December 2025
What trends or opportunities do you see shaping the pallet industry right now?
There’s definitely change happening with contracts and bids coming up for renewal, which opens opportunities for companies willing to adapt. One challenge everyone’s talking about is finding enough cores—the supply of recycled materials is tight. It’s a reminder of how dynamic the pallet market can be and how important it is to stay flexible and informed.
How can associations like WPA best support companies in the pallet and packaging sector today?
Honestly, WPA is already doing a great job. The regular updates, communications, and access to information are exactly what members need to stay current. As a new member, I’ve felt welcomed and well-informed from the start, and that’s something I really appreciate.
WPM
Dave Kalan of Recirculated is President of Recirculated, and will be attending the WPA Annual Meeting. He brings decades of alternative material pallet and pooling experience to his role at Recirculated.
3. As someone new to the WPA community, what do you hope to gain from your membership?
Education. I’m attending as a student. I want to listen, ask questions, and better understand how wood pallets are designed, reused, and positioned in today’s supply chains. I also want to learn how pallet companies are preparing for sustainability regulations and automation pressures that are arriving quickly.
4. What are the main opportunities or trends you see shaping the pallet industry right now?
Extended producer responsibility is a major driver. EPR will force important conversations about one-way packaging, landfill exposure, and reuse strategies. We are here to help guide companies, including wood pallet companies and their customers, through this critical, costly, and still widely underappreciated risk. As companies receive their first EPR charges in the months ahead, this will quickly become a front burner problem.
At the same time, automation is accelerating. Robotics and AI demand tighter tolerances and greater consistency, creating both challenges and opportunities for pallet design, repair, and recovery systems, particularly in high-volume, automated distribution environments.
5. How do you think associations like WPA can best support companies in the pallet and packaging sector today?
Education and advocacy are critical. Members need clear guidance on sustainability laws and EPR requirements, and how those rules affect pallets in real terms, not just in theory.
WPA also plays an important role in communicating the ongoing value of wood pallets, including their repairability, reuse rates, and cost efficiency. Most goods still move on wood pallets, and that message remains essential as alternative materials continue to promote their case.
WPM
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