In order for pallets to be compliant with international shipping laws, they must be treated with either heat or chemicals. While both options are acceptable, fumigation can impact pallets health and environment negatively, so the use of heat is the better option.
The reason pallets are treated is because there are certain trade regulations and laws, and treating wood packaging is a must because it helps eliminate pests. Heat treatment and chemical fumigation are two ways to successfully complete this task, although most companies use heat treatments because it has more advantages, including the fact that it does not present any health risks. This treatment does not have any negative environmental effects and will reduce your costs quite a bit, so it’s definitely the better option as there are far more benefits.
Chemical fumigation does come with a number of risks, so fewer companies are using this option. Methyl bromide is the chemical that is used in wood packaging fumigation, and while it was once widely used for different purposes and industries around the world, its use has been reduced because of its harmful effects. This chemical can damage your lungs, burn your skin, harm your kidneys, and irritate your eyes if you are exposed to it. It can also lead to a number of health issues while causing negative neurological effects. Additionally, methyl bromide also causes ozone damage in the earth’s atmosphere, which allows more harmful UV radiation from the sun to reach our planet’s surface. There are far too many risks involved and it is harmful to both humans and the environment.
Heat treatment, on the other hand, has no negative health effects and will not damage the environment in any way. The heat treatment process heats the inside of the lumber for a specific amount of time and at a specific temperature setting to ensure all pests and pathogens are eliminated. This is achieved without the use of chemicals or health risks that are part of the chemical fumigation process. Heat treatment also costs less, so you can pass on these savings to your customers and gain more clients. If you are a high-volume exporter, you will save a significant amount of money as this cost reduction will add up over time.
The reality is that chemicals are not required to sterilize pallets and packaging because the heat treatment is equally as effective and will get the job done. It is possible to eliminate pathogens and pests without chemical fumigation, and heat treatment will allow you to do this without any health risks. Heat treatment does not require transport to specialized fumigation sites, so the treatment can be completed faster, which is another bonus.
If you’re looking for wooden pallets, Geo Pallet Ltd. can help! We will discuss the way our pallets have been treated, so if you are looking for sale prices, give us a call today!
