The volume of pallets repaired annually and reused has increased for another year, according to the Timber Packaging & Pallet Confederation (TIMCON)’s annual survey of the timber packaging market in the UK.

The UK Wood Pallet & Packaging Market in 2019, commissioned jointly by TIMCON and the Forestry Commission, estimated that a total of 48.3 million wooden pallets were repaired last year, up by 5 per cent on the previous year. The figures for newly manufactured pallets remained similar to 2018, at 44.9m.

The report also revealed a general upward trend in like-for-like demand for heat-treated and kiln-dried pallets.

Guy Watt, Managing Director of John Clegg Consulting, which produces the report, presented the findings to TIMCON’s general meeting, which was held online in December and attended by more than 50 delegates. The event focused on final preparations for Brexit and included a presentation by DEFRA, commending TIMCON’s work with government to ensure that the wooden pallet and packaging industry – and the food, drink, pharmaceutical and many other supply chains it serves – are prepared for the end of the transition period on December 31, 2020.

TIMCON President John Dye said: “The figures in TIMCON’s latest annual UK Wood Pallet & Packaging Market report show another encouraging increase in the number of pallets we are recycling every year. This is consistent with our aim to encourage the reuse of wooden pallets and packaging first and foremost, before recycling at their end of their useful life.

“The annual survey provides invaluable understanding of the main market dynamics in wooden packaging and pallets. This has become particularly important over recent months as we have moved towards the end of the Brexit transition period and during the pandemic has helped us illustrate the scale of this industry, which supports vital supply chains and as such has been designated an essential sector.

“We greatly appreciate the support of the Forestry Commission in producing this report every year.”

Gary Dorken of Defra’s Plant Health Team also gave a presentation about Brexit to the meeting and commended TIMCON’s work with government, industry organisations and supply chain to ensure that stocks of ISPM15-compliant pallets and packaging are available from January 1, 2021.

Dye and Stuart Hex, Secretary General of TIMCON, reminded delegates about the other work it carried out during the year, including lobbying for, and achieving, essential worker status for the industry during the pandemic, and liaising with CONFOR to help it do the same for the entire forestry sector; preparing TIMCON guidance for COVID-safe working practices; and lobbying the Irish government on the backlog of felling licences in the country.

TIMCON has worked hard lobbying on packaging waste recycling targets and was pleased with announcement that packaging made from timber was the only material that had its targets reduced – from 48 per cent currently to 35 per cent – for the next two years. They also look forward to working with other wood associations in the near future to address their concerns that the reduction will increase materials going directly to biomass.

Fons Ceelaert, Secretary General of the European Federation of Wooden Pallet & Packaging Manufacturers (FEFPEB), gave an update on the European industry, including Brexit-related developments.

There was also discussion of current issues affecting the sector, including ongoing availability/supply concerns and significant delays in ports, which has been brought about by global imbalance of trade caused by coronavirus disruption.

• The annual UK Wood Pallet & Packaging Market surveys TIMCON members, who represent approximately 70 per cent of the UK wooden pallet and packaging market, to estimate activities in the UK market.
• TIMCON is the acknowledged representative body of the UK and Republic of Ireland wooden pallet and packaging industry, encompassing manufacturers, the four major pallet pooling companies and the majority of sawmills who supply the industry from UK and Ireland and suppliers to the industry such as kiln and composite block manufacturers.
• TIMCON members manufacture 70 per cent of the UK’s 43 million new pallets every year; they use around one million cubic metres of wood, representing between 25 and 30% of the UK’s sawmilling production.
• The wooden packaging and pallet industry is a significant employer, which is crucial to the UK sawmill industry and forestry sector as a market for timber produced from small logs and falling boards from larger logs.