35 Years of EPAL – A Global Success Story in Sustainable Logistics
EPAL press release of 21.05.2026
The European Pallet Association e.V. (EPAL) celebrates its 35th anniversary in 2026. Since its foundation on 21 May 1991, EPAL has developed from a European initiative for the standardisation and quality assurance of Euro pallets into a globally recognised association and the world’s largest open pallet pool. Today, an estimated 670 million EPAL Euro pallets and more than 20 million EPAL box pallets are in daily use in national and international logistics processes. Since EPAL was founded, almost two billion EPAL Euro pallets have been produced.
For 35 years, the EPAL Euro pallet has stood for quality, safety and international exchangeability. At the same time, it is a symbol of the circular economy in action: repairable, reusable and recyclable. In this way, EPAL combines economic efficiency with sustainable action – long before sustainability became a global guiding principle.
The 35th anniversary is an opportunity for EPAL to look back on this extraordinary development and, at the same time, to look ahead. What began 35 years ago with the idea of creating uniform standards for the quality and quality assurance of Euro pallets is today a global system for sustainable, safe and efficient logistics processes: the open EPAL pallet pool.
A key factor in EPAL’s success story is standardisation and quality assurance. Companies can rely on the fact that EPAL pallets have the same dimensions, the same quality and the same load-bearing capacity everywhere. This builds trust and forms the basis for the international exchange pool and the reliable use of EPAL pallets in increasingly automated logistics processes.
Jarek Maciążek , President of EPAL:
“EPAL stands for trust through quality and reliability. This trust must be earned anew every single day, and that is exactly what we at EPAL have been doing for 35 years and will continue to do in the future. Especially in times of economic challenges and complex supply chains, reliable and internationally recognised standards are more important than ever.”
EPAL’s success is also based on its international network of manufacturers, repairers and service providers, and of course the millions of users of EPAL pallets across industry, trade and logistics.
This international network has built trust over decades and continues to form the basis for the strength of the open EPAL pallet pool. EPAL pallets can be used in every country in the world and across all sectors. Any company that uses pallets can participate in the open EPAL pallet pool without having to register with EPAL or make any payments to EPAL.
Dirk Hoferer, President of EPAL:
“We would like to thank all users of EPAL pallets and the more than 1,700 EPAL licensees who manufacture and repair EPAL pallets on a daily basis for the many years of excellent cooperation. Special thanks also go to the national associations and the many EPAL employees who have contributed to the extraordinary development in the past and who are now working for EPAL in more than 40 countries. The users of EPAL pallets, as well as the licensees and employees, form the strong basis of EPAL and the open EPAL pallet pool.”
On the occasion of its 35th anniversary, EPAL is looking not only to the past, but above all to the future. Digitalisation, automation, artificial intelligence and the circular economy will shape the development of logistics in the coming years. Supply chains are becoming more complex, sustainability requirements are increasing, and digital solutions are transforming the logistics industry. EPAL is responding to this change with innovations such as the EPAL Europallet QR and the EPAL Pallet App, as well as through close collaboration with start-ups and other partners.
Robert Holliger, Honorary President and one of the co-founders of EPAL:
“The EPAL Euro pallet and all other EPAL pallets have long been more than just load carriers. They have become symbols of international cooperation. EPAL connects people worldwide. Although it is companies that use EPAL pallets in their supply chains, ultimately it is people who need the products transported on EPAL pallets worldwide. That is why we at EPAL bear a great responsibility for quality, safety and sustainability in logistics, both today and in the future.”
On 19 June 2026, EPAL will celebrate its 35th anniversary in Munich, the site of its founding meeting, with an international conference and a major anniversary celebration. To mark the anniversary, EPAL is releasing a new video that summarises EPAL’s work in a simple and entertaining way.
About EPAL:
The European Pallet Association e.V. (EPAL), founded in 1991, is an international non-profit association and organises the open EPAL pallet pool. More than 1,700 EPAL licensees produce and repair EPAL Euro pallets and other EPAL load carriers. Currently, there are more than 670 million EPAL Euro pallets and around 20 million EPAL box pallets in circulation, making the EPAL pallet pool the world’s largest open pallet exchange pool.
With its principles of re-use, exchange, repair and recycling of pallets, the open EPAL pallet pool has been a prime example of a sustainable circular economy for more than three decades. EPAL wooden Euro pallets make a significant contribution to climate protection. They store CO2 , prevent waste, reduce the demand for timber and thus improve the CO2 footprint of users in industry, retail and logistics.
Further information for journalists:
European Pallet Association e.V. (EPAL)
Fabian Preuss (Communications Manager)
T +49 (0) 211 98 480 48 55
M +49 (0) 0152 55 33 62 88
fabian.preuss@epal-pallets.org