The Right Pallet for Bottled Beverages, Canned Goods, and Sealed Food Products
When it comes to the food and beverage industry, hygiene and safety are always top priorities. That’s why plastic pallets tend to dominate the conversation. But here’s the thing—not every product in your supply chain needs the most expensive pallet on the market. In fact, for many applications like bottled beverages, canned goods, and sealed food products, wood pallets are not only sufficient—they’re the smart choice.
Let’s break down where wood still wins, and why you might be overpaying if you're not using them where you can.
1. Bottled Beverages: Built to Handle the Weight
Whether you’re shipping cases of water, soda, beer, or juice—you need strength and stability. Wood pallets are more than up to the task. Their weight-bearing capacity is ideal for stacked, heavy goods like bottled drinks.
· Strong enough for large loads
· Easily compatible with warehouse racking systems
· Readily available in custom or standard sizes
Unless your product is unpackaged or highly sensitive to moisture (which most bottles aren’t), wood is a solid, cost-effective choice.
2. Canned Goods: Packaged and Protected
Canned food is one of the most self-contained products out there. It’s shelf-stable, sealed, and often shrink-wrapped for further protection. That means the product is already insulated from potential contamination.
In this case, wood pallets can:
· Support heavy load volumes during transit
· Be reused or recycled after delivery
· Help keep shipping costs down without compromising product integrity
There’s no need to overspend on plastic pallets for something this well-packaged.
3. Sealed Food Products: Know When It’s Safe to Use Wood
Think:
· Vacuum-sealed meats
· Bagged snacks
· Boxed shelf-stable items
· Packaged bakery goods
If your food product is fully enclosed and not in direct contact with the pallet, you can usually use wood without concern—especially for internal warehouse moves or distribution between non-production facilities.
That said, if your product is headed for international shipping, make sure your pallets are ISPM-15 compliant. At Pallet Pro, all our export-ready wood pallets are properly heat-treated and certified, so you’re never stuck at customs.
Bonus: Recycled or Repaired Pallets for Extra Savings
For less sensitive applications or internal use, recycled wood pallets or combo builds (a mix of new and used components) offer additional cost savings—without sacrificing performance.
You get:
· Lower upfront costs
· More sustainable sourcing
· The same strength and size reliability
It’s a win-win for operations and procurement teams alike.
Final Thoughts
If you’re shipping sealed, heavy, or shelf-stable food and beverage items, don’t count wood pallets out. They’re:
· Strong
· Readily available
· Cost-effective
· ISPM-15 compliant for export
· Recyclable and repairable
At Pallet Pro, we work with F&B companies every day to recommend the right pallet for the job—not just the most expensive one. If you’re curious whether wood is the right fit for your application, we’re happy to talk through it.
