May 2026
WPA members also reached out with practical help, encouragement and advice, and continued checking in on us. Having friends in the industry who understood what we were facing meant a great deal during that time.
4. What are emerging opportunities for the pallet industry?
Volatility and uncertainty remain major challenges. Changing trade conditions and unpredictable costs complicate material purchases, staffing, pricing and investment. For recyclers, core availability, quality and cost add pressure. We need reliable materials and pricing that reflects the true cost of producing and delivering pallets.
Monitoring Extended Producer Respons- ibility (EPR) legislation in the U.S. and the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is another priority. We need to understand how these requirements affect reusable pallets and customers shipping into the EU. Our industry needs a voice so the importance of repair and repeated reuse is understood.
Warehouse automation is increasing the need for pallet consistency and perfor- mance, creating opportunities for recyclers who deliver dependable quality. It reinforces the recycled pallet standards effort I'm helping co-lead through Woodpack Global and the Recyclers Task Force. Common grade names and practical baseline standards for repaired 48x40 pallets can clarify customer expectations while recognizing that some applications require more.
Carrie Collins
5. What advice would you give to new members of the WPA?
Get involved! Attend the events, introduce yourself, and ask questions, even if you’ve been in the industry for years. Make a point of talking with people outside your usual market. Follow up when you get home so those conversations can grow into ongoing business relationships.
Find a committee that connects with your business or an issue you care about. Share what you’re seeing in your operation and help shape the discussions that affect our industry.
You don’t have to run the biggest company in the room to have something useful to contribute.
Follow Carrie Collins on LinkedIn
October 2026