Each year, roughly $400 billion in American trade is exported using pallets and wooden containers. Pallets are a vital part of global commerce and are one of the best ways to protect and transport goods. However, not all pallets are created equal. Instead of just focusing on cost, it’s important to consider other factors, such as quality and regulatory compliance. If you are an exporter looking for an affordable solution for transporting your products, you may have heard about “heat-treated wood products.” What does this mean? Does it really matter?

These are the questions we’re going to explain what heat treated pallets are and why they were important. We’re also going to dive into a legal standard known as ISPM-15. ISPM-15 compliance is currently required by several nations. Failing to comply with it could result in disruptions to your shipping operations. Ultimately, heat-treating pallets and wooden crates in compliance with ISPM-15 can help keep our forests safe and keep global commerce running smoothly.

The Program – Why We Have ISPM-15

In 1996, the Asian Longhorn Beetle was first discovered in the USA but was formerly a native of China. This creature bores into hardwood trees, leaving holes around the size of a quarter, and eventually kills them. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, this insect has already done damage and could destroy “millions of acres of America’s treasured hardwoods, including national forests and backyard trees.” Also, in the 1990s, the Emerald Ash Borer was found in the USA, causing even more damage as an invasive species. The Emerald Ash Borer also hails from Asia and is believed to have entered the U.S. through wood packaging materials. This small green beetle lays its eggs between layers of bark on trees. When these eggs hatch, the larvae burrow into the tree, damaging its wood and potentially causing the death of the plant.

These discoveries are what inspired the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) to create export standards for solid wood packaging material (SWPM) to help reduce the spread of pests. These standards are known as the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs). Phytosanitary is a term used to describe plants or materials that are free from pests and diseases. The ISPM standard that applies specifically to pallets and solid wooden crates is ISPM-15.

ISPM-15 is a standard that requires exporters to only use wooden products that have either been heat-treated or fumigated. By doing either of these, potentially harmful pests can be eradicated prior to the wooden products being shipped overseas.

Is It Working?

ISPM-15 was first implemented in 2005. Since then, the risk of pests being spread through wood packaging has decreased dramatically. According to a study by the Nature Conservancy, researchers found that infestation rates of live pests in consignments using wood packing materials dropped 52 percent in the years following the implementation of the standard. Currently, ISPM-15 is required by around 100 different countries all over the world, including the USA, Canada, and the EU.

ISPM-15 protects forests and ecosystems around the world by reducing the spread of non-native species, which can be so destructive to biodiversity. In the U.S. alone, lumber is a $200 billion industry. By staying compliant with ISPM-15, we can help to protect our own economy and forests as well as the environment. Furthermore, by failing to comply with ISPM-15, you will likely fall foul of international regulations, which can cause disruptions to your shipping and can cause harm to your business.

What It Means To Heat Treat Wood

Under the standard, there are three valid options for treating wood products. Here are the three methods:

• Conventional Heat Treatment (HT)
• Dielectric Heating (DH)
• Methyl Bromide Fumigation (MB)

With conventional heat treatment, the wood products are placed in a heating chamber or a specialized kiln. This chamber then heats up the wood to 133˚F for a minimum of 30 consecutive minutes. Once that temperature requirement has been met, the product has been heat treated. Dielectric heating is a method of heat-treating wood that was approved by the IPPC in 2013 and uses electromagnetic waves to accomplish the same temperature requirement. Some systems use a large chamber to heat treat products, while others use a conveyer belt system where wood products are continuously heated as they move through the production line. This is the method used for many heat treated pallets and heat treated crates used to ship products all over the world.

Finally, there is methyl bromide fumigation. Instead of heat treating wood, it is also possible to use methyl bromide to kill all pests in wood products. Methyl bromide is a chemical that is toxic to humans and can cause damage to the central nervous system. For this reason, it has been banned by the UK and around the world as part of the Montreal Protocol. There are exemptions for use in fumigating wood products. Nonetheless, its use is far less common than heat treatment.

Once the product has been treated, it is stamped with the ISPM-15 stamp. This stamp is sometimes referred to as the “wheat stamp” due to the logo’s similarity to a wheat plant. The ISPM-15 stamp is usually applied through ink, stencil, or brand is must be clearly visible on the wood packaging product. The stamp is also required to be placed on a minimum of two sides of the crate, pallet, or other solid wood product. On the stamp, you will see an HT, DH, or an MB based on whatever method was used to clean the product.

The Best Place To Find Heat-Treated Shipping Products

North Sound pallet proudly serves Whatcom County, Skagit County, and beyond with high-quality, heat-treated pallets and heat treated crates. We provide new and recycled wooden shipping containers. As an exporter, you need crates and pallets that will go the extra mile. Cheaply built products will fall apart, creating disruptions and requiring you to have to keep coming back to purchase additional products. At North Sound Pallet, we are committed to quality. All of our heat treated pallets are ISPM-15 Certified and feature the corresponding HT stamping. With our pallets and crates, you can always be sure that whatever you are shipping always makes it to its destination.

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