New Or Used Pallets???

Wooden pallets are widely used in the commercial industry, enabling factories, warehouses, departmental stores and other distributors to transport and store large quantities of products and merchandise. When looking to buy wooden pallets for your manufacturing or distribution business, you’ll be faced with some choices, the hardest being: do you invest in brand new wooden pallets, or buy recycled pallets? Both have their pros and cons, and the right fit depends on your needs. Let’s explore new vs. recycled pallets and how they serve different functions:

New wooden pallets

New pallets are constructed from scratch with all-new materials and hardware. That means wood (mostly hardwood) is harnessed from trees, trimmed, ripped into boards, cut into the required sizes and used to construct pallets according to the client’s specific needs. These may come in standard sizes or be custom-made to spec.

 Pros of buying new pallets:

A| They are stronger and more durable

Wooden pallets are used for the transportation, storage and distribution of heavy products. That’s why they are made from hardwood. New hardwood pallets can endure the weight of almost all heavy merchandise or products. They can also withstand wear and damage. However, when used over time, wooden pallets become weak and start to wear out, and it becomes a challenge to use them for the transportation, storage and distribution of heavy products. They may break down in the course of transportation or delivery and cause heavy losses. That’s why it’s a good idea to buy new pallets when dealing with the transportation and distribution of heavy products.

B | New pallets are readily available, and more can be made to fill any order size

New pallets are made from fresh lumber which is easy to stock. You’ll have no trouble getting as many pallets as you need if we’re pulling them from stock or making more to fit your order. Recycled pallets depend on how many used pallets have been returned for recycling and repair, and the available materials may not be enough for a large order. So if you need a lot of pallets on a consistent basis, new pallets give you peace of mind knowing that your supply chain won’t be affected by a lack of materials.

C | New pallets are an investment that could save you money in the long run

New wooden pallets are the most durable, which means they will serve you for a much longer time than recycled wooden pallets. Recycled wooden pallets are great for short-term work and are essentially meant to be like-new. But think of it as the difference between buying a brand new laptop or a refurbished one. They have all the same parts and function identically, but one is more likely to wear down or need repairs down the line. So if your job is likely to put a lot of wear and tear on your pallets, buying new may save you money in the long run as you won’t be replacing or repairing them as often.

D | You can order custom pallets that meet unique transport needs

The good thing about new pallets is that you can order them in custom dimensions according to your specific needs. We manufacture all of our own pallets, and we can custom-build anything you need for those special jobs. If you need your custom pallets to be reused over and over, buying them new makes sense. But if you need a custom size for a short-term project, we can also produce custom remanufactured pallets that are built from recycled and reclaimed wood (essentially the recycled option for custom pallet builds).

Cons of buying new pallets:

A | Cost $$$

Compared to recycled pallets, new pallets are generally a more expensive investment. It can be a challenge to acquire them if you’re a startup in the transportation and distribution industry, or if your budget doesn’t factor in the investment. Cost is the main reason many companies seek out recycled pallets in the first place, and if it’s a factor for you, it’s important to weigh the upfront cost of new pallets against the wear you expect them to take and how long you need them to last.

Recycled wooden pallets

Recycled pallets are used pallets that have been repaired and put back into circulation. Often part of this process calls for reusing good wood from older pallets, and ensuring the recycled pallets will hold up to use. While recycled pallets do consist of used parts, we still hold ourselves to high accountability and adhere to all codes and guidelines for recycled manufacturing standards. So you are sure to get structurally sound and high-performing pallets whether you’re buying new or recycled. 

Pros of recycled pallets:

A | Significantly less expensive than buying new

Recycled pallets are undeniably cheaper than new pallets. Therefore, if you’re operating on a shoestring budget or just focused on short-term savings, recycled pallets are ideal for you. In fact, their cost can be 70% lower than their new counterparts in some situations.

 B| Recycled pallets are already built, so they’re available faster

Because recycled pallets are not built from scratch, delivery is quick, and that means your order delivery time will be shorter.

C | Better for the environment, and can be channeled to other uses

If your company has a green initiative, you take it seriously down to the last detail. Shipping and storing your products on new lumber can undermine your message, but using recycled pallets means consuming fewer trees and extending the life of materials already in use.

And when recycled pallets wear and tear enough down the road that they have to be retired from use, they can be disassembled and used for construction, as firewood, or shredded and used as mulch. We even grind unusable pallet remnants down into bio fuels and animal bedding! 

Cons of recycled pallets:

A | Less durable over time

We ensure high quality in every pallet we manufacture or recycle, and both new and recycled pallets will perform well for any job you need. But if you start out with some wear, it’s common sense that they’ll need repair or replacement sooner or later down the line. So ultimately recycled wooden pallets are less durable than new pallets. For some, the upfront savings outweighs future repairs or replacements, but for others, the promise of better performance and longer use makes more sense.

So what matters most to you?

The choice between buying new wooden pallets and recycled wooden pallets really comes down to your needs and budget:

If you’re operating on a limited budget or have some short-term shipping needs, recycled pallets make sense for you because they are cheap and offer great performance for short-term use.

However, if your jobs require top performance and durability over time, then it’s a good idea to buy new so your pallets are sure to hold up. 

Other factors to consider are whether you need your pallets custom built, or if you just need them for a one-off storage or transport job. If you’re still unsure what options best suit your business, we’re happy to consult and address any questions you have–give us a call and we’ll help sort it out!