Sustainable by Design
Responsibly sourced fiber.
Fully recyclable corrugated.
Less unnecessary material moving through the supply chain.
SUSTAINABLE SOURCING
Responsible Fiber
Starts at the Source
We source 100% of our corrugated materials from major North American producers with documented responsible sourcing programs, including recognized sustainable forestry standards such as SFI® and FSC®.
Ecodek's sustainability story starts before the pallet is built.
Our corrugated materials come through established North American paper and packaging supply chains, giving you a renewable, widely recycled material with a well-documented supply chain.
Renewable Resources
Corrugated is made from renewable wood fiber, supporting healthy forests and a more sustainable supply chain.
RIGHT MATERIAL FOR THE JOB
Use Only What
the Application Requires
Ecodek pallets can use single-wall, double-wall, and triple-wall corrugated, depending on the component and load requirements.
The goal isn't just to be lightweight - it's to use the structure required to support the load without unnecessary pallet material.
We engineer each design to match your application, using the appropriate corrugated construction in each area of the pallet so you get the performance you need without excess material.
Single-Wall
Often used for bottom decks and other components where lighter construction is appropriate.
Double-Wall
Provides added strength for top decks and heavier-duty bottom decks.
Triple-Wall
Used primarily for top decks when greater strength and stiffness are required.
CORRUGATED RECYCLES
Fully Recyclable
Corrugated
Ecodek pallets are made from corrugated paperboard using standard box-industry adhesives and ordinary box ink where markings are required. They contain no nails, metal fasteners, plastic, foam, or other foreign components that need to be separated before recycling.
At the end of their useful life, Ecodek pallets can be recycled through normal corrugated recycling streams, alongside the other cardboard generated by a facility, helping keep valuable fiber in use.
A CLEANER SOLUTION
A Cleaner
Pallet Material
Ecodek pallets provide a clean, consistent paper-based platform without wood splinters or protruding metal fasteners.
Materials and documentation can be reviewed against your facility’s handling and cleanliness requirements.
No protruding nails or metal fasteners
No wood splinters or lumber debris
Clean, consistent manufactured surfaces
Made with FDA-authorized food-packaging materials
Technical Material Details
The details below provide additional information about the corrugated materials, specifications, sourcing, and components used in Ecodek pallets.
Explore the technical details below.
Click any section to expand and learn more about Ecodek pallet design and construction.
Material Strength Ratings ▾
Corrugated materials may be specified using either Edge Crush Test (ECT) or Mullen Burst Test ratings.
ECT measures resistance to edgewise compression, while the Mullen Burst Test measures resistance to bursting pressure through the face of the board. Because the two tests measure different properties, the ratings are not directly interchangeable.
GreenLabel uses these ratings primarily as material specifications when purchasing corrugated sheets from mills. They help identify and maintain the grades of material used in production, but an ECT or Mullen rating by itself does not indicate how that material will perform as part of a finished pallet.
GreenLabel does not design a pallet by selecting an ECT or Mullen number. Drawing on more than 30 years of corrugated pallet experience, we select material grades based on the complete application, including the product, load, pallet configuration, handling requirements, and the role of each component within the design.
For reference, pallet materials we commonly use include double-wall grades beginning around 48 ECT and triple-wall grades beginning around 67 ECT, while other corrugated components may be specified using Mullen ratings such as 200 lb or 275 lb.
Edge Crush Test (ECT)
Mullen Burst Test
Corrugated Material Selection ▾
Ecodek pallets can use single-wall, double-wall, and triple-wall corrugated materials depending on the pallet component and the requirements of the application.
GreenLabel does not simply use the heaviest material throughout every pallet. Material is selected based on the job each component needs to perform, allowing strength and stiffness to be placed where they are needed without adding unnecessary material elsewhere.
Material selection can be influenced by:
- Total load
- Concentrated pressure points
- Unsupported spans
- Deck stiffness
- Pallet dimensions
- Handling requirements
- Overall pallet configuration
The result is a pallet designed around the application rather than around a single material grade.
Responsible Fiber Sourcing ▾
We source 100% of our corrugated materials from major North American producers with documented responsible sourcing programs, including recognized sustainable forestry standards such as SFI® and FSC®.
Responsible sourcing begins before the material reaches GreenLabel. Our corrugated materials come through established North American paper and packaging supply chains with documented fiber-sourcing and forestry programs.
Supplier documentation is maintained as part of our material records and can be provided when requested by a customer.
Adhesives, Ink & Pallet Components ▾
Standard Ecodek pallets are made primarily from corrugated paperboard using adhesives common to the corrugated packaging industry.
GreenLabel uses PVA cold-set adhesives for pallet assembly and may use EVA-based adhesives in certain laminated corrugated components. Ordinary box-industry ink is used where identification markings, such as the Ecodek green dot, are required.
Standard Ecodek pallets contain no:
- Nails
- Metal fasteners
- Plastic components
- Foam
- Wax coatings
- Laminated plastic films
The result is a simple paper-based construction without foreign materials that need to be separated before recycling.
Material Consistency & Supplier Equivalency ▾
Corrugated grades can vary between mills even when materials are intended for similar applications.
GreenLabel evaluates materials against established specifications and performance requirements rather than relying only on a supplier’s product name or grade designation.
