Wood pallets are restricted in many food facilities. Here's what makes a pallet food-grade and why PP is the right material.
Get a Quote from Elipacko →Wood pallets have three food safety problems that PP plastic pallets don't: (1) wood grain harbors bacterial biofilm that resists sanitization; (2) splinters and nails create physical contamination risk in products and worker injuries; (3) wood absorbs moisture and harbors mold between uses.
FDA's FSMA rules require Good Manufacturing Practice controls that are difficult to meet with wood pallets. Most major food retailers (Walmart, Costco, Target) and food manufacturers have pallet-material requirements that effectively require plastic in certain zones.
| Property | Wood Pallet | PP Plastic Pallet |
|---|---|---|
| Biofilm in grain | Yes — harbors Listeria, Salmonella | No — non-porous surface |
| Full sanitization | Cannot achieve | Full surface log-reduction |
| Splinter/nail risk | Yes | None |
| Mold between uses | Yes (moisture absorption) | No (waterproof) |
| FDA FSMA GMP compliance | Difficult | Straightforward |
| Cold chain | Warps, absorbs water | 100% waterproof |
PP is an FDA-cleared food contact material (21 CFR 177.1520). Non-porous PP pallets are accepted in FDA-regulated food facilities.
Many food facilities use white pallets in high-care zones for visual cleanliness inspection. Blue is also common for food areas. Elipacko can supply any color.
Yes. PP pallets are pressure-wash and disinfectant compatible. Fully sanitizable in automated pallet wash systems.
0%. PP plastic pallets are not subject to US anti-dumping duties.
FDA FSMA 21 CFR Part 117 (GMP), USDA FSIS for meat/poultry facilities, SQF and BRC audit standards, major retailer supplier requirements.
Factory direct. 0% anti-dumping duty (Thailand-manufactured) — confirm HTS with your customs broker
Request a Quote →Polypropylene corrugated heavy duty plastic pallets represent the most significant upgrade available to procurement teams still running single-use cardboard. The material is waterproof, structurally consistent, forklift-compatible, and designed for 50-100 reuse cycles. For industries in warehouse, forklift, industrial logistics, the switch from cardboard to PP corrugated typically pays for itself within one production season.
This guide covers everything buyers need to know about sourcing, specifying, and getting maximum value from heavy duty plastic pallets: material specs, industry applications, import duty considerations, and how to evaluate suppliers in a market full of resellers moving low-quality imports.
The comparison between PP corrugated and cardboard isn't close in any environment where moisture, temperature variation, repeated use, or forklift handling is involved. Here's the breakdown:
| Property | PP Corrugated | Cardboard |
|---|---|---|
| Water resistance | 100% waterproof | Fails rapidly |
| Reuse cycles | 50-100 | 1 |
| Forklift compatible | Yes (designed for it) | Limited, degrades fast |
| Cleanable | Fully washable | No |
| Food-grade options | FDA 21 CFR compliant | Limited |
| ISPM-15 required | No | No (but wood components do) |