Looking for Hygienic Plastic Pallets? We Need to Talk.

​Don't worry. You haven't done anything wrong. Not yet, at least.

I know, I know. You're in a hurry and don't really want to talk about hygiene and plastic pallets, but hear me out. Choosing the wrong pallet could wind up costing you - in time, money, or something worse.

What makes a plastic pallet hygienic? That depends on your environment and goals.

What are Hygienic Plastic Pallets?

If you're reading this, someone has probably asked you to source hygienic plastic pallets. What does that even mean? To Tell the Truth (see what I did there?) I don't know. Well, I don't know until we talk.

You see, hygienic has no official meaning. It's similar to finding "natural flavors" stamped on that bag of chips you may have snacked on earlier today. Yeah, me too. Point is, you don't know how (or even if) your definition of hygienic benefits the application unless you verify it aligns with your goals. When it comes to pallets, hygienic is often associated with higher cost, but not always. I'll explain.

Here are three common goals for choosing hygienic plastic pallets:
  

1. It Needs to be Easy to Clean
   Do you like to keep things neat and tidy? Ditto. That's why I like plastic pallets. It doesn't matter if the top deck is open or closed, almost every plastic pallet can be hosed down to wash away everything from dust to contaminants. Nothing fancy needed here. Just plastic. Boom. I just saved you a ton of money if your only hygiene goal is to maintain an inventory of clean pallets.
     
2. It Needs to Meet FDA or USDA Requirements
   Even if you need to meet government sanitation requirements, say from the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), you may still only need a "regular" plastic pallet. Some used plastic pallets can even meet FDA guidelines including: easy-to-clean, non-toxic and being in good repair. See, I saved you money again. If you handle unpackaged food or medications, your hygienic requirements are stricter and likely include FDA plastic pallets made from virgin materials.
     
3. It Needs to be Sterile
   ​Now we're talking serious hygiene. You fall into this stringent category if your requirements include terms like cleanroom, white rooms, contaminant-free, anti-microbial or heat sterilization. You may see these called pharmaceutical plastic pallets, NSF-certified or yes, even hygienic plastic pallets. To maintain safety protocols, these pallets should be one-piece and have smooth, non-porous surfaces made from polyethylene and virgin raw materials capable of standing up to the rigors of sterile drug and other manufacturing environments.

Which Hygienic Plastic Pallet is Right for you?

Now you understand why it is important to talk with a pallet professional when selecting the right hygienic plastic pallet. In addition to the goals above, there are many more requirements to think about. For example, the world is currently focused on the race for a COVID-19 vaccine. Not only are we talking clean, but many of these vaccines will require plastic freezer pallets capable of handling near freezing or sub-zero temps. And, many of these vaccines will need to ship on Euro plastic pallets. On the other side of the temperature spectrum, some Pharma applications need FM approved fire retardant plastic pallets that meet decaBDE-free standards. What additional environmental requirements does your application have?

I've done all the talking and now it is your turn. Get in touch or tell us about your environment and goals in the comments below. We'll match you with the right hygienic plastic pallet for the job.

​Post by: Mike Cunneen, Director of Sales & Marketing