Pharmaceutical manufacturers must maintain safety and proper sanitation. Your company likely evaluates protocols regularly to identify areas for improvement. However, you may not have considered how your pallet material affects safety.
Plastic pallets present a safer alternative to traditional wood materials. Learn how plastic pallets used in pharmaceuticals can improve safety, then contact our plastic pallet suppliers at ORBIS Corporation for more information.
What Are Plastic Pallets?
Plastic pallets are flat structures that manufacturers use to hold and transport goods. They serve all the same functions as traditional wood pallets but offer many advantages due to their higher-quality construction.
Manufacturers around the world have begun replacing wood pallets with plastic ones for a range of reasons. One of the primary benefits of plastic pallets versus wood pallets is that plastic pallets have the ability to be recycled. Many plastic pallets consist of recycled plastic and are recyclable at the end of their life. This reduces a company’s environmental impact.
For pharmaceutical companies, plastic pallets boast many safety and compliance benefits. These pallets can help you meet hygienic standards and adhere to industry safety regulations.
Why Are Plastic Pallets Safer for Pharmaceutical Manufacturers?
Plastic pallets improve the safety of pharmaceutical transport and storage through a range of benefits. Switching from wood to plastic pallets allows your company to enjoy these advantages.
Increased Durability Compared to Traditional Pallet Materials
Plastic pallets are highly durable compared to wood pallets, which can splinter, crack, and break during regular transport. Wood pallets cannot withstand rain, snow, and other precipitation, causing them to deteriorate quickly. In contrast, plastic pallets stand up to all weather patterns with ease.
While wood pallets typically last between three and five years with the utmost care, plastic pallets stand strong for over 10 years. You don’t have to worry about putting your pharmaceutical products at risk if a wood pallet were to break during transport.
Better Hygiene Compliance
Plastic pallets used in pharmaceuticals boast significant hygiene benefits compared to wood ones. Wood is a porous material that absorbs dirt, grime, and germs. Insects can lay eggs in wood and rot pallets from the inside. You may be unaware of how unhygienic your wood pallets are, as many of these issues are not visible.
On the other hand, plastic pallets consist of a solid material that is not porous or easily penetrable. It doesn’t readily absorb bacteria and contaminants. For applications that require high levels of sanitation, such as pharmaceutical transport, plastic is a much safer option.
Opportunity To Be Specially Treated
Because plastic is not porous, plastic pallets can be treated with special materials to improve their safety and sanitation. Pharmaceutical companies often treat plastic pallets with antibacterial products or temperature-resistant coatings. You can enhance the plastic material according to your business’s needs, minimizing the safety risks of pallet storage and transportation.
Suitability for Temperature-Sensitive Products
Pharmaceutical products often must stay in temperature-regulated environments during transport. For instance, many pharmaceuticals must stay refrigerated or in an environment that is between 36 and 46-degrees Fahrenheit. Keeping wood pallets in these cold environments can cause the wood to warp, potentially putting the products at risk.
Plastic stands up to differing temperatures much better than wood. The material won’t warp due to temperature changes, creating a more stable transportation and storage system.
Improved Cleaning and Disinfecting Abilities
Plastic is naturally a more hygienic material than wood due to its non-porous construction. However, plastic pallets used in pharmaceuticals have the potential to be even more hygienic. You can clean and disinfect these pallets much more easily than you could with traditional wood ones.
Simply spray plastic pallets with a liquid disinfectant and wipe clean with a towel or cloth. The disinfectant won’t absorb into the material, and you can smoothly wipe it away. While it is possible to disinfect raw wood, the process is more challenging and less reliable.
Heightened Safety for Workers
Switching from wood to plastic pallets not only improves the safety of your supply chain; it can also help keep workers safer. Traditional wood pallets are prone to splitting and splintering. Workers handling these pallets often experience cuts and scrapes due to the rough material.
Plastic does not have these same risks. It stays intact even with heavy handling and long-term use. Plastic pallets are also designed with fewer gaps than wood ones, minimizing areas where workers can snag the pallet on clothing or shoes.
Source High-Quality Plastic Pallets from ORBIS Corporation
Are you ready to switch to plastic pallets for the pharmaceutical industry? Whether you want to boost supply chain safety or contamination prevention, plastic pallets used in pharmaceuticals boast many benefits.
ORBIS Corporation is the leading provider of durable, recycled plastic pallets and other eco-friendly supply chain materials. If you have any questions or are ready to request a quote, feel free to contact us HERE.