Eco ImpactCalculator
See exactly how much environmental impact you can make by choosing recycled pallets. Enter your monthly pallet usage below.
Ready to Make the Switch?
Contact us to get started with sustainable pallets.
Calculate Your Impact
How many pallets does your business use per month?
How We Calculate
Our calculations are based on peer-reviewed research comparing the lifecycle environmental impact of new versus recycled pallets. Key data sources include the USDA Forest Products Laboratory, the National Wooden Pallet & Container Association (NWPCA), and independent lifecycle assessments.
Trees: Based on the average lumber content per pallet (~12 board feet) and average tree yield (~250 board feet per tree). Each recycled pallet saves approximately 0.006 trees.
CO₂: Manufacturing a new pallet produces ~31 kg CO₂e. Recycling produces ~5 kg CO₂e. The difference of ~26 kg per pallet is the avoided emissions.
Water: New pallet manufacturing requires water for lumber processing and treatment. Recycling bypasses most of these water-intensive steps, saving approximately 5.2 gallons per pallet.
Energy: Recycling uses approximately 60% less energy than manufacturing from raw materials, translating to about 4.8 kWh saved per pallet.
Industry Benchmarks
See how businesses of different sizes benefit from choosing recycled pallets.
Small Business
< 500 pallets/month
saved per year
Mid-Size Warehouse
500–2,000 pallets/month
saved per year
Large Distribution Center
2,000–10,000 pallets/month
saved per year
Enterprise Logistics
10,000+ pallets/month
saved per year
Real Client Impact Stories
Actual results from businesses that switched to recycled pallets with Riverside Pallet Co.
Regional Grocery Chain
3,000 pallets/month
Switched their entire pallet supply to recycled, reducing annual waste costs by 35% while meeting sustainability reporting goals.
Auto Parts Manufacturer
1,200 pallets/month
Custom-spec recycled pallets passed automotive quality audits. Now part of their ISO 14001 environmental management system.
E-Commerce Fulfillment
5,000 pallets/month
High-volume fulfillment center reduced per-unit shipping costs by using recycled pallets and joined our buyback program for returns.
The Bigger Picture
The pallet industry has a massive environmental footprint. Here's why recycling matters at scale.
new pallets produced in the US annually
tons of wood waste from pallets per year
trees saved annually if every business switched to recycled
of all US hardwood lumber goes to the pallet industry
of pallets are currently recycled — huge room for improvement
Take Action
Ready to reduce your environmental impact? Here's where to start.