Wood Pallets: The Mold Hard Truth

Mold and mildew on wooden pallets can be a costly issue for shippers and packagers throughout North America. 

Mold spores are everywhere... in the air - all the time - as many as 10,000 per cubic yard. There are thousands of different species of molds that produce a variety of mold colorations: blue, black, green, yellow, orange, and red.

Why is mold bad for your wood pallets?
Mold spores are constantly floating around and settling onto wood and other surfaces.

• Mold can cause damage to the product carried on the pallet.

• Mold is considered to be a contaminant in food and pharmaceutical industries.

• Mold can even change your customer’s perception. (If a customer perceives that the packaging around their product has been compromised, then they also will wonder if the product itself has been compromised.) 

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So how can you work to prevent mold on wood pallets?

• Work to reduce airborne spore density around your facilities. 
  
• Consider the use of a fungicide dip treatment for your pallets or pallet parts. (This dip treatment will not kill existing mold, but will act as a temporary barrier to any new mold growth.)

• Store the pallets in a covered and well-ventilated area.
  
• Keep pallets dry throughout the delivery and packaging processes.
  

Alternatives for Preventing Mold

The use of kiln dried lumber that has a moisture content of 19% or below will not grow mold (as long as it is stored properly). Wood pallets are still widely used, however, alternative shipping materials are quickly gaining in popularity.

Plastic pallets and corrugated pallets are two potential options to utilize for both domestic and export shipments. Even with alternative materials, care must be taken with how these pallets are stored and transported.

Remember that no wooden pallet can be guaranteed mold free. However, wooden pallets can be produced and maintained with no visible mold growth as long as the proper steps are taken.

What is your worst mold story? Let us know by commenting below.

Post by: Rich Reiher, Vice President of Sales

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