Our Mission: Sustainability Is Not Optional
We exist to prove that economic success and environmental responsibility are not mutually exclusive. Every pallet we save from a landfill is proof that doing the right thing is also good business.
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To extend the useful life of every pallet, reduce waste, and build a more sustainable supply chain for the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
This is not just a statement on a wall. It is the lens through which we evaluate every business decision, every investment, and every partnership. If it does not move us closer to this mission, we do not do it.
Why Pallet Recycling Matters
The United States produces approximately 500 million new pallets every year and has roughly 2 billion pallets in circulation at any given time. Of those, an estimated 100 million end up in landfills annually. That is 100 million pallets worth of lumber, nails, and embodied energy simply thrown away.
The environmental cost is staggering. Each pallet sent to a landfill represents approximately 40 to 50 pounds of wood that took decades to grow. The lumber used in a single year's worth of discarded pallets could build over 300,000 homes. And as wood decomposes in landfills, it releases methane, a greenhouse gas 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.
At Pallets Reuse, we see this waste as an opportunity. Every pallet we repair, resell, or recycle is one less pallet in a landfill and one less tree that needs to be cut down.
New pallets produced annually in the US
Pallets sent to landfills each year
Pallets currently in circulation nationwide
Homes that could be built from wasted pallet lumber yearly
Our Core Values
These are not aspirational statements. They are the non-negotiable principles that guide how we operate every day.
Environmental Stewardship
We operate a zero-landfill facility. Every pallet that enters our yard exits as a repaired product, resold material, recycled mulch, or biomass fuel. Nothing is wasted. We track our environmental impact with the same rigor that we track our financials, because we believe you cannot improve what you do not measure.
- Zero-landfill operations since 2015
- Annual sustainability reporting
- Carbon footprint tracking per pallet
- Certified recycling processes
Honest Business
Transparency is foundational to everything we do. Our grading system is clear and consistent. Our pricing is straightforward with no hidden fees. When we make a mistake, we own it and make it right. We would rather lose a sale than mislead a customer, because trust, once broken, is nearly impossible to rebuild.
- Transparent, published grading standards
- No hidden fees or surprise charges
- Same-day issue resolution commitment
- Open-book approach to sustainability claims
Community Investment
We are deeply rooted in the Portland community and the broader Pacific Northwest. Our commitment goes beyond writing checks. Our team members volunteer their time, our facilities host student tours, and our recycling byproducts support community gardens and urban farms. A strong community makes for a strong business.
- Quarterly community garden mulch donations
- Annual Habitat for Humanity partnership
- Youth apprenticeship program
- Free small-business pallet drop-off days
Continuous Improvement
The pallet industry may be centuries old, but we refuse to operate like it is still the 1800s. We invest in technology, experiment with new repair methods, optimize our logistics, and listen to feedback. Every process in our operation is reviewed quarterly for improvement opportunities. Standing still means falling behind.
- AI-powered pallet condition assessment
- GPS-optimized delivery routing
- Quarterly process improvement reviews
- Employee innovation reward program
Our Environmental Pledge
Words are easy. Numbers are harder. Here are the specific, measurable commitments we have made to our community, our customers, and the planet, along with our progress toward each one.
Maintain 100% landfill diversion across all facilities
On Target100%
100%
Since 2015, we have maintained a perfect landfill diversion rate at our Portland facility. When we opened the Tacoma depot in 2018 and the Eugene depot in 2023, we extended the same zero-landfill standard to those locations from day one. Every pallet that enters any of our facilities is either repaired for resale, broken down for parts reclamation, ground into mulch, or processed as biomass fuel. Our waste audits, conducted quarterly by an independent environmental consultant, have confirmed 100% diversion for 40 consecutive quarters.
Save 5 million board feet of lumber annually by 2027
64% Complete5M board feet
3.2M board feet (2024)
Every pallet we repair and return to service represents lumber that does not need to be harvested. In 2024, our repair and resale operations saved an estimated 3.2 million board feet of lumber from being consumed. As we scale toward our goal of 750,000 pallets processed annually, we project reaching 5 million board feet saved per year by 2027. To put this in perspective, 5 million board feet of lumber is enough to frame approximately 310 single-family homes or to fill 125 standard logging trucks.
Reduce per-pallet carbon footprint by 50% versus new pallet production
80% Complete50% reduction
40% reduction (2024)
Independent lifecycle analysis conducted in partnership with Oregon State University's College of Forestry confirmed that our reused pallets carry a carbon footprint 40% lower than equivalent new pallets. The remaining 10% gap is primarily attributable to transportation emissions from our pickup and delivery operations. Our fleet electrification plan, targeting 50% alternative fuel vehicles by 2027, is expected to close this gap and achieve the full 50% reduction target. We measure and report this metric annually in our sustainability report.
