Know: Environmental Benefits of Wood-Use for Pallets

Wooden pallets have many environmental benefits and are very sustainable compared to other types of pallets. Wood is the only 100% renewable, recyclable and reusable material available. The planting and harvesting of trees for pallet production contributes to the local economy, employs thousands, and is good for the environment. Read more from the National Wooden Pallet & Container Association.

lakelandadmin
In ENVIRONMENT, INDUSTRY

Global Wood Packaging Forum Celebrates Certification of Carbon Footprint of Wood Pallets

Repair and Return

“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.”

Learn more at https://globalwoodpackagingforum.org/certification-carbon-footprint-pallets/

lakelandadmin
In ENVIRONMENT, INDUSTRY

Environmental Attributes of Wooden Pallets for the Supply Chain and Procurement Industries

“Today, the National Wooden Pallet & Container Association (NWPCA) and the Pallet Foundation presented an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for U.S. wooden pallets that reinforces the environmental attributes of wooden pallets for the supply chain and procurement industries. This document, certified by UL and produced in conjunction with Forest Products Lab, the research wing of the US 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. Learn more at https://www.palletcentral.com/news/530194/NWPCA-Announces-Environmental-Product-Declaration-for-U.S.-Wooden-Pallets.htm“

lakelandadmin
In ENVIRONMENT, INDUSTRY

American Hardwood Improves Our Lives

“Iconic architect Frank Lloyd Wright described wood as “universally beautiful to man. It is the most humanly intimate of all materials.” Biophilic design brings the symbiotic relationship human beings have with trees into the interior spaces of where we live, bringing with it documented benefits to health and wellbeing. In this informative talk, Criswell explains with data how the use of American hardwoods in building and design is good for the environment and actually part of a being a good steward of the natural resource of trees. Criswell Davis, President of Mighty Oaks Consulting in Louisville, Kentucky, is an internationally recognized American hardwood expert, speaker and hardwood specification consultant. He advises some of the largest architecture and design firms in the world, inspiring the use of sustainable American hardwoods in design. He has been in the American hardwood industry for over 31 years, representing the American Hardwood Export Council internationally. A founding Director of the Timber and Forestry Foundation, Criswell is a passionate brand ambassador for the American hardwood industry. He believes that designing with American hardwoods will improve our personal health and the health of the planet. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx“

lakelandadmin
In ENVIRONMENT, PALLETS

Penn State Study: Are Wooden Plastic Pallets More Eco-Friendly?

Penn State Study: Are Wooden Plastic Pallets More Eco-Friendly?

With the amount of wooden pallets in production and in use across the US, Penn State researchers knew the importance of discovering whether they were an environmentally acceptable product. According to their findings, wooden pallets have a much smaller carbon footprint than plastic pallets, even when considering heat treating and pest control.  Read the full article from Penn State News.

lakelandadmin
In COMPANY NEWS

Lunchroom Remodel

At Lakeland Pallets, we strive to maintain a positive and safe work environment for our team.  In an effort to enhance our team members’ welfare, the breakroom and a couple offices, were remodeled at our Grand Rapids location.  We are thrilled with the end result and so are our team members.  The foosball tournament is already underway!

lakelandadmin
In COMPANY NEWS, PALLETS

First Ever PCR for Wooden Pallets

First Ever PCR for Wooden Pallets

Today, UL announces the publication of the first-ever Product Category Rules (PCR) for wooden pallets. The PCR is used to benchmark the environmental impacts of wooden pallets, and sets a new precedence for life cycle assessments for pallets made from other materials, like plastic, metal or cardboard. The PCR was sponsored by NWPCA in conjunction with the USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Lab. This PCR for wooden pallets is now a publicly available standard, and must be taken into consideration for developing EPDs for pallets made from other materials. Read the full announcement and related links.

lakelandadmin
In IDEAS, PALLETS

Cool ideas for Pallet Upcycling

You’ve probably seen some pallet wood projects—they’re all the rage right now! DIYers have come up with thousands of ways to recycle used pallets into stunning pieces of art, furniture, etc. It seems that everyone is finding new ways to rip pallets apart and put the pieces back together to create something new.

While we’re definitely huge fans of using pallets for their intended purpose and recycling old ones, we also love a good pallet wood DIY! Here are a few of our favorite upcycles:

Pallet Wood Headboard

This is such a cool way to use natural wood in your room. It adds some rustic flair, but is surprisingly versatile! The pictured headboard has been painted and distressed, but a solid coat of paint, a good stain, or even bare wood would create completely different looks to the headboard.


Pallet Wood End Table

This end table is genius. It’s simple and clean, and the finish is beautiful (and probably weather resistant). Upcycling used pallet wood into furniture is a great way to go. This wood is sturdy and weathered already. Choose a finish that’ll fit your home, and you’ll have an eye-catching, one of a kind piece!


Pallet Wood Accent Wall

We’ve seen this done many different ways, in many different locations. Bathrooms, kitchens, and bedrooms all sport a pallet wood accent wall beautifully. This is an inexpensive upgrade with huge impact! Adding an accent wall of pallet wood is simple, straightforward, and quick, but it will look like a million bucks.

As you can tell, we love pallets. New and used, reconditioned or specially designed, they’re the workhorses of the shipping industry. Over the past few years though, they’ve also been recognized for their beauty and versatility. It’s great to see everyone’s creativity. Grab some pallets and try a project this weekend! You won’t be disappointed.

lakelandadmin
In SHIPPING

What you Need to Know about International Shipping and Pallets

International shipping is usually not anybody’s favorite thing to think about. Restrictions and regulations are complicated, fees are expensive, and transportation methods are limited. Some people get a headache just thinking about it! Thankfully, here at Lakeland Pallets, we’re able to help your international shipping make it to the destination without a hitch. We also have the information that you need to know, and we’ll boil it down to a few straightforward points.

 

The first thing you need to know about international freight shipping is that not just any pallet is going to get your product there safely. You’re going to need to make sure you have the right pallet for the job. For international shipping, most countries are strict about only allowing pallets that fulfill the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15). If your pallets aren’t ISPM 15 certified, it’s likely that your goods will either be quarantined for a lengthy period of time, or even disposed of. You won’t run that risk if you make sure you are getting a quality heat-treated pallet that complies with ISPM 15.

 

Not only do the pallets need to be ISPM 15 compliant, so do the crates or boxes. There are two ways to make sure your crates and boxes are safe to transport goods internationally. The first is to make sure you get your wood boxes with ISPM 15 stamps from a reliable distributer. The other would be to avoid non-manufactured wood and pack in cardboard, plywood, plastic, etc.

 

Another increasingly popular option is to invest in actual plastic pallets. These are easy to clean and reuse, and if you’re keeping them within your own system they can save you money by lasting much longer than standard wood pallets. Plastic pallets are ISPM 15 exempt, which also makes international shipping much easier.

 

We hope this knowledge takes some of the headache out of international shipping for your company. If you have any questions, or would like to place an order, feel free to contact us!