Timber pallet shortages are just another reason we need immediate action to secure more trees in the ground, according to the South Australian Forest Products Association. Source: Timberbiz
“Australia’s consumer goods supply chain is reporting a shortage of timber pallets which can jeopardise the transportation of critical consumer goods, from food to electronics,” SAFPA CEO Nathan Paine said.
“Without our timber pallets, everyday life would stall, for example supermarket shelves wouldn’t be stocked, our beverages wouldn’t be available to purchase, retailers wouldn’t be able to sell their latest items. All in all, our Christmas festivities would look very different.
“Forest product industries are essential to everyday life, and in South Australia we manufacture timber pallets from softwood timbers which is a cost effective and carbon friendly means of transporting goods throughout Australia’s logistics supply chains.
“Our timber pallets in fact support all but a small percentage of movements of foods and other vital supplies through Australia’s major supermarket retailers like Coles, Woolworths, ALDI, IGA and Costco.”
Nationally, Australia produced more than two million pallets each year to support movement in Australia’s food supply chain, yet all evidence was pointing towards pallet shortages impacting Christmas through limiting the transportation of consumer goods and supplies.
Mr Paine said that Australian timber mills have been producing at capacity providing timber for housing, outdoor products, paper and packaging, toilet paper and pallets.
Despite this Australia was increasingly relying on imports that the COVID pandemic had shown were increasingly difficult to source.
Mr Paine said that to increase the output of Australian products we need access to more timber resources and that means planting more trees.
“SAFPA is committed to working with the federal and state governments to ensure the national goal of planting 1 billion more trees by 2030 is achieved,” he said.
