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A single missing hyphen. That is all it takes to get a shipment held at a US port of entry in 2026.
Since January this year, the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has resumed strict enforcement of the formatting requirements for ISPM 15 stamps on solid wood packaging. A hyphen must separate the country code and treatment facility number: GB-1234, not GB 1234 or GB1234. Pallets that don’t meet this exact formatting standard risk triggering inspections, re-palletisation, fumigation costs, and significant delays.
For exporters, this is a timely reminder that wooden pallets carry regulatory baggage that follows your shipment all the way to its destination. Plastic pallets don’t.
No ISPM 15 Certification Required
ISPM 15 is the international phytosanitary standard that governs how solid wood packaging must be treated to prevent the spread of invasive pests across borders. It applies to wooden pallets, crates, dunnage, and similar materials, but not to plastic pallets.
Because plastic is not a biological material, it poses no risk of carrying wood-boring insects or plant pathogens. Plastic pallets are therefore fully exempt from ISPM 15 requirements. There is no heat treatment to arrange, no stamp to apply, and no risk of a formatting error holding up your shipment. Compliance risk is simply removed from the equation.
For businesses exporting regularly to the US, Australia, or any other country with strict phytosanitary controls, this alone makes the switch worth evaluating.
Consistent Dimensions and Load Stability
Wooden pallets vary. Even within the same batch, boards can differ in thickness, moisture content, and structural integrity. Over time, nails loosen, boards warp, and corners split. All of these can affect load stability and lead to damage claims.
Plastic pallets are manufactured to exact, repeatable specifications. Every unit has:
- the same deck height
- the same footprint
- the same load-bearing capacity
- the same access points for pallet trucks and forklifts.
This consistency means your goods stack evenly, travel safely, and arrive in the same condition they left.
For exporters managing tightly packed containers or refrigerated shipments, the predictability of plastic pallets directly reduces the risk of product damage in transit.
Hygienic and Easy to Clean
Wooden pallets absorb moisture and harbour bacteria, mould, and contaminants. This is a particular concern in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics supply chains, where hygiene standards are non-negotiable.
Plastic pallets have smooth, non-porous surfaces that do not absorb liquids and can be washed thoroughly between uses. Many are compatible with high-pressure washing and chemical disinfection protocols, making them the preferred choice wherever product hygiene requirements must be documented and audited.
A More Sustainable Long-Term Investment
Wooden pallets have a relatively short operational lifespan. They break, splinter, and eventually require disposal, which often means landfill or incineration.
Plastic pallets, by contrast, are built for repeated use over many years. At the end of their service life, they are fully recyclable. Made from high-density polyethylene or polypropylene (two materials with among the highest recycling rates in the industry), they leave a significantly smaller environmental footprint than single-use wood.
For businesses with sustainability commitments to meet or report on, returnable plastic pallets contribute to measurable reductions in packaging waste and transport emissions.
Lightweight Options That Reduce Freight Costs
Weight matters in international shipping. Lighter pallets mean more payload capacity per container and lower freight costs per unit shipped. Modern plastic pallets are available in a range of weights, including lightweight variants specifically designed to minimise tare weight without compromising structural performance.
Over a high volume of shipments, the savings on freight alone can offset the initial investment in plastic pallets.
The Practical Case for Making the Switch
The renewed enforcement of ISPM 15 formatting rules is a useful prompt for exporters to take a broader look at their pallet strategy. Switching to plastic pallets does not just eliminate the hyphen problem. It also removes the entire category of phytosanitary compliance risk from international shipments, while delivering measurable benefits in hygiene, consistency, durability, and cost.
Logistic Packaging is your trusted provider of plastic pallets and returnable packaging solutions for international supply chains. Send us an email today to start discussing your requirements with one of our experts!
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