Achieve net-zero facility electricity by 2027
In ProgressNet-zero electricity
Solar installation in progress
Our Portland headquarters will receive a 200-kilowatt rooftop solar array in 2025, expected to offset approximately 65% of facility electricity consumption. Combined with LED lighting upgrades completed in 2023 that reduced lighting energy use by 45%, and planned battery storage for off-peak usage, we project achieving net-zero electricity at the Portland facility by late 2027. The Tacoma and Eugene depots will follow with their own solar installations in 2028 and 2029 respectively, bringing the entire company to net-zero facility electricity by 2030.
Transition 50% of delivery fleet to alternative fuels by 2027
30% Complete50% alt-fuel fleet
15% (2 electric yard trucks, 1 biodiesel truck)
We currently operate two electric yard trucks at our Portland facility and one biodiesel-capable delivery truck, representing approximately 15% of our total fleet. In 2025, we plan to add four electric delivery vans for urban Portland routes. By 2026, we aim to add two more electric vehicles for Tacoma operations. We are working with GreenFleet Northwest on charging infrastructure at all three depots. The long-haul I-5 corridor routes present the greatest challenge for electrification due to range requirements, and we are evaluating compressed natural gas as a bridge solution for these routes.
Plant 1,000 trees per year through reforestation partnerships
Launching 20251,000 trees/year
First planting: Spring 2025
In partnership with the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Willamette Valley reforestation initiative, we have committed to funding the planting of 1,000 native trees per year starting in spring 2025. This is not a carbon offset scheme; it is a genuine investment in rebuilding the forests that supply the lumber industry our business depends on. Each year's planting will focus on areas affected by wildfire or clear-cutting, using native species selected for climate resilience. We will track survival rates and publish results in our annual sustainability report.
Our Environmental Footprint
Numbers from our 2024 sustainability report. Every figure is independently verified and publicly available.
Board Feet
Lumber saved from being harvested
Tons
Waste diverted from landfills
Reduction
Lower carbon footprint vs. new pallets
Recyclable
Of materials processed at our facilities
Deeper Impact Metrics (2024 Report)
Carbon Reduction
Resource Conservation
Waste Reduction
Community Programs
Our mission does not stop at the fence line of our facilities. We are actively involved in programs that strengthen our community, support education, and create opportunities for people who need them most.
Pallet Donations to Nonprofits
Every month, we set aside a supply of Grade B and Grade C pallets for donation to nonprofit organizations across the Portland metro area. These pallets are used for everything from building raised garden beds at community farms to constructing temporary staging platforms at outdoor events and festivals. Our largest ongoing recipient is the Oregon Food Bank, which uses our pallets in their warehouse distribution operations, saving them thousands of dollars per year in packaging material costs. We also supply pallets to Habitat for Humanity for use as construction staging materials, and to local animal shelters that repurpose pallet wood for kennel construction and repairs.
2,400+ pallets donated in 2024Roosevelt High School Woodworking Partnership
Since 2021, we have partnered with Roosevelt High School's Career and Technical Education program to bring real-world woodworking experience into the classroom. Twice a month during the school year, students visit our Portland facility for hands-on workshops where they learn to use pneumatic tools, read lumber grades, and understand the economics of material reuse. Jorge Reyes and Ashley Torres serve as volunteer instructors, sharing the same repair techniques they use on the production floor every day. Several students have gone on to apply for our youth apprenticeship program after graduation. In addition to the workshops, we donate wood scraps and off-cut lumber to the school's woodshop program, providing free materials that would otherwise cost the underfunded program hundreds of dollars per semester.
180+ students trained since 2021Local Hiring and Second-Chance Employment
We believe in hiring from the communities where we operate. Over 85% of our employees live within 15 miles of the facility where they work, and we actively recruit from local workforce development programs. We have also established a partnership with Multnomah County's workforce reentry program, providing employment opportunities for individuals transitioning out of the criminal justice system. The program includes a structured onboarding process with additional mentorship support, access to the same training and advancement opportunities available to all employees, and connection to community resources for housing, transportation, and financial counseling. To date, we have hired 11 individuals through this partnership, and eight remain with the company in good standing.
85% local hiring rateCommunity Mulch and Garden Support
Our wood grinding operations produce hundreds of tons of clean, untreated mulch every year. Rather than selling all of it commercially, we set aside approximately 50 tons annually for free distribution to community gardens, school gardens, urban farms, and neighborhood beautification projects. Recipients include over 30 community gardens across Portland, the Learning Gardens Laboratory at Lane Middle School, the Growing Gardens nonprofit, and several Portland Parks and Recreation community garden sites. We deliver the mulch free of charge on a quarterly schedule, and we make additional donations available during the spring planting season when demand peaks. The mulch helps gardeners suppress weeds, retain soil moisture, moderate soil temperature, and gradually enrich the soil as it decomposes.
