Inbound Logistics | May 2026

PALLETS, ELEVATED

MAINTAINING A CIRCULAR ECONOMY MAINTAINING CIRCULAR To pallets, than partnerships Through that To maintain a circular economy for its pallets, iGPS operates a network of more than 240 ‘iDepot’ locations, or retailer partnerships the company has established. Through these partnerships, retailers that receive goods shipped on iGPS pallets agree to sort, inspect, store, and reissue empty undamaged pallets back into circulation. “This saves time and minimizes pallets reissue into handling while removing a leg from the supply chain, since the pallets don’t need to be moved to off-site depots before returning to circulation,” Pepperworth says. In 2025, iGPS won the ‘Top Supply Chain Projects Award,’ recognizing its pilot implementation of an integrated, fully automated pallet inspection and washing system. The customized solution uses a system of electronic eyes that monitor iGPS pallets as they move across a conveyor, while an AI-driven deep neural network scans for the smallest defects, including issues that human eyes might miss. The system then automatically sorts pallets needed for washing. “We are ensuring that every pallet in circulation is as clean, uniform, consistent, and high- quality as possible,” Pepperworth says. iGPS worked with a customer in the bottled water sector, helping it shift from wooden pallets to iGPS plastic pallets. Productivity jumped as employees spent less time on debris cleanup. The company could t more pallets on each truck, leading management to estimate that it was able to cut 50 truckloads each year, while shipping the same amount of water. “We consider ourselves more than a pallet company,” Pepperworth says. “iGPS is a partner in our clients’ supply chain success, constantly innovating and striving to deliver the best possible experience. The modern shipping pallet is not an afterthought,” he says. “It’s a central factor for success.” ORBIS LEADING TO A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE ORBIS Corporation optimizes supply chains with sustainable packaging handling supply be to circulation,”

The iGPS plastic pallet is recyclable and lightweight.

interact seamlessly within automated environments, he says. “Plastic pallets’ uniform dimensions help them ow through automated environments more easily,” Pepperworth says. That’s key, as DRIVING SUSTAINABILITY Pallets are being called into service to help companies reach their sustainability goals. Plastic pallets, for instance, can take upwards of 100 trips through the supply chain (in contrast to about 25 trips for the average wood- block pallet) and are recyclable, says iGPS’ Pepperworth. Because they’re about 35% lighter than wood, plastic pallets consume less fuel and generate fewer greenhouse emissions when used to ship goods, he says. Today, forward-thinking shippers don’t think of pallets as commodities, but as important components of their supply chain infrastructure.

a misshapen pallet or broken board can jam a conveyor or palletizer, he adds. Plastic pallets also lack protruding nails and splinters, so they often behave more consistently when used within warehouse automation systems. This ensures less equipment downtime, fewer rejected loads, and lower clean-up costs. “Our belief is that as the modern supply chain evolves, the benets of plastic ‘smart’ pallets will only become clearer and more advantageous,” Pepperworth says. The generally lighter weight of plastic pallets allows shippers to move more products per truckload while spending less on fuel and generating few greenhouse gas emissions, he adds. They’re also safer and easier to transport. iGPS pallets are embedded with RFID tags and barcodes that enable both tracking and integration with supply chain and warehouse management software. These capabilities enable near-instantaneous counting and visibility as the pallets move through the supply chain, as well as the ability to directly interface with robotic systems, Pepperworth says. For example, an automated guided vehicle (AGV) can scan an iGPS pallet and, with no human intervention, the AGV will know where to move the pallet within an automated storage and retrieval system.

“In designing their supply chain, they look at how they can leverage pallets in ways that will enhance operations, improve supply chain resiliency, and meet sustainability goals,” Pepperworth says.

60 Inbound Logistics • May 2026