Are pallets the single most important object in the global economy? Slate Magazine recently ran an article on the history of the wooden pallet. The National Wooden Pallet & Container Association (NWPCA) trademarked a long time ago the slogan, “Pallets move the world.” And indeed, pallets are the critical part of regional and national supply chains in developed countries. It is definitely true that palletization has greatly improved the efficiency of logistics, allowed for faster delivery times, reduced product damage, facilitated better storage practices, and overall lowered costs for billions of shipments. Pallets are among the most important, non-technology or power-related innovations of the last 100 years in terms of encouraging globalization and facilitating efficient supply chains. Pallets are also the forgotten workhouse of efficient supply chains.
http://www.slate.com/articles/business/transport/2012/08/pallets