50+ tons donated annuallySustainability Reporting
We published our first annual sustainability report in 2024 and are committed to annual reporting going forward. Here is a summary of our progress across the key metrics we track, and how those numbers have changed over time.
Annual Progress Metrics
| Metric | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pallets Processed | 380,000 | 440,000 | 510,000 | 575,000 |
| Pallets Repaired & Resold | 260,000 | 300,000 | 340,000 | 390,000 |
| Landfill Diversion Rate | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Board Feet Saved | 2.4M | 2.8M | 3.2M | 3.6M |
| CO2 Prevented (metric tons) | 310 | 365 | 420 | 475 |
| Trees Saved from Harvest | 9,200 | 10,800 | 12,400 | 14,000 |
| Water Saved (gallons) | 5.9M | 7.1M | 8.2M | 9.4M |
| Mulch Produced (tons) | 380 | 440 | 510 | 560 |
| Alt-Fuel Fleet Percentage | 0% | 5% | 15% | 25% |
| Community Mulch Donated (tons) | 35 | 42 | 50 | 55 |
How We Measure and Report
Data Collection
Every pallet that passes through our facilities is logged in our inventory management system with its origin, condition assessment, processing outcome (repair, parts reclamation, mulch, or biomass), and final destination. This granular data allows us to calculate precise environmental impact metrics rather than relying on industry averages or estimates.
Methodology
Our carbon footprint calculations follow the Greenhouse Gas Protocol's Scope 1 and Scope 2 framework. Lumber savings are calculated using USDA Forest Products Laboratory conversion factors. Water savings estimates are based on published data from the American Forest and Paper Association regarding water consumption in lumber production. All methodologies are documented in our full sustainability report.
Independent Verification
We believe that self-reported sustainability data has limited credibility. That is why we engage Cascade Environmental Services, an independent Portland-based environmental consulting firm, to verify our key metrics annually. Their audit includes on-site waste stream sampling, review of our tracking data against physical inventory counts, and validation of our environmental impact calculations. The verification statement is published as an appendix to our annual sustainability report.
Customer Reporting
For customers who need sustainability data for their own ESG reporting, we provide customized impact statements that detail the specific environmental benefits attributable to their pallet purchases. This includes the number of pallets diverted from landfill, the board feet of lumber saved, and the carbon emissions avoided, calculated proportionally based on their order volume. Currently, 74% of our top 100 accounts utilize this service for their own corporate sustainability reporting.
Our 2027 Sustainability Goals
We hold ourselves accountable to ambitious, measurable targets. Here is what we are working toward.
Pallets processed annually
Currently at 500K+
Scaling our capacity to serve more businesses and divert even more pallets from landfills through facility expansion and technology investments.
Fleet on alternative fuels
Currently at 15%
Transitioning our delivery fleet to electric and biodiesel vehicles, starting with yard trucks and expanding to over-the-road vehicles.
Facility carbon emissions
Solar installation planned
Achieving net-zero carbon emissions at our Portland headquarters through solar power, energy efficiency upgrades, and verified carbon offsets.
Community Involvement
Our commitment to sustainability extends beyond pallets. We are actively invested in making our communities stronger and greener.
Community Gardens
We donate over 50 tons of clean wood mulch to community gardens across Portland every year. Our mulch helps local growers suppress weeds, retain moisture, and enrich their soil naturally.
50+ tons donated annuallyHabitat for Humanity
Our annual partnership with Habitat for Humanity puts our team on build sites across Portland. Since 2019, we have contributed over 800 volunteer hours to building affordable housing.
800+ volunteer hoursYouth Programs
Our apprenticeship program offers hands-on woodworking and logistics training to young adults. Three of our current full-time employees started as apprentices.
12 apprentices trainedEnvironmental Education
We host facility tours for schools and civic groups to demonstrate the circular economy in action. Over 1,200 students have visited our Portland facility since the program began.
1,200+ students hostedCertifications & Memberships
ISPM-15 Certified
Our heat treatment facility meets all International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures requirements for wood packaging used in international trade.
NWPCA Member
We are an active member of the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association, staying current with industry best practices and standards.
Oregon Sustainability Award
Recognized by the State of Oregon in 2019 for our zero-landfill operations and commitment to the circular economy.
Better Business Bureau A+ Rating
Maintaining the highest BBB rating reflects our commitment to transparent business practices and customer satisfaction.
Make Your Supply Chain Greener
Choosing recycled and refurbished pallets is one of the simplest ways to reduce your company's environmental footprint. Let us show you how easy the switch can be.