PCF assessment of wooden pallets of various designs

Pallets are an integral component of modern logistics and production processes and enable efficient flows of goods along global supply chains. The project addresses the product-specific greenhouse gas accounting for custom-made disposable wooden pallets, thereby filling a gap in the literature, as research to date has primarily focused on standardized pallets (e.g., EPAL) and comparisons between wooden and plastic pallets. The goal is to determine product carbon footprints (PCF) for various pallet types that differ in format, board thickness, load capacity, and thermal treatment. Methodologically, a life-cycle analysis with a “cradle-to-gate” system boundary is conducted. The analysis captures direct emissions (Scope 1) and indirect energy emissions (Scope 2) from production, as well as upstream and downstream activities (Scope 3) to a limited extent, with a focus on material origin and transport logistics. The key questions are: What PCF differences result from the various designs of the wooden pallets, and which factors significantly influence the PCF? The study is expected to yield differentiated emission profiles depending on material use, processing parameters, thermal treatment, and logistics pathways, as well as practical starting points for emission reduction and data-based support for corporate reporting obligations.