Pallet Foundation Awarded USDA Forest Service Grant to Advance Wood Residual Market Solutions

The Pallet Foundation is pleased to announce it has been awarded a competitive Wood Innovation Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (FS), as part of an $80 million national investment to expand timber markets, promote forest health, and support rural economies.

With this funding, the Pallet Foundation will lead a new initiative aimed at identifying viable and sustainable markets for wood residuals generated by pallet manufacturers. The project will explore existing and emerging uses, conduct feasibility studies, and deliver a roadmap for scalable market development.

“Wood residuals are viable byproducts from pallet manufacturing and recycling,” said Brad Gething, PhD, Executive Director of the Pallet Foundation. “Through this USDA FS grant, we will bring together data, insights, and stakeholder input to help our industry replace traditional outlets for residuals that have disappeared.”

As part of the project, the Foundation has launched a survey of NWPCA members to gather first-hand insights into the scope of current handling challenges, the cost of managing wood residuals, and untapped opportunities for market growth. The survey will also seek member input on policy and regulatory support that could help create more favorable conditions for developing residuals markets.

“This is about more than just circularity,” said Kathleen Dietrich, Chair of the Pallet Foundation. “We’re working to identify real opportunities for market growth, understand the needs of NWPCA members, and help the industry better navigate the policies and regulations that can enable broader use of wood residuals. The active participation of our members will be essential to this effort.”

NWPCA members will play a key role throughout the project, providing guidance and feedback to ensure outcomes are both practical and impactful for the pallet and wood packaging industry. The resulting research will equip manufacturers with tools to make informed decisions about residