EPAL Launches 4 Million Digitally Enhanced Euro Pallets

The European Pallet Association (EPAL) has marked a significant milestone with the launch of its digitally enhanced EPAL Euro pallets. Since their introduction in January 2024, a remarkable 4 million EPAL Euro pallets featuring QR codes have been produced. This advancement demonstrates EPAL’s commitment to modernising supply chain logistics through enhanced digital capabilities.

The new QR-coded pallets are designed to increase transparency in the supply chain. Each EPAL Euro pallet QR is equipped with a unique QR code and serial number, allowing for precise tracking of the pallet’s location and the goods it carries. This innovation eliminates the need for complex labelling systems, streamlining operations for manufacturers and logistics providers alike. Notably, these pallets maintain full compatibility with EPAL’s established open pallet pool, facilitating seamless exchange with traditional EPAL Euro pallets.

Michael Brandt, Head of Logistics & Innovation at EPAL, emphasised the significance of this development: “With the EPAL Euro pallet QR, we are bringing the idea of open pallet exchange into the digital age while retaining the many proven characteristics of the EPAL Euro pallet. The speed with which the EPAL Euro pallet QR is establishing itself on the market demonstrates the expectation of industry and trade for greater transparency, efficiency and digital networking in pallet logistics.”

The increasing production of these QR-coded pallets signals a growing acceptance within the industry. More EPAL licensees are opting to manufacture the EPAL Euro pallet QR, resulting in heightened availability and demand across the entire supply chain. This trend is complemented by other digital tools from EPAL, such as the Digital Pallet Passport and the EPAL Pallet App, which allow users to track and record pallet information throughout the logistics process. A simple scan can reveal essential details, including the production site, repair history, and sustainability data.

This achievement of producing 4 million EPAL Euro pallets with QR codes signifies an important step towards the comprehensive digitisation of the EPAL pallet pool. EPAL is also looking ahead, planning to expand the QR code system to other pallet types, such as EPAL industrial pallets and EPAL CP pallets.

Founded in 1991, the European Pallet Association e.V. (EPAL) operates as an international non-profit organisation, managing the open EPAL pallet pool. With over 1,700 EPAL licensees, the association oversees the production and repair of EPAL Euro pallets and other load carriers. The EPAL pallet pool is currently the largest open pallet exchange system globally, boasting more than 675 million EPAL Euro pallets and approximately 20 million EPAL box pallets in circulation.

EPAL’s operational principles focus on reusing, exchanging, repairing, and recycling pallets, making it a leading example of sustainable circular economy practices for over six decades. EPAL wooden Euro pallets contribute significantly to climate protection by sequestering CO2, minimising waste, and reducing the demand for new wood. This not only improves the carbon footprint for users across various industries but also solidifies the role of EPAL Euro pallets as the backbone of supply chains in Europe.

As EPAL continues to innovate and expand its offerings, the impact of the QR code initiative is expected to resonate throughout the logistics sector, promoting greater efficiency and sustainability while enhancing the overall quality of supply chain operations.