When your store receives a shipment from a warehouse or distribution center, pallets are the last thing that should slow your operation down. Yet, countless retailers across the globe still find themselves contending with the downsides of wood pallets on a daily basis. They get in the way, they can be dangerous to handle, and they can only hold so much product at a time. Today, we’re here to break down why it’s time for retailers to leave the industry norm behind and start experiencing the benefits of retail plastic pallets.
Plastic Pallets Can Hold (And Move) More Product
When moving a high volume of product, capacity is everything. Although you might not think there would be a great difference between the max capacity of a wood or plastic pallet, plastic actually bests wood in both static and dynamic load capacity.
Our standard 40” x 48” nestable distribution plastic pallets (a top choice for retailers) have a static load rating of 30,000 lbs, and a dynamic load capacity of 3,000 lbs. In contrast, various sources cite the max dynamic load capacity of an equivalent wood pallet to be in the ballpark of 2,500 lbs, while the static load capacity is about 4,000 lbs.
Why does it matter? When you’re unloading product upon receiving, a pallet with a higher load capacity is not only more efficient, but also safer to handle. At the same time, a pallet at rest should be able to fully support the product loaded onto it. Retailers that receive a high volume of goods can benefit from the effectiveness and safety of retail plastic pallets with a higher static load capacity.
Plastic Pallets Give Better ROI Than Wood
A lot of folks have reservations about making the switch from wood pallets to plastic pallets when they see the difference in up-front costs. However, using wood pallets often costs retailers more every year due to their much shorter usable life. Many wood pallets have to be repaired or replaced in just 10 cycles or less, according to First Alliance Logistics Management.
In stark contrast, plastic pallets can easily be used for upwards of 100 cycles before needing to be replaced. While the up-front cost may be higher, there are great savings to be realized when retailers consider that they can drastically reduce the amount of pallet orders they have to make. Retail plastic pallets consistently provide a higher ROI when compared to their wood counterparts.
Find out more about what makes retail plastic pallets the more sustainable and financially savvy choice for businesses who want to operate in the green—in more ways than one.
Plastic Pallets Stay Consistent During Transit
You may think that all pallets are equally consistent across the board, but wood pallets can actually change quite a bit throughout the supply chain depending on external factors. The most significant factor here is moisture. Wood pallets can actually absorb moisture from the air, which can make them heavier in more humid conditions. At weigh-in stations, that added moisture can increase shipping costs—and while just one pallet might seem negligible, when you’re shipping at scale the charges add up fast.
It’s important to also consider what happens when that excess moisture is released. That moisture can damage goods during transit, resulting in losses that could have been entirely preventable with plastic pallets. Unlike wood pallets, plastic pallets resist moisture resulting in consistent pallet weight and less unplanned losses.
Nestable Plastic Pallets Help Free Up Storage Space
This one could very well be the biggest advantage that retail plastic pallets have over wood pallets. Not only do plastic pallets have a higher load capacity, longer usable life, and moisture resistance—they also help warehouses, distributors, and retailers save valuable storage space. In particular, nestable plastic pallets are designed to stack neatly with one another.
Working with a large volume of goods can be tricky, especially in a retail setting where space must be carefully managed. PSI’s nestable plastic pallets have helped retailers across the globe reduce the footprint of their stored pallets by 50% on average, thereby drastically increasing the amount of space they can use to store product and other supplies.
Plastic Pallets Have Shelf Appeal
Finally, plastic pallets have—and retain—a certain shelf appeal that wood pallets can’t compete with. Though a brand new wood pallet may look nice in a grocery store or a rustic shop setting, it doesn’t take much use for a wood pallet to show signs of wear. Splinters, cracks, missing fasteners, and even breaks in boards aren’t an uncommon sight. There’s actually a rating system for wood pallets in grocery stores that basically outlines which pallets can be seen in a retail space versus which ones must be kept out of the public eye, based purely on the way they look.
Plastic pallets have no such limitations. While they naturally do wear over time, their usable life is much longer compared to wood pallets as we discussed before. For that reason, they tend to look better for longer. This is helped by the fact that unlike wood pallets, retail plastic pallets are extremely easy to clean. If a plastic pallet is looking a little grimy, a simple washdown can get it looking close to brand new. When presentation counts, plastic pallets are the clear choice for retailers.
Discover our top tips to keep your retail plastic pallets looking fresh and floor-ready.
Explore Retail Plastic Pallets By Polymer Solutions International
At Polymer Solutions International, we provide standard and customizable retail plastic pallet options to help retailers of all kinds make the most of their material handling capabilities. If you’re thinking about making the switch, contact us today to speak with one of our plastic pallet pros and find the right option for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What are the advantages of retail plastic pallets over wood pallets?
A: Retail plastic pallets offer higher load capacity, longer lifespan, and better resistance to moisture compared to wood pallets. They also require less maintenance and provide a stronger return on investment over time, making them ideal for high-volume retail environments.
Q2.How much weight can a plastic pallet hold?
A: Standard retail plastic pallets, such as 40” x 48” nestable pallet designs, can support up to 30,000 lbs in static load and around 3,000 lbs in dynamic load. This exceeds the capacity of most wood pallets, making them more efficient and safer for transporting bulk goods.
Q3. Why do big box retailers use nestable plastic pallets?
A: Big box retailers use nestable plastic pallets because they save significant storage space. Their stackable design can reduce pallet storage footprint by up to 50%, allowing retailers to maximize warehouse and backroom efficiency.
Q4. Are plastic pallets more cost-effective than wood pallets?
A: While plastic pallets have a higher upfront cost, they are more cost-effective over time. They can last up to 100 cycles or more, compared to around 10 cycles for wood pallets, reducing replacement and repair costs significantly.