June 2026
6/22/2026 - 6/25, 2026 Automate Show, Chicago IL
9/23/2026 - 9/26/2026 Timber Processing & Energy Expo 2026, Portland OR
www.timberprocessingandenergyexpo.com
9/30/2026 - 19/2/2026 73rd FEFPEB Congress, Bastad, Sweden
10/18/2026 - 10/21/2026 PACK EXPO, Chicago IL
Upcoming Events
Protecting the Industry
Many of the industry's most successful advocacy efforts have involved preventing unintended consequences. A good example involved revisions to fire codes governing outdoor pallet storage. Fire safety is critically important, and pallet companies have every reason to support measures that protect employees, neighboring businesses, and first responders.
The challenge was ensuring that regulations reflected the realities of pallet manufacturing and recycling operations. Industry representatives worked alongside fire safety experts and code officials to develop standards that improved safety while remaining practical and achievable. The result was a better outcome for both regulators and industry participants.
More recently, advocacy efforts have focused on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation. As governments seek to reduce waste and encourage sustainable packaging practices, lawmakers have increasingly examined packaging materials and their end-of-life impacts.
In some cases, policymakers initially viewed pallets through the same lens as disposable packaging. Industry engagement helped explain how pallet recovery networks operate and why reusable wood pallets function differently from single-use materials. Those discussions have helped policymakers better understand the circular nature of pallet reuse, repair, and recycling systems.
Both examples demonstrate the same reality: regulations are most effective when they are informed by operational experience and practical industry knowledge.
Promoting the Value of Wood
Advocacy is not only about responding to regulations. It is also about promoting a better understanding of the value of wood packaging. For decades, wood pallets benefited from being the default shipping platform in many industries. Today, however, sustainability claims increasingly influence purchasing decisions, regulatory frameworks, and corporate strategies.
As a result, the industry must be prepared to demonstrate the environmental benefits of wood packaging using credible research and sound science. Projects like the Nature's Packaging website have played an important role in this effort. Through research, education, and useful tools (like the carbon calculator), Nature's Packaging promotes wood as a sustainable, recyclable and valuable resource.
Its strategic priorities include documenting the benefits of wood pallets, addressing misconceptions about wood products, and communicating these topics to the world-at-large. Collectively, these efforts help ensure that wood packaging is evaluated using credible sources rather than assumptions or marketing claims.
The Role of WPA
For members of the Western Pallet Association, advocacy increasingly means staying informed before issues become problems. The WPA's Advocacy & Insights Committee was established to help members better understand policy developments, market conditions, and emerging risks. The committee focuses on three primary areas: advocacy, market intelligence, and member engagement.
Its activities include monitoring policy developments, providing industry intelligence, facilitating member discussions, and collaborating with other WPA committees on emerging issues. In many cases, the committee's greatest value may be helping members see around corners. A proposed regulation, market shift, supply chain disruption, or policy change can have significant implications for pallet businesses. By identifying those developments early and sharing relevant information, the committee helps members make better decisions and respond more effectively.
Industry Stewardship
Every company benefits when someone is monitoring developments, conducting research, engaging policymakers, and communicating the industry's perspective. The most successful advocacy efforts are often the ones nobody notices: regulations improved before adoption, fees that were never imposed, trade barriers that were avoided, or research that corrected a costly misconception. These victories rarely make headlines, but they help preserve market access, improve competitiveness, and protect the long-term health of the industry.
The future of the pallet industry will depend on many factors, including technology, workforce development, sustainability, and changing customer requirements. It will also depend on whether the industry continues to invest in advocacy, research, education, and promotion.
In the end, advocacy is not simply about responding to challenges. It is about stewardship. It is about ensuring that future generations inherit an industry that is understood, respected, competitive, and positioned for long-term success.