Should I Choose Recycled or Remanufactured Pallets?

Recycled wooden pallets or remanufactured?

​It's a question that comes up often. Before we get into which pallet is better for your packaging needs, let's sort out the definitions of recycled vs remanufactured.

A popular recycled pallet is the 48x40 GMA grocery style pallet.

​Defining Recycled vs Remanufactured

Buying wooden pallets starts with understanding the industry lingo. If you're just beginning your search, you're learning that not everyone speaks the same language. Worse, many of the terms sound confusingly similar. Below are the most common interpretations:

Recycled Pallets

Recycled wooden pallets are repaired quickly without complete deconstruction. The mending results in a pallet similar to the original design. Recycled pallets may also be called:

• Repaired Pallets
• Refurbished Pallets
• Reconditioned Pallets

Remanufactured Pallets

Also called reman pallets, these are completely rebuilt using dismantled boards reclaimed from unrepairable wooden pallets. A variation of reman pallets are built using a mix of old and new materials. Alternate names for both varieties of remanufactured pallets include:

• Rebuilt Pallets
• Hybrid Pallets
• Combo Pallets

Custom spacing between deck boards is one benefit of choosing remanufactured pallets.

​Choosing Between Recycled and Remanufactured Pallets

Recycled and remanufactured wooden pallets each have their own advantages. Recycled pallets tend to be cheaper. Reman pallets offer design flexibility. Your unique packaging requirements will determine which one is best.

Choose Recycled Pallets

Recycled pallets are easiest to find in industry standard configurations and sizes. They are typically sorted by size and grade. Choose recycled pallets if your load safely fits within the guidelines for an industry-specific pallet. Common examples of recycled pallets include:

• GMA Pallets
• EPAL Pallets
• CP1 Chemical Pallets
• CP3 Chemical Pallets

Choose Remanufactured Pallets

If your load exceeds the weight or size guidelines of a more readily-available pallet, choose remanufactured. Reman pallets can be custom built to adjust the spacing or length of deckboards. Have a lighter load? Ask about money-saving designs engineered to use less lumber. The point is that reman offers almost endless opportunities like these:

• 48x40 with Special Top Deck Spacing
• 48x31 Built Only with Reclaimed Wood
• 72x36 Built using New Stringers and Used Deckboards

A Smart Choice in Pallets

Now that you know what we mean by recycled and reman pallets, it shouldn't come as a surprise that most wooden pallets in circulation are not new. Repairing and rebuilding is a smart choice for saving money and reducing waste. While heavily-regulated industries might not be a good fit, most pallet users can benefit from using recycled and remanufactured pallets.

Do you have recycled or remanufactured pallet success story? Share it here or ask about ways for creating a new success story.

Post by: Jonathan Haynes, Regional Sales Manager