With international shipping, safely packaging your products is a no-brainer. With loads shifting in transit and containers accidentally being dropped, packing and insuring your cargo are two practical steps you can take to protect yourself. Doing anything otherwise puts the cargo at risk of arriving not all that intact. Finding the optimal pallet choice for international shipping for your business is crucial to ensure your cargo remains safe and ready for transit.

Pallet Choice for International Shipping

But besides how you package your goods, you also need to pay attention to the packing materials themselves, as most countries have regulations on shipping containers, especially those of the wood variety. If you use wood pallets to transport goods, make sure they pass the muster. Here are our recommendations on pallet choice for international shipping.

Treated vs. Untreated

When shipping goods in United States, you can pretty much use any pallet you want. Much of your decision surrounding pallet choice for international shipping should revolve around selecting treated wood.

The reason for this has everything to do with the potential spread of wood-borne insects and diseases. Using a pallet made from untreated wood could expose another country to insects or diseases that could negatively affect its ecosystem.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a database detailing the wood packaging requirements for countries around the globe. Check the website or consult a lawyer to ensure you’re using the right packaging for the country.

Wood vs. Plastic

Many companies are now turning to plastic pallets as an alternative to the wood ones. And part of this has to do with the regulations. It’s a hassle-free method of moving goods both internationally and domestically.

But the other reason companies are now turning to plastic has to do with their reuse. They don’t suffer the same wear and tear as wood pallets. You don’t have to worry that they’ll break down over time. In other words, they’re often a better investment.

Whichever option you choose to use — be it wood or plastic — just make sure you know all the regulations involved with international shipments. If you need help navigating these regulations, a member of the Interlog USA team would be more than happy to answer your questions.