Aug 16, 2012 7:00 AM

The use of bisphenol (BP)-free export pallets is important to ensure product safety in the food, produce, and pharmaceutical industries.

Although banned in the United States, many of the materials used by overseas pallet manufacturers to prevent mold, insect infestations, and fire hazards—including brominated phenols (TBP), trichlorophenol (TCP), and methyl phenols (MP)—can impart strong odors that result in product contamination. The toxicity of these materials poses public health and environmental safety concerns.

Pharmaceutical companies, including Abbott and Alcon Laboratories, are now partnering with Litco to meet their BP-free transit packaging pallet requirements. Litco’s system, the Inca presswood pallet, is certified to be free of these harmful chemicals.

Presswood pallets are Cradle to Cradle Certified Silver for sustainability by McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC). They are made from a combination of wood fiber and resin precision-molded under high heat and pressure.

Extreme heat used to mold presswood pallets reduces moisture content to less than 3%, naturally ridding pallets of insect infestations and imparting much higher mold resistance compared with conventional heat-treated wooden pallets.

These enhanced performance characteristics make presswood pallets an ideal choice for export-related applications. And, because they are considered “processed wood,” Litco pallets are not regulated by IPPC-ISPM 15 and are welcome worldwide as-is.

Presswood pallets also offer shippers additional advantages over traditional wood pallets, including lower handling and storage costs, ergonomic benefits, and consistent tare weights. For more information, visit www.litco.com.