Plastic Pallets Let Shippers Calculate Fuel Savings, Greenhouse Gas Reductions

A new all-plastic pallet pool with embedded radio frequency identification tags (RFID) contains an online calculator that enables companies to instantly see the reduction in fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions. The pallet is from Intelligent Global Pooling Systems (iGPS Company LLC). The calculator uses data issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that quantifies relationships between cargo weight, fuel usage and greenhouse gas emissions.

"The weight difference between our all-plastic pallet and the typical multi-use wood pallet is dramatic: twenty-seven pounds," said Bob Moore, Chairman and CEO of iGPS. "As a result, shippers shed hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds of unnecessary weight with each truckload when they switch from typical multi-use wood pallets to our lighter iGPS plastic pallet. Lessening weight reduces fuel consumption, which in turn reduces greenhouse gas emissions. With record high fuel costs, any measure to conserve is important."

To use the calculator companies input the number of truckloads they ship annually, along with the average number of pallets per truckload. Utilizing EPA data, the calculator instantly displays the total annual reduction in weight shippers would realize by utilizing iGPS's lighter pallets, the fuel savings that would result and associated greenhouse gas emissions that would be avoided.

The plastic pallet, which meets all GMA requirements and weighs 30% less than typical multi-use wood pallets, is UL 2335 certified fire-retardant and 100% recyclable.