Bulletin 049 · guides

Recycled plastic pallets and food contact

Last reviewed Nov 12, 20269 stages

The short answer

Recycled plastic pallets are not food-contact approved by default. FDA does not approve pallet models, so ask the supplier for resin and colourant documentation.

Pallets that touch food directly may need non-blended virgin HDPE.

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A pallet is shredded and ground to flake, sorted by resin and colour, and moulded into a pallet again.

What the facts say

Nelson notes stricter federal requirements may call for non-blended virgin HDPE for products touching the pallet directly, while recycled pallets often meet general FDA needs. A used 48 x 40 HDPE pallet on its list is pharma and food safe but not approved for direct food contact.

Regrind is different again

The Cary Company says its own regrind pails are not FDA compliant, even though HDPE is an FDA-compliant plastic.

What to ask

For the resin, the colourant, the recycled percentage and the end use. Get it in writing.

What we say

We do not claim food-contact approval for any recycled pallet or regrind. If your use touches food, say so.

Who regulates what

In the US, FDA regulates food-contact substances. A pallet deck that does not touch food is not usually treated as a food-contact article, but a buyer’s own rules may demand more.

What a buyer’s audit asks

Many food businesses audit their packaging suppliers. A pallet that carries cartons only is judged differently from one that carries open product. Ask your auditor which applies.

Our position

We say what the sources say and no more. We do not claim any pallet is approved for food contact, and we do not claim regrind is.

A short rule to take away

If a pallet will touch food or a food container, ask for paperwork from the maker and do not assume a recycled pallet is cleared. If you cannot get the paperwork, use the pallet for non-food freight.

Why paperwork beats appearance

A clean-looking pallet proves nothing about what it carried. Only records do.

Direct contact or not

Use	Say
Pallet under packed cartons	Ask for general food-safe documentation
Food touching the pallet	Ask about virgin HDPE
Regrind	Do not assume food-safe

What the sources say

nelsoncompany.comThat used pallet is listed as pharma and food safe but not approved for direct food contact, in colours that vary.
resource-recycling.comIn April 2017, HDPE HMW regrind from drums and IBCs was 24 to 27 cents per pound picked up in the US South (historical, not current).
nelsoncompany.comA 48 x 40 pallet fits 30 stacks in a turned pattern on a 53 ft dry van, per one supplier.
phsinc.comPHS Plastic lists 19 nestable 48 x 40 and other-footprint models with dynamic ratings from 1,102 to 3,500 lb and static ratings from 2,204 to 15,000 lb, so 'nestable' spans light export pallets to heavy-duty stackers.
en.wikipedia.orgHDPE has resin identification code 2, a density of 930 to 970 kg/m3, melts at 131.8 C and is hard to glue, so joints are usually welded.
nelsoncompany.comA used Nelson 48 x 40 x 6.3 in HDPE one-piece pallet weighs 49 lb with 30,000 lb static, 5,000 lb dynamic and 2,200 lb racking ratings.
rehrigpacific.comRehrig Pacific's rackable pallet has a two-piece snap-lock design for quick repair and options for FDA-approved colours, RFID and up to 15 percent black recycled content.
en.wikipedia.orgResin identification codes do not indicate whether a product is recyclable; ASTM D7611 governs the coding.
blog.containerexchanger.comNorth American plastic pallets in the common sizes are about 5 to 6 in tall.
en.wikipedia.orgMetal pallets are under 1 percent of the pallet market.
phsinc.comPHS lists 48 x 40 stackable plastic pallets with dynamic ratings of 2,500 to 5,000 lb and static ratings of 3,000 to 30,000 lb.
en.wikipedia.orgPlastic pallets can deform (creep) under heavy long-term loads and are hard to repair.
en.wikipedia.orgNFPA requires wood and plastic pallets to be stored outdoors or in a detached structure unless sprinklers protect them.
iccsafe.orgA 2010 insurer figure cited by ICC puts fire spread to a pallet above at about 18 minutes for plastic versus nearly 50 for wood.

Terms on this page

Food contact: A material that touches food directly. Recycled content in food-contact use is held to rules a pallet deck usually is not.
Virgin resin: New, unblended resin that has not been through a product before.
HDPE: High-density polyethylene, resin code 2. The most common resin in plastic pallets; tough and moisture resistant.
Regrind: Plastic ground from used or scrap parts into flakes for moulding again.
Deck: The flat surface that carries the load. A pallet may have a top deck, a bottom deck or both.

Questions people ask

Are recycled plastic pallets food safe?

Not by default.

Does FDA approve pallets?

No. It does not approve pallet models.

Who can certify?

The maker, for its own model.

Is a recycled pallet safe in a food warehouse?

Many are used there. The question is what touches what. Ask for documentation and follow your own food safety plan.