When equivalent material from another mill is considered for production, it is evaluated against the requirements established for that Ecodek component before being substituted.
This allows GreenLabel to maintain consistent material performance while working with multiple qualified North American corrugated producers.
Food-Related Material Documentation ▾
Ecodek pallets use the same corrugated materials, box-industry adhesives, and ordinary box ink across applications. GreenLabel does not manufacture a separate food-industry version of the pallet.
The materials used in Ecodek construction are suitable for FDA-regulated food-packaging applications, and GreenLabel can provide supporting supplier documentation for the applicable paperboard components and adhesives when required.
This documentation can support customers whose internal quality, food-safety, or supplier-approval programs require information about packaging materials entering their facilities.
Fully Recyclable Construction ▾
Ecodek pallets are made from recyclable corrugated paperboard along with standard box-industry adhesives and ordinary box ink.
Because standard Ecodek pallets contain no nails, metal fasteners, plastic, foam, or other foreign components, those materials do not need to be removed before recycling.
At the end of their useful life, Ecodek pallets can be recycled through normal corrugated and cardboard recycling streams alongside the other corrugated material generated by a manufacturing or distribution facility.
Where localized paperboard reinforcement is incorporated into a design, it remains paper-based and does not change the pallet’s recyclability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Materials & Sustainability FAQ
Are Ecodek pallets fully recyclable?
Yes. All Ecodek pallets are made from corrugated paperboard, box-industry adhesives, and ordinary box ink and can be recycled through normal corrugated and cardboard recycling streams.
Can Ecodek pallets be recycled with regular corrugated boxes?
Yes. They can typically be handled with the other corrugated material generated by a manufacturing or distribution facility.
Do Ecodek pallets contain nails or metal fasteners?
No. Standard Ecodek pallets contain no nails, staples, or other metal fasteners.
Do Ecodek pallets contain plastic or foam components?
No. Standard Ecodek construction does not use plastic components, foam, laminated plastic films, or similar non-paper materials.
Does the adhesive affect recyclability?
No. Ecodek pallets use adhesives commonly used throughout the corrugated packaging industry and remain compatible with normal corrugated recycling streams.
Is the green identification mark recyclable?
Yes. The green Ecodek marking uses ordinary box-industry ink and does not need to be removed before recycling.
Where does GreenLabel source its corrugated material?
GreenLabel sources its corrugated materials from major North American producers with documented responsible sourcing programs.
Are the materials sourced under recognized forestry standards?
Our major corrugated suppliers maintain responsible sourcing programs that include recognized sustainable forestry standards such as SFI® and FSC®.
Is GreenLabel itself FSC or SFI certified?
GreenLabel sources material from producers with recognized forestry and responsible sourcing programs, but the GreenLabel facility itself is not represented as FSC- or SFI-certified.
How much recycled content is used in Ecodek pallets?
The recycled content of corrugated materials can vary by paper grade, mill, and supplier, so Ecodek pallets do not have one fixed recycled-content percentage. GreenLabel sources materials from major North American corrugated producers that use both recycled and responsibly sourced virgin fiber in their paper systems. Supplier documentation can be provided when a specific recycled-content requirement needs to be verified.
Are all Ecodek pallets made from the same corrugated grade?
No. Single-wall, double-wall, and triple-wall materials can be used depending on the component and requirements of the application.
Why not simply use the heaviest corrugated material everywhere?
Using more material does not automatically produce a better pallet. GreenLabel selects material based on load, spans, stiffness, dimensions, handling, and the role of each component.
What is the difference between ECT and Mullen ratings?
ECT measures resistance to edgewise compression, while the Mullen Burst Test measures resistance to bursting pressure through the face of the board. They measure different material properties and are not directly interchangeable.
Why does GreenLabel use ECT and Mullen ratings if they do not determine pallet performance?
ECT and Mullen ratings are primarily material specifications used when purchasing corrugated sheets from mills. They describe certain properties of the board, but they do not tell us how that material will perform as part of a finished pallet.
GreenLabel does not design a pallet by simply choosing an ECT or Mullen number. We use more than 30 years of corrugated pallet experience to determine the appropriate material grade for each component based on the product, load, handling, pallet configuration, and overall design.
Are Ecodek pallets made differently for food-related applications?
No. The same basic corrugated materials, adhesives, and ink are used across Ecodek applications.
Are the materials suitable for food-related packaging applications?
The materials used in Ecodek construction are used in FDA-regulated food-packaging applications. Supporting supplier documentation for applicable paperboard and adhesives can be provided when required.
Are Ecodek pallets FDA approved?
GreenLabel Packaging is not a direct food-contact packaging supplier. Ecodek pallets are used as secondary and transport packaging, typically beneath packaged products rather than in direct contact with food.
For food-related applications, we follow standard practices for secondary packaging and use corrugated paperboard, adhesives, and inks commonly used in FDA-regulated food-packaging applications. When required, GreenLabel can provide supporting material documentation, product labeling, and traceability records for the pallets supplied.
Can reducing pallet material also reduce material moving through the supply chain?
Yes. Designing the pallet around what the application actually requires can reduce unnecessary pallet material and non-product mass without simply overbuilding every component.
Let's Design the Right Pallet.
Tell us what you’re shipping and we’ll design a corrugated pallet built around your product, your operation, and the way it moves.