In logistics supply chains, the use of loading pallets has become common, enabling the mechanization of transshipment work and the movement of palletized cargo units. The most popular pallets for forming palletized cargo units remain reusable flat wooden pallets with a loading surface area of 800 mm x 1200 mm. The primary disadvantage of this type of pallet is the difficulty in maintaining proper hygienic and sanitary conditions. Wood discoloration and other pallet stains resulting from various usage conditions are visible to the naked eye and are generally impossible to remove completely. Currently, to eliminate this drawback, pallets made of thermoplastic plastic have begun to be produced and increasingly used. The advantage of this type of pallet is precisely the ease of cleaning and disinfection, as well as high aesthetic appeal. In practice, however, it turned out that these types of loading pallets made from virgin raw material (granulate) are more expensive than wooden pallets. Hence, manufacturers began to look for solutions that would allow for lowering the price of such pallets.
It was not difficult to notice that in a market economy, many offered consumer products, as well as the packaging of many products, are made of plastic, mostly thermoplastic. It is known that food product packaging is made from virgin raw material and requires approval from the National Institute of Hygiene. After the packaging is emptied, it is simply thrown away. Various consumer products also hold various certifications. After losing their utility, they are also thrown away. The development of social awareness has led to the widespread habit of segregating waste that can be recycled, i.e., reprocessed, in many countries, especially developed ones. Now, this habit is also beginning to spread in Poland.
The article comes from the magazine “Logistyka” 5/2004.