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Latest pallet figures highlight strong reuse trend: Timber Packaging & Pallet Confederation (TIMCON)
The wooden pallet industry is continuing to drive reuse in supply chains, according to latest annual market figures.
According to the 2024 UK Wood Pallets & Packaging Market, an independent study commissioned jointly by the Timber Packaging & Pallet Confederation (TIMCON) and the Forestry Commission, pallet reuse is continuing its upward trend.
The latest figures were presented to delegates at TIMCON’s AGM at the Westminster Hotel in London, by Guy Watt of John Clegg Consulting, who carried out the study. They show that, during 2024, an estimated 53.9 million wooden pallets were inspected and repaired in the UK market, close to the 54.1m estimate the previous year.
New pallet manufacture rose 11 per cent, from 41.7m in 2023 to 46.3 in 2024.
The survey found that respondents consider the sourcing and retention of good-quality staff to be the most important factor that will impact on their business in the year ahead, the same as in the previous year’s study. This was followed by increasing costs and inflation; strong competition; general economic uncertainty; and difficulties in the availability and price of timber.
Now in its tenth year, the annual market report is based on a survey of TIMCON members, who are estimated to account for between 70 and 80 per cent of the UK market overall.
TIMCON President John Dye said: “It’s encouraging to see another year of strong reuse, which is a well-established and major part of businesses’ strategies in supply chains from the fmcg and drinks sectors to pharmaceuticals and construction. Reuse of these essential assets makes companies more efficient and at a time when sustainability-focused legislation is rolling out in the UK, the EU, and beyond, it boosts their environmental performance, too.
“This is the tenth year TIMCON has jointly commissioned this study alongside the Forestry Commission, giving our members invaluable insights into how their industry is developing and providing vital data to policymakers on how reuse has continued to evolve in this business.
“Wood continues to be the material of choice for pallets and packaging because of its continuous renewability, flexibility, and recyclability – not to mention its durability, relative economy, and all-round sustainability.”
TIMCON’s AGM also featured a presentation by Thierry Moubax, CEO and co-founder of AI Compass, which detailed the ways in which AI will transform the pallet and packaging sector. This includes automating repetitive administrative and operational tasks, including pallet design; boosting engagement with customers and potential customers; providing real-time insights into areas such as performance, competitors, and logistics; and inmoving new business areas and models.
“Look at the repetitive things you don’t like doing,” said Moubax. “But this is not only about optimising, now you can think about transforming your business. Today, everything is possible – it’s only limited by your imagination.”
The meeting also featured an update on developments in the Irish timber market, including Ireland’s Build with Wood campaign, by Clodagh Kealy, Director of Sales & Supply Chain joint, Coillte Forest; and an overview of PEFC’s growing certification options by John Kirkby, Executive Director of PEFC. It was followed by a dinner for all delegates at the Institute of Directors on Pall Mall.
- 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 most 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.
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