Record EPAL Euro pallet production achieved again in 2022
109 million new EPAL Euro pallets produced in 2022
Record EPAL Euro pallet production achieved again in 2022
The success story of the European Pallet Association e.V. (EPAL) continued in 2022. Following the milestone of producing more than 100 million new EPAL Euro pallets for the first time in a calendar year in 2021, EPAL has increased production to a new record of 109.05 million EPAL Euro pallets. This represents a growth of 7.55 % or 7.65 million EPAL Euro pallets year on year.
Strong growth in EPAL Euro pallets and EPAL Box pallets production
Repair volumes for EPAL Euro pallets were almost exactly the same as the previous year (-0.33 %). After the significantly lower return of used EPAL Euro pallets in the first half of 2022 initially led to a decline in repair numbers, this was almost completely reversed in the second half of the 2022 by a positive development in repairs.
The production of EPAL Box pallets also developed positively. After significant growth of 66.7 % in 2021 to 288,000 EPAL Box pallets, production once again increased substantially in 2022 to 340,400 EPAL Box pallets (+18 %).
Dirk Hoferer and Jarek Maciążek, Co-Presidents of EPAL:
“EPAL faced many challenges in 2022. The war in Ukraine impacted Ukrainian EPAL licensees on a personal level while many European supply routes for pallet timber and nails were disrupted. However, the significant commitment of EPAL licensees ensured they were able to overcome these difficulties and therefore meet the growing demand for exchangeable EPAL Euro pallets at all times. We would like to thank the more than 1,600 EPAL licensees producing and repairing EPAL pallets. They are the bedrock of reliable supply of high-quality new and used EPAL pallets to industry, retail and logistics.”
More than 650 million EPAL Euro pallets in circulation
The high quality of EPAL pallets is an extremely important factor in ensuring not only the safety of people and goods in logistics but also the long service life of EPAL Euro pallets. Various studies have shown this to be between six and ten years. Based on an average service life of seven years and production data from recent years, there are currently substantially more than 650 million EPAL Euro pallets available through the open EPAL pallet pool.
Davide Dellavalle, Vice-President of EPAL:
“With more than 650 million EPAL Euro pallets in circulation, the open EPAL Euro pallet pool is by far the largest Euro pallet pool in the world. EPAL Euro pallet users have free access to an almost infinite number of high-quality used EPAL Euro pallets at any time and throughout Europe in addition to rapid delivery of new EPAL Euro pallets.”
Resilience of the EPAL Euro pallet pool
The resilience of the EPAL Euro pallet pool was also one of the key success factors for EPAL in 2022. Following experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the production of EPAL Euro pallets proved to be an essential activity for logistics, every participant in the open EPAL pallet pool recognises that reliable availability of EPAL Euro pallets for industry and retail is the foundation of stable supply chains. Users from industry, retail and logistics can call on more than 500 EPAL licensees producing new EPAL pallets through the open EPAL pallet pool as well as more than 1,100 repair operations supplying users with used EPAL pallets.
Tatyana Sargsyan, Vice-President of EPAL:
“The tight EPAL licensee network in Europe, which is supplemented by many service providers and countless users, avoids having to rely on just one supplier and ensures rapid delivery over short transport distances. There was therefore no adverse impact on user’s logistics processes and pallet logistics during 2022 despite the high levels of demand.”
The EPAL pallet pool – open and independent
The tight network of EPAL licensees and EPAL pallet users is the result of the openness and independence of the EPAL pallet pool. Every company can participate in the exchange of EPAL Euro pallets through its logistics operations and adapt it to suit its own requirements. At the same time, pallet producers and repair operations as well as service providers and logistics platforms have free access to the open EPAL pallet pool as EPAL is an independent association and is therefore not tied to any company with its own profit targets.
Jean-Philippe Gaussorgues, Vice-President of EPAL:
“EPAL licensees, EPAL pallet users and the many service providers in the open EPAL pallet pool have a mutual objective to ensure the quality of EPAL load carriers remains consistently high throughout the world. This ensures reliable use of EPAL pallets in all logistics scenarios from high-bay racking systems and automated conveyor systems, to shipping logistics, and typical applications in industry and retail. The combination of uniform load carriers for all logistics processes and trouble-free use is a significant cost benefit for users.
The success of the EPAL Euro pallet as the leading European load carrier is based on this.”
About EPAL:
As an international association, the European Pallet Association e.V. (EPAL) is responsible for organising the EPAL Euro pallet exchange pool. EPAL Euro pallets are the cornerstone of industrial and retail supply chains in Europe. The EPAL brand stands for quality, safety and sustainability in logistics.
There are currently more than 650 million EPAL Euro pallets and approximately 20 million EPAL Box pallets in circulation making the EPAL Euro pallet exchange pool the biggest open pallet exchange pool in the world. More than 1,600 EPAL licensees produce and repair EPAL Euro pallets and other EPAL load carriers.
As a non-profit organisation, EPAL does not pursue any commercial interests. Founded in 1991 as the international association for exchangeable Euro pallets, EPAL is currently active in over 35 countries through national associations and representatives. The central focus of EPAL’s activity is the organisation of the international EPAL Euro pallet exchange pool and the quality assurance of the production and repair of EPAL Euro pallets, EPAL Box pallets, and other EPAL load carriers.
The EPAL Euro pallet exchange pool, with its principles of reuse, exchange, repair and recycling, has been an exemplar for a sustainable circular economy for more than three decades. Wooden EPAL Euro pallets make a significant contribution to protecting the climate. They store CO2, prevent waste and improve the carbon footprint of users in industry, retail and logistics through reuse, exchange, repair and recycling.
For further press information:
European Pallet Association e.V. (EPAL)
Bernd Dörre (CEO)
T +49 (0) 211 98 480 48 95
M +49 (0) 151 16 50 45 74
bernd.doerre@epal-pallets.org
www.epal.eu