30 June 2025
Ensuring safety in the supply chain is the number one priority for manufacturers and retailers in the food and drink industry. Hygienic pallets, which are also known as food grade pallets, play a major role in moving goods from A to B in a secure and hygienic way.
In the UK, strict food safety regulations ensure that suppliers of food products, ingredients and even packaging are held to the highest stands to protect public health, ensure regulatory compliance, and maintain the integrity of food products throughout transport and storage.
At IPP, we work with some of the food and drink industry’s biggest global names to transport goods on hygienic pallets to distribution centres and supermarkets, including Young’s Seafood, prepared foods manufacturer Bakkavor, snack food giant Tayto and UK sweets brand Swizzels.
What are food grade pallets?
To be recognised as food grade in the UK, pallets must meet specific standards.
Wooden pallets must be heat-treated which makes the pallet safe for export to other countries, prevents deforestation and kills pests.
Plastic pallets are non-porous, making them much easier to clean and safer to handle due to having no nails or splinters. However, it is important to note that not all plastic pallets are automatically food safe.
To meet UK standards, plastic pallets must be manufactured from virgin plastic, i.e. non-recycled, certified food-safe High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) or Polypropylene (PP). These are recognised food grade materials because they are non-toxic, non-porous and do not leach chemicals into the foods they carry.
Unlike wooden pallets, plastic does not require heat-treatment or fumigation to prevent the spread of pests.
Wooden pallets meeting safety standards?
Wooden pallets shipped to outside of the UK or EU must adhere to ISPM 15 standards.
Wooden packaging is recognised as one of the best examples of a circular economy in operation and wooden pallets also have unrivalled environmental and hygienic credentials.
Wood absorbs carbon from the atmosphere as it grows and locks it in until it reaches the end of its useful life, and is ultimately recycled.
Read our guide to ISPM 15 to learn more about these standards and the markings to look out for.
Why use a hygiene pallet?
To adhere to UK food laws and strict health and safety standards, manufacturers and suppliers must use hygiene pallets when transporting goods.
Food handling must meet standards set by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), while supply chain and logistics specialists must adhere to British Retail Consortium Global Standards (BRCGS) and International Featured Standards (IFS).
Key reasons for using food grade pallets include:
- Reducing the transfer and risk of harmful bacteria, including Salmonella, Listeria, or E. coli, to food products
- Helping to maintain the freshness and quality of perishable items like meat, dairy, and produce
- Reducing the risk of cross-contamination from chemicals or residue on reused or dirty pallets
Learn more about IPP’s pallet pool options.