The COVID-19 global pandemic has impacted our economy beyond what we could ever imagine. While some organizations have continued to thrive, others are struggling to make ends meet or have closed their doors all together. Large companies who have weathered the storm has depended on e-commerce marketing platforms to increase their sales and outreach as consumers remain home. In a survey conducted by Statista.com it was found that consumers would begin their holiday shopping as early as October.
How has COVID-19 changed consumer buying habits?
The COVID-19 epidemic has transformed consumer buying habits such as how, when, where and what is bought. The use of digital mediums has increased; not only are consumers shifting from the office to remote work from home; students to virtual learning; shopping for basic- necessities are also taking place digitally. Businesses have implemented curb side pickup and have pushed for increased delivery options. Whether you are purchasing online or at a “brick and mortar” store your goods are most likely warehoused on pallets.
Why use Pallets?
In a survey conducted by Modern Materials Handling, the wooden pallet was reported as being the most likely used storage equipment at their warehouses or business places. The pallet is an easy transportation aid used to move bulky boxes of inventory which can easily be moved around using a forklift, pallet jack, and act or secure lifting device. This makes for easy transportation to distribution centers, store shelves, or from the manufacture to the suppliers from distribution centers to store shelves, or from the manufacture to the suppliers. Several trucking companies use pallets to ship goods in containers a plus for moving heavy load. The most common material for making pallets is wood, however, they can also be constructed of out plastic, paper, metal or recycled materials.
- According to the European Federation of Wooden Pallet and Packaging Manufacturers (FEFPEB) approximately 401 million pallets was produced in 2013, up from 271 million in 2010 and 339 million in 2006 – and many more being used internationally. Pallets along with boxes, crates and other packaging, are essential to the smooth movement of goods around the world. “Pallets move the World” is a term that has been repeated countless times in the pallet industry.
- There are more than 1.8 billion pallets in service in the United States. Five hundred million pallets are manufactured in the United states of which ninety percent is made from wood. This figure does not include the many more millions of pallets used to ship goods internationally. More than four hundred billion dollars’ worth of American trade is exported annually on wood pallets and containers worldwide.
- Wood is the only 100% renewable, recyclable and reusable product available. The most used alternative pallets are made from oil and gas, which are limited fossil fuels. Recycling of wooden pallets is a sound environmental activity that can reduce forest resource demands and waste in landfills.
- The pallet industry in the United States is extremely profitable, taking in roughly seven billion dollars per year and thirty billion dollars worldwide. To meet that mandate nearly forty percent of all hardwood lumber goes towards wooden pallet production. That makes the pallet industry the second largest consumer of lumber, behind only the construction industry.
Reference
https://www.palletcentral.com/page/DidYouKnow
https://www.statista.com/statistics/243495/period-when-us-consumers-began-shopping-for-the-holiday-season/
https://www.mckinsey.com/about-us/covid-response-center/leadership-mindsets/webinars/evolving-consumer-how-covid-19-has-changed-us-shopping-habits#
http://www.packagingfromnature.com/en/fefpeb-congress-european-wooden-pallet-manufacturing-shows-significant-growth
