Sustainability

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Considering that PalletBiz operates in an industry that is heavily dependent on the abundance of quality raw materials (particularly wood), as well as on other resources such as energy, fossil resources, and water, we recognize that we must strategically deal with our impact on the environment and the respective social constructs.

Read about our commitment to responsible sourcing, reducing environmental impact, and promoting ethical practices across our value chain.

Focus Areas

Driving Positive Change Across Our Value Chain

Our Pillars of Sustainability

We have defined our strategic focus areas in a holistic approach by considering the three pillars of sustainability. We have connectively developed a set of sustainability KPIs and targets to operationalize our sustainable agenda, considering environmental, social, and business and governance aspects.

Our Environment

Achieving higher product efficiency by integrating the perspectives of “design for recycling” and “design from recycling” as part of a circular economy.

Our People

Growing our operations through balanced land use and corporate citizenship while promoting equality and diversity to empower women and marginalized communities.

Our Business

Elevating a value-adding network through sustainable innovations and investments into solutions that enable circularity for the industry.

Packaging Impact

One of our core objectives as a manufacturer of packaging products is to find ways to engage in (more) sustainable product designs. By integrating the perspectives of “design for recycling” and “design from recycling” into our product development processes we can optimize materials management This way we make sure our products can be repaired and reused or recycled as secondary raw materials when their lifecycle ends. And we’re not just talking about the future—our current product lineup already includes a growing range of sustainable options.

We’ve set ambitious targets: by increasing the share of “3R” products (repaired, reused, or recycled), we aim to make 20% of our product mix and 10% of our revenue come from these eco-friendly solutions. This means lighter, stronger, and more resource-efficient packaging that doesn’t compromise on quality. Whether it’s introducing pallets with reduced material usage or pushing industry standards forward, we’re constantly innovating to leave a smaller environmental footprint.

Wood Sourcing

As a wood-based industry, we are placing immense focus on utilizing sustainably sourced materials, so that we can support in conserving these invaluable resources as well as protecting biodiversity. Our strategy focuses on increasing the proportion of timber and wood-based products from certified sources carrying the FSC, PEFC or SFI logo and/or label.

 

In line with the EU’s recently enacted deforestation-free regulations, we are committed to advancing our sourcing practices and fostering strong partnerships with our suppliers and customers.

Waste and Recycling

At PalletBiz, we believe that waste is an opportunity. Sawdust, for example, doesn’t just get swept away—it becomes fuel for heating or a key material in our products. In fact, many of our sites use compressed sawdust to create wood briquettes or blocks, which form the backbone of some of our pallets. With 30-40% of the wood in these pallets coming from recycled material, we’re not just reducing waste—we’re repurposing it. And we’re working to bring this process to all our operations.

We don’t stop there. Excess wood like cut-offs gets a second life too. Either rebuilt into new products or sold to companies that make items like wood pellets, we ensure that as little as possible goes to waste. While Europe leads the way with efficient recycling systems, our sites in the Middle East are still catching up. But there’s exciting progress—our new facility in the United Arab Emirates is already paving the way for better reuse and recycling in the region.

Our goal? To recycle or repurpose 60% of the packaging waste from production. We’re well on our way, turning what might be thrown out into something valuable—whether that’s new products or energy.

Our goal?

To recycle or repurpose 60% of the packaging waste from production.
We’re well on our way, turning what might be thrown out into something valuable—whether that’s new products or energy.

Employment & Working Conditions

At PalletBiz, our people are our greatest asset. Creating a work environment that fosters engagement, loyalty, and growth is our top priority. We’re proud of our high employee retention rates, which not only boost efficiency but also save time and costs by reducing turnover.

 

We follow strict Occupational, Environment, Health, and Safety (O/EHS) standards to protect our team. From identifying hazards to enforcing personal protective equipment (PPE) usage, we make sure our workers have what they need to stay safe. It’s not just about compliance—it’s about creating a workplace where people feel motivated and secure, which is the foundation of our long-term success.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

We’re committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has equal access to opportunities. This means not only hiring from diverse backgrounds but also promoting equal pay and career advancement based on merit. Our leadership development programs are designed to nurture female talent and build confidence, helping more women step into management and executive roles.

In 2023, women made up 40% of our workforce and held 25% of management positions—goals we’re proud to have met. Our Romanian operation, in particular, stands out for its strong female representation, with more women than men working at our oldest site in Tamasfalau. But we’re not stopping here; we continue to work on attracting diverse candidates across all levels, from production roles to board positions.

Value Chain

Our growth model at PalletBiz is driven by franchising and partnering, allowing us to expand our footprint while making a meaningful impact, especially in rural and less industrialized regions. Through job creation and active participation in local economies, we contribute to sustainable development.

Our strategy is clear: we invest in depots and hubs for collecting, repairing, and redistributing packaging materials, helping us bring the concept of circularity to life in the industry.

Our business model centers on sharing knowledge, and we’re careful about how we expand—targeting both developed markets and emerging economies. Our industry has the power to “industrialize” developing economies, helping them transition from manual labor to palletization. We see significant responsibility and potential in what we can do to drive economic growth in these regions.

Supplier standards

Managing a franchise network spanning multiple countries, we are dedicated to upholding ethical and sustainable practices in our supply chain.
Our supplier Code of Conduct, which most of our contracted suppliers have signed as of 2023, is a foundational step toward creating a more responsible supply chain.

 

But signing the Code of Conduct is only the beginning. We’re developing a full supplier management system, which will include thorough due diligence, training, and regular audits to ensure compliance of the entire supply chain. We’re committed to educating our partners and suppliers on why these measures are important, not just to us but to the broader industry.

Business Ethics & Compliance

Upholding high ethical standards and compliance with various certification programs enhances our reputation as a trustworthy and responsible business, attracting customers, investors, and partners.
Our Code of Conduct serves as a basic ethics policy and is applicable not just for our external stakeholders, but internally as well. This codex governs all aspects of our operations, outlining the principles and standards expected of all employees and partners.

 

We have furthermore set to roll out participation in relevant industrial certification schemes and standards (e.g., FSC, PEFC, EPAL, UIC, IPPC, etc.), as well as voluntary management systems (e.g., ISO (9001, 14001, 45001), EU EMAS, etc.); while simultaneously increasing the network quality & compliance per the per the PalletBiz Way© Compliance Audit.

The PalletBiz Way© Compliance Audit is our own protocol that assesses adherence to our internal quality standards, identifying areas for improvement and ensuring consistent application across the network.

Our Sustainability Updates

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