Alternative to Wooden and Plastic Export Pallets for Shipping
Wooden and plastic pallets are commonly used to support products during transportation. However, companies may require an alternative that uses less material, weighs less, occupies less storage space and is suitable for international shipments.
Eltete Malaysia provides several paper-based alternatives to conventional wooden and plastic pallets:
Paper Pallets
Slip Sheets
PallRun®
EdgeRunner®
Carton Pallets
These solutions can be selected according to the product, handling method, destination, strength, space, material and cost requirements.
What Is the Best Alternative to Wooden and Plastic Export Pallets?
Based on Eltete’s official product range, the two main alternatives are:
Eltete Paper Pallets
Paper Pallets provide a structured load platform for companies that still require pallet-style handling.
Eltete Paper Pallets are:
Lightweight
Suitable for heavy loads
Resistant to side impact and dragging
Resistant to humidity
ISPM 15-compliant
Accepted worldwide without restrictions
Available in different sizes and heights
Customisable according to the packaging application
Eltete Slip Sheets
Slip Sheets provide a palletless alternative for companies that want to replace heavy and bulky wooden or plastic pallets.
Eltete Slip Sheets are:
Made from multiple layers of strong kraftliner board
Tear-resistant
Moisture-resistant
100% recyclable
ISPM 15-compliant
Suitable for domestic and international shipments
Designed to require minimum storage space
Compatible with suitable palletless-handling equipment
The right option depends on whether the operation requires a structured pallet or can adopt a palletless handling system.
Why Replace Wooden or Plastic Pallets?
Eltete’s transport packaging approach focuses on savings in:
Material
Transportation
Warehousing
Recycling
Labour
Cost
Time
Eltete also states that reducing packaging material can reduce warehouse-space requirements and allow more goods to be loaded.
Paper-based alternatives can support this approach by replacing selected traditional pallet materials with lightweight and recyclable transport packaging.
1. Eltete Paper Pallets
Eltete Paper Pallets are designed according to the exact needs of the packaging application.
The company can recommend different pallet options depending on:
The product
Handling requirements
Export destination
Required strength
Available space
Material expectations
Cost expectations
This allows the pallet to be matched to the shipment instead of requiring every product to use the same standard pallet design.
How Strong Are Eltete Paper Pallets?
The strength of Eltete Paper Pallets comes from PallRun®, which combines laminated U-profiles, a kraftliner surface and paper cores.
Eltete states that this structure provides high strength and humidity resistance. Independent laboratory testing cited by Eltete recorded up to 10,000 kg of static compression strength on a tested four-way pallet without failure. The result applies to the tested configuration and not automatically to every Paper Pallet design.
Eltete identifies Paper Pallets as suitable for heavy loads and resistant to side impact and dragging.
Are Paper Pallets Lightweight?
Eltete presents lower weight as one of the main benefits of its Paper Pallets, particularly for air-freight transportation savings.
Eltete’s e-commerce solutions page provides an example in which a standard carton pallet weighs approximately 5 kg, compared with approximately 15 kg for the wooden pallet used in its comparison. The actual weight depends on the selected pallet dimensions and construction.
Available Paper Pallet Sizes
Eltete displays several Paper Pallet configurations, including:
Display pallets
400 × 600 mm
400 × 800 mm
600 × 800 mm
800 × 1200 mm two-way pallets
800 × 1200 mm four-way pallets
Eltete can also provide the exact size and height required to make transportation more effective in terms of space and price.
Are Paper Pallets Suitable for Export Shipping?
Eltete states that its Paper Pallets are ISPM 15-compliant and accepted worldwide without restrictions.
They do not require the fumigation associated with regulated solid-wood packaging. Eltete identifies export companies, pharmaceutical companies, electronics manufacturers and the food industry among typical Paper Pallet users.
2. Eltete Slip Sheets
Eltete Slip Sheets are also known as:
Push-Pull pallets
Flat pallet systems
Transfer sheets
One-millimetre pallets
They are made from wet-strengthened, high-quality kraftliner and are designed to replace traditional pallets in suitable applications.
Eltete states that Slip Sheets are an alternative for overseas shipments and intra-company deliveries. They can be used across a wide range of products and industries.
How Do Slip Sheets Replace Wooden and Plastic Pallets?
Eltete Slip Sheets are placed beneath the product load instead of using a raised pallet structure.
Eltete states that they can replace heavy, bulky and expensive wooden or plastic pallets. They may also be used as divider sheets.
Because Slip Sheets are flat, minimum storage space is required for unused sheets. Eltete directly links this feature to reduced warehousing costs.
What Savings Can Slip Sheets Provide?
Eltete lists savings in:
Material costs
Freight costs
Labour costs
Repair costs
Storage costs
Disposal costs
Eltete states that material-cost savings can reach 80% or more compared with wooden pallets and transport-cost savings can reach up to 15%. These are potential figures presented by Eltete, and actual results depend on the specific shipment and existing pallet system.
What Equipment Is Required for Slip Sheets?
Eltete Slip Sheets are compatible with:
Standard forklifts fitted with Push-Pull attachments
RollerForks
Modern conveyor systems
Eltete states that a Push-Pull attachment can be connected to a standard forklift in less than one minute. RollerForks provide a non-hydraulic handling option.
The basic Slip Sheet handling process is:
Pull the load onto the handling equipment.
Lift and move the load.
Push the load into the required position.
Are Slip Sheets Suitable for Export?
Eltete states that Slip Sheets do not require the treatment needed for wooden packaging and are therefore suitable for exports.
Different thicknesses and strengths can be provided according to the customer’s requirements.
They are also described as suitable for both domestic and international shippers.
