Food manufacturers put enormous effort into preventing foreign materials from entering their products. Ingredients, equipment, processing areas and packaging are carefully monitored.

But what about the pallet?

A recent bread recall provides an unusual reminder that pallets themselves can be a potential source of foreign material.

In August 2026, Grand Central Bakery recalled certain loaves of Potato Sourdough Bread because of the potential presence of metal. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the recall was initiated after a pallet nail was discovered in a loaf of bread.

Fortunately, no injuries or illnesses were reported.

Wood pallets are used successfully throughout the supply chain every day. But in food manufacturing and other cleanliness-sensitive environments, it's worth considering what the pallet itself brings into the facility.

Depending on their construction and condition, wood pallets can introduce:

• Nails and other metal fasteners
• Splinters and loose wood
• Broken or damaged boards
• Dirt and debris trapped in rough surfaces
• Additional foreign material as pallets become damaged or deteriorate

For manufacturers with strict sanitation and foreign-material-control programs, pallets deserve consideration along with the other materials entering the facility.

Corrugated pallets are constructed differently.

A properly designed corrugated pallet requires no nails or metal fasteners. There are no wooden deck boards to splinter or break apart.

That doesn't mean corrugated pallets are right for every application, and pallet selection is only one small part of a comprehensive food-safety program.

But eliminating certain materials from the pallet's construction also eliminates them as potential sources of pallet-related foreign material.

For food, beverage, pharmaceutical and other cleanliness-sensitive applications, that's worth considering.

Pallet selection is often reduced to two questions: How much does it cost, and how much weight can it hold?

The actual application is more complicated.

Pallets may travel through production areas, warehouses and distribution centers. Their design should account for the product being carried, load configuration, material-handling equipment, storage conditions and the environment in which they'll be used.

Corrugated pallets can be engineered around those specific conditions rather than treating every application the same.

They also offer additional benefits including low weight, recyclability and exemption from the ISPM 15 requirements that apply to regulated solid-wood packaging used in international shipping.

The recent bread recall is an extreme example, but it illustrates an important point.

Something as small and ordinary as a pallet nail can become a much larger issue when it ends up somewhere it doesn't belong.

For manufacturers evaluating ways to reduce foreign-material risks within their facilities, the pallet may be worth another look.

GreenLabel Packaging designs custom corrugated pallets around the product, handling environment and distribution requirements of each application.

Interested in finding out whether corrugated pallets make sense for your application? Contact GreenLabel Packaging to discuss your requirements.

The global paper pallets market is currently valued at around US$ 633 million, and is anticipated to progress at a CAGR of 5.6% to reach US$ 983 million by 2029.
Banking on superior design and performance parameters when compared with wooden pallets, paper pallets continue to be a strong potential contender holding the future of pallet industry. Though accounting for a negligible share in the current global pallet market, paper pallet is expected to see a robust 5.6% CAGR during 2022 - 2029.
Market Size 2022 US$ 670 Mn
Market Size 2029US$ 983 Mn
Value CAGR (2022-2029)5.6%
Collective Value Share: Top 5 Companies (2021A)15%
This strong growth outlook, as suggested by a new research study of Future Market Insights (FMI), is majorly attributed to complementarity of paper pallet with the Light weighting trend. It also warrants a higher level of in-transit security and compatibility with process automation that is underway.
Adoption of paper pallet is on a slight yet constant rise owing to its resilient structure and complete recyclability. Cost efficiency would remain an add-on, opines the report. Through 2029, the current market value of paper pallets is projected to double.
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(Bloomberg) --

After carrying the weight of the global economy since World War II with little fanfare, the lowly shipping pallet is finally commanding some respect.

Demand for the platforms used to haul nearly every consumer good or industrial ingredient is soaring amid a surge in e-commerce, forcing retailers and manufacturers to expand warehouses or pile inventories higher. At the same time, two keys to production -- cheap lumber and labor -- are scarce, and even nail costs are rising.

The result: Pallet prices have hit record highs, according to a U.S. Labor Department index, and European gauges show big jumps from the U.K. to Germany. The market may stay hot through the peak construction season in the springtime and as Covid-19 vaccines help revive restaurants and event venues -- adding to inflationary pressures rippling across supply chains.

GreenLabel Packaging is operating as an essential business to supply necessary Ecodek corrugated pallets and shipping materials to our customers. Many of the corrugated pallets are used to ship food, disinfectants, pharmaceutical, personal care and manufacturing products during the COVID-19 response.

We have precautionary measures in place to protect everyone from our employees, our families, customers and suppliers. We are following up to date CDC Guidelines, health practices, equipment and facilities cleaning and social distancing.

Ecodek Corrugated pallets remain a safe shipping solution free of contaminants (COVID-19) or bugs that can be associated with wood or plastic pallets. We are committed to providing excellent products and service as an essential part of the supply chain.

​We built the world's smallest Ecodek Corrugated Pallets.  Measuring 4 1/4” x 3” x 3/4” these little pallets feature 4-way forklift access and a die-cut bottom deck for pallet jacks; if tiny material handling equipment exist.  Each pallet has $50 worth of amazon gift cards strapped on top.  These mini pallets have been donated to be used as a prize for a golf outing hosted by a valued customer.