Branded plastic pallets have grown in popularity over recent years, as logistics managers and supply chain professionals update their equipment

What was previously seen as an unnecessary add-on is now slowly becoming the norm. The gradual growth in the number of businesses opting for branded pallets has been driven by a number of factors, including tighter control requirements, asset protection, and marketing value. In this blog, we explore why branded plastic pallets deserve a place in long-term supply chain planning.

Specialists in branded plastic pallets and pallet boxes

At our headquarters in Eastbourne, our warehouse team run a very tight ship. Early mornings are spent preparing the site for the coming day, before they unload deliveries of stock, tipping the products into the right bays, and then picking orders ready for dispatch. However, it doesn’t end there. Our team also specialises in pallet conversions, spending significant time each week customising products for our clients. This may involve removing lips or runners from certain pallets, or branding them to a business’ exact requirements. This can include logos, key words to assist with inventory management, marketing slogans, contact details and more.

Due to our long-standing exclusive relationships with a number of leading manufacturers, we are able to source a majority of our supply chain solutions in a huge variety of colours to match different brand guidelines (depending on order size, of course). When this is combined with the customisation work we deliver on-site in Eastbourne, we are confident we can a supply a product that delivers exceptional performance whilst also looking the part!

For example, one of the UK’s leading e-tailers is using our CabCube 2.0 in their vibrant primary brand colour. Furthermore, a major home delivery company uses our CabCube 1210 9F 2.0, which we offer on an exclusive basis to the UK market, fitted with a branded sleeve (1500mm high). In addition, we recently personalised a number of hygienic plastic pallets (the Cabka Hygienic 1210 3R) with a golden finish and custom signage – “Butter” – ready to be sent straight to one of our clients that works in the dairy industry.

Other forms of pallet branding or personalisation

Whilst a lot of the customisation work we carry out at goplasticpallets.com revolves around colour choice, moulded or embossed logos, and printed company names or graphics, there are other options available too. For example, these identifiers can be digital as well as visual. This can include RFID tags for automated tracking, and even IoT sensors in more advanced setups. For example, our CabCube 1612 can be RFID and IoT enabled, for greater transparency and visibility in the supply chain.

Plastic provides a stable platform for these features. It avoids the moisture absorption and surface degradation you will often see in wooden products. This ensures markings stay readable and consistent across repeated trips. This point comes up often in our own guidance on pallet selection, particularly where traceability or strict hygiene is required.

Pallet branding benefits

Here is why more of our customers are now opting for branded pallets:

Improved traceability

A branded pallet is easier to track, whether that’s through a simple colour code or a full sophisticated system linked to WMS software. RFID tags or QR codes allow automated identification at key handover points. In large operations, this can tighten audit trails and reduce disputes about where stock or assets were last handled. Some companies may choose specific colours and/or printing for visibility and digital tags for operational data. Plastic pallets lend themselves well to this because they retain their shape and surface quality across their lifespan.

Reduced loss and theft

When speaking to organisations that are looking to switch from wooden to plastic pallets, loss is one of the key factors. Generic wooden pallets can often disappear into wider pools, are taken by mistake, or are simply abandoned – especially if they are slightly damaged. Branded plastic pallets help to solve that problem. A pallet showing a company’s name or colour profile is far less likely to be absorbed into someone else’s operation – either by mistake or intentionally stolen. Clear identification of property will usually increase accountability across transport partners too, as it becomes obvious when pallets are missing or diverted.

Stronger brand visibility across supply chains

Product handling equipment is often visible across retail, distribution, and manufacturing environments. Clean, consistent, company-branded pallets help present a more organised and professional operation. Some FMCG and retail companies choose to apply brand colours or graphics to reinforce that identity on the shopfloor. Others prefer to use discreet moulded logos simply to reinforce ownership.

Enhanced professionalism

The standard of a pallet carrying a client’s high-value goods will provide a solid indication of the care, quality, and reliability of the overall operation. Wooden pallets with damaged boards or exposed nails send the wrong message. Plastic pallets, especially when branded, appear cleaner and more deliberate. They create a sense of consistency across sites, which is helpful for audits and customer visits. One customer also told us that their branded pallets were also handled more carefully by staff in the warehouse – both those moving them manually and those using forklifts. The sense of pride cannot be overstated.

Operational efficiency through customisation

Many organisations use branded plastic pallets not only for ownership but for workflow segmentation. Useful applications include:

  • Colour-coding by zone
  • Distinguishing hygiene areas
  • Separating inbound and outbound streams
  • Marking pallets for automation-only routes

As mentioned in our recent pallet questions blog, colour-coding has its own benefits – picking accuracy improves, cross-contamination risks drop, and new team members understand site patterns more quickly.

Branded plastic pallets also help businesses to remain compliant in regulated sectors. For example, food manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies rely on precise, consistent identification. This was evident in the example we discussed earlier. The gold-coloured hygienic pallets with “Butter” signage can only be used to carry foodstuffs.

Sustainability benefits

One of the simplest ways to improve pallet return rates is to make assets easier to identify. Branded plastic pallets do exactly that. Higher return rates mean fewer replacements, which reduces the overall environmental burden. When they finally reach the end of their working life – our pallets typically last up to and beyond 10 years – we take responsibility to recycle them into new products.

Long-term cost efficiency

It is fair to say that a branded pallet will generally stay in the “system” longer than an unbranded or wooden pallet and is certainly less likely to be lost. It is treated as a valuable asset rather than a disposable piece of equipment. Over time, loss prevention alone can comfortably offset the upfront cost of branding.

It’s time to introduce branded pallets into your network

As supply chains continue to tighten, and as sustainability targets become harder to ignore, the need for durable, long-lasting, and easily-identified pallets become more obvious. A branded pallet reinforces ownership, strengthens asset control, and helps create the level of visibility modern logistics teams now require.

We are proud to offer the UK’s largest range of plastic pallets, pallet boxes, crates and trays. If you’d like to discuss your requirements with our knowledgeable team – including different branding and personalisation options – please get in touch. You can call us on 01323 744057 or email sales@goplasticpallets.com

By Dan Starnes, Sales Director at goplasticpallets.com