EPAL pallet production reaches record levels in 2021


Annual production of new EPAL Euro pallets exceeded 100 million for the first time in 2021

Düsseldorf, 3 May 2022 – The European Pallet Association e.V. (EPAL) maintained the continuous growth of the EPAL Euro pallet pool in 2021. More than 100 million new EPAL Euro pallets were produced for the first time in a calendar year in 2021.

Record result of 101.3 million new EPAL Euro pallets

The record result of 101.3 million new EPAL Euro pallets represents a year-on-year growth of 5.5 % (96.1 million EPAL Euro pallets were produced in 2020). There was also significant growth of 7.6 % in repairs. The production of EPAL Box pallets, which grew by 66.7 % to 288,149 box pallets, is worth highlighting here. The total production and repair volume in 2021 for all EPAL load carriers grew by +6 % to a total of 130.8 million pallets.

Robert Holliger, President of EPAL: “2021 was a year of profound challenges. On the one hand, the economic upturn following the anticipated easing of the COVID-19 pandemic generated a substantial demand for EPAL load carriers. On the other, the shortage of and considerable increase in the price of wood made the situation very difficult for producers and repairers of EPAL Euro pallets. We are therefore particularly proud that it was possible to increase production of EPAL Euro pallets, despite the shortage of wood. We would like to thank EPAL licensees and users of EPAL Euro pallets for this exceptional result.”

Maintaining industrial and retail supply chains

Concerns that it would not be possible to supply industrial and retail users with sufficient numbers of EPAL Euro pallets as a result of the shortage of and increase in the price of wood in spring 2021 proved, in hindsight, to be unwarranted. The EPAL Euro pallet pool continued to be a reliable partner in 2021 for industry and retail, and their supply chains, and ensured the on-going availability of EPAL Euro pallets.

Bernd Dörre, EPAL CEO, “The high levels of trust users have for the open EPAL Euro pallet pool also proves how important EPAL Euro pallets are for the international logistics sector. In addition to guaranteeing the efficiency and safety of logistics processes, using EPAL Euro pallets also helps users achieve their sustainability goals. The reuse of EPAL Euro pallets protects wood resources and reduces CO2 emissions from production and transportation. The EPAL Euro pallet pool is an exemplar for a sustainable circular economy. It is therefore no surprise that the number of participants in open pallet exchange is continuing to grow and that this has led to the record number of EPAL Euro pallets produced.”

It is currently difficult to know whether this record result can be repeated in 2022 due to the significant impacts of the war in Ukraine. However, the growth in the production of EPAL Euro pallets continued in the first quarter of 2022. Secure supply of EPAL Euro pallets is therefore guaranteed.

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 approximately 625 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 1,500 EPAL licensees produce and repair EPAL Euro pallets and other EPAL load carriers globally.

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 30 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)

Andrea Engels

T   +49 (0) 211 98 480 48 93

Mobile +49 (0) 172 69 325 95

andrea.engels@epal-pallets.org   

www.epal.eu