3. PallRun® as an Alternative to Wooden Pallet Runners
PallRun® is a 100% recyclable carton-board pallet foot designed to replace wooden or other types of pallet runners.
Unlike wooden runners, PallRun® does not require treatment and is ISPM 15-compliant.
PallRun® can be combined with:
Honeycomb Board
Corrugated board
Chipboard
Carton boxes
Shop displays
Products requiring an integrated pallet base
It can also be attached directly to a box or product, reducing the need for a separate complete pallet.
Benefits of PallRun®
Eltete identifies the following benefits:
Reduced material and handling costs
Reduced recycling costs
No fumigation requirement
No special export certificates
No nails, splinters or undesirable pests
Lightweight construction
Humidity resistance
Strong solid-board structure
Different height options
Worldwide acceptance without treatment or restrictions
Eltete also states that PallRun® can support heavy loads and that the pallet feet are designed and tested according to the requirements of each application.
4. EdgeRunner® as a Four-Way Pallet Alternative
EdgeRunner® combines Eltete Edgeboard with PallRun® to create a four-way paper-based pallet alternative.
Eltete states that EdgeRunner® can replace traditional wooden or plywood pallets. Reducing packaging material also makes recycling easier.
EdgeRunner® can be:
Combined with corrugated boxes
Attached directly to a box
Used beneath a product
Used with a top board
Used with displays
Eltete also identifies minimised material use, strapping protection, shipment security and multiple configuration options as EdgeRunner® benefits.
5. Carton Pallets
Eltete’s Carton Pallet is officially presented as an alternative to:
Wooden pallets
Plywood pallets
Plastic pallets
Eltete states that its Carton Pallets can carry heavy loads, are available in two-way and four-way formats and comply with ISPM 15.
Carton Pallets are suitable when a business requires conventional pallet-style handling but wants a lightweight, paper-based alternative.
Which Solution Should a Company Choose?
Choose an Eltete Paper Pallet When:
– A structured pallet platform is required
– Two-way or four-way handling is needed
– A conventional pallet format is preferred
– Heavy-load capability is required
– Custom pallet sizes or heights are needed
– The shipment needs an ISPM 15-compliant export pallet
Choose an Eltete Slip Sheet When:
– A palletless system is suitable
– Wooden or plastic pallets need to be replaced
– Minimum empty-pallet storage space is a priority
– Material and transport costs need to be reduced
Push-Pull, RollerFork or compatible conveyor handling is available
– The shipment is domestic or international
Choose PallRun® or EdgeRunner® When:
– A pallet base needs to be integrated directly with a carton or product
– Wooden pallet runners need to be replaced
– A lighter paper-based pallet structure is required
– Material reduction and easier recycling are priorities
– ISPM 15 and Non-Wood Export Packaging
Eltete explains that ISPM 15 regulates wooden packaging materials used in international trade.
Covered wooden packaging materials such as pallets, crates and dunnage must be debarked, heat-treated or fumigated and marked with a compliance stamp. Eltete recommends paperboard packaging as a way to avoid additional wood-treatment handling and costs.
Eltete Paper Pallets, Slip Sheets and PallRun® are officially described as ISPM 15-compliant paper-based alternatives.
Environmental Benefits
Eltete follows the Reduce, Replace and Recycle approach and supplies 100% recyclable transport packaging products.
Its packaging strategy is designed to support:
Material savings
Transport savings
Warehousing savings
Easier recycling
Reduced packaging volume
Increased loading capacity
Replacing suitable wooden or plastic pallet components with paper-based solutions supports Eltete’s aim of total recyclability throughout the supply chain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can replace wooden and plastic export pallets?
Eltete provides Paper Pallets, Slip Sheets, PallRun®, EdgeRunner® and Carton Pallets as paper-based alternatives for suitable export applications.
Are Eltete Paper Pallets suitable for export?
Yes. Eltete states that its Paper Pallets are ISPM 15-compliant, accepted worldwide without restrictions and suitable for export companies.
Can Paper Pallets support heavy loads?
Yes. Eltete identifies its Paper Pallets as suitable for heavy loads and cites independent testing of up to 10,000 kg static compression strength on a tested four-way pallet without failure.
Can Slip Sheets replace wooden pallets?
Yes. Eltete states that Slip Sheets can replace heavy and bulky wooden or plastic pallets in compatible palletless-handling operations.
Do Slip Sheets save warehouse space?
Yes. Eltete states that minimum space is required for storing Slip Sheets, helping reduce warehousing costs.
What equipment is needed for Slip Sheets?
Eltete Slip Sheets can be handled using standard forklifts fitted with Push-Pull attachments, RollerForks or compatible modern conveyor systems.
What can replace wooden pallet runners?
Eltete PallRun® is a recyclable carton-board pallet foot designed to replace wooden or other pallet runners.
Do paper-based pallet solutions require fumigation?
Eltete states that its Paper Pallets, Slip Sheets and PallRun® do not require the treatment associated with regulated wooden packaging and are ISPM 15-compliant.
Can Eltete customise export pallets?
Yes. Eltete can provide exact pallet sizes and different heights according to the product, handling method, destination, strength, space, material and cost requirements.
Conclusion
Eltete Malaysia provides several alternatives to wooden and plastic export pallets.
Paper Pallets are suitable when a structured, lightweight and customisable pallet is required. They are available in different sizes, heights, two-way and four-way configurations.
Slip Sheets are suitable when a business can use palletless handling and wants to reduce material, freight and storage requirements.
PallRun® and EdgeRunner® can replace wooden runners or complete traditional pallet bases while allowing the load platform to be integrated with cartons, boards or products.
All options should be selected according to the product, handling process, destination, strength, space, material and cost expectations.
