Pallet industry calls for power cut protection

The Timber Packaging & Pallet Confederation (TIMCON) has asked the UK government to confirm it will act to keep the pallet and packaging business operational in the event of any planned power outages during the winter.

The organisation, which represents the sector in the UK and Ireland, is seeking clarity that it will be accorded ‘protected site status’ and be able to manufacture and repair during any rolling power cuts that may be introduced if gas supplies run low in the months ahead.

Wooden pallets and packaging are key to keeping supply chains of critical goods – including food, drink, and pharmaceutical products – moving. Accordingly, the government gave essential worker status to the industry during COVID lockdown periods. TIMCON also worked closely with Defra in the run up to Brexit to ensure that supply chains understood new phytosanitary requirements to ensure unbroken movement of timber pallets and packaging between the UK and EU markets.

TIMCON president John Dye said: “The current energy crisis once again poses a threat to the continuity of supply chains. If power outages are indeed going to occur during winter months, it is vital that the wooden pallet and packaging sector continues to operate to ensure that consumers have uninterrupted access to essential goods.

“We are urging government to engage, support and enable pallet and packaging manufacturers, pallet pools, reconditioned pallet businesses and the logistics industry to continue their work and ensure UK sawmilling operations can continue providing timber to our operations.”