New markets do require new approaches. In particular, it is currently the Peoples Republic of China where EPAL is facing this challenge. There are many difficulties that the 13 companies who have been equipped with EPAL licenses by now (and who are convinced of the EPAL/EUR system) are confronted with.

One of the major problems pallet producers are experiencing is the lack of domestic wood. Thousands of cubic meters are imported alone every year in order to be able to carry the goods of the new world export champion on pallets out of the country. At present, China mainly uses one-way pallets, which are quite useless with regard to the consignee’s supply chain. The consignees are forced to spend a lot of money on reloading the merchandise in order to allow safe and protected storage.

The pool of EPAL/EUR pallets provides a quality-assured and world-wide exchangeable alternative. In addition to the easy storage based on standards accepted all over the world, EPAL/EUR pallets constitute an active contribution to the protection of the environment. On average, a pallet needs to be amended not until after eight to ten circulations, afterwards it may be brought back into the pool in mint condition.
In one of the next editions to follow EPAL-News will provide information about the situation and the strategy in China in a more detailed way. Information about a detailed study on containers which, in particular, deals with the loading and the capacity utilization of maritime containers from China is already available here:

Container Research Brepal