Trends in the use of materials for pallets and other factors affecting the demand for hardwood products

Abstract

The pallet and container industry plays a critical role in the forest products industry and the U.S. economy. The industry provides a large market for low-grade wood, employs more than 50,000 in the U.S., and its products facilitate the shipment of goods within and outside the country. Due to the importance of this industry, the Center for Forest Products Marketing and Management, Department of Wood Science and Forest Products, at Virginia Tech and the U.S. Forest Service collaborated on a series of studies during the 1990s designed to track and report industry trends. These studies focused on the use of wood materials by the industry during the years 1992, 1993, 1995, and 1999, as well as the level of pallet recovery and reuse. This paper describes some of the trends suggested by the study results and identifies factors that will affect future hardwood use by the industry.

Citation

Bush, Robert J.; Bejune, Jeffery J.; Hansen, Bruce G.; Araman, Philip A. 2002. Trends in the use of materials for pallets and other factors affecting the demand for hardwood products. Proceedings, 30th Annual Hardwood Symposium. 76-81.