Pallet logistics is facing a new issue. It is environmental pollution. Increased trade volume from industrialization has increased fossil fuel consumption, thus accelerating global warming. And the increased use of wooden pallets, which came out for innovation in distribution, has resulted in increased damage to the worldwide forest resources. And trade and transport in the wake of industrialization have become interlocked with environmental questions.

For these reasons, pallets are transitioning from wood to plastic with a view to an eco-friendly logistic innovation. One report shows 51.7% of those surveyed prefer plastic for material of their pallets while 27.5% prefer wood, thus indicating that plastic registers 46.5% more than wood in preference. This shows reversal from the early part of the first decade of the new millennium when wood was preferred by 56% while plastic was preferred by 39%.

Wooden pallets, which registered greater preference as they were available at more reasonable prices and in more diverse standards, are used less and less as timber prices go up sharply and they register increasingly vulnerable durability and convenience. Especially, pallets for use on the premises tend to prefer plastic as they are frequently used for outdoor storage or delivery. With semi-permanent durability and service life, plastic registers greater preference compared to wood despite its high price.

The trend in eco-friendly logistics avoids road transport, which causes relatively severe pollution, prefers to use ships or trains to carry out one-time delivery through sharing and/or integrating.