After a development period of five years, the Dutch manufacturer Wavin Lash (Prinsengracht 2, NL-8600 AE Sneek) and the Belgian Innova Packaging Systems (Rozendaal-straat 101, B-8900 Ieper) have brought two new transport pallets in recycled plastic onto the market. The pallets, which have been developed for the European plastics producers´ association APME (B-1160 Brussels; www.apme.org), meet up to the ISO 8611 international standard and, according to tests conducted at BASF AG (D-67056 Ludwigshafen; www.basf.de), are suitable for use in the distribution and storage of plastic raw materials and other substances.

APME members are currently being asked to use the pallets inside their companies and to institute closed delivery cycles. In order to ensure rapid and lasting acceptance of the pallets, instructions have been compiled for companies using plastic pallets of this kind for the first time and companies that are not familiar with their properties.

According to APME, more widespread use of the pallets in industry will be conditional upon the successful introduction of a pool system. A study commissioned by the association confirms the cost-efficiency of a system of this type. The results are currently being processed and will subsequently be made available to interested pallet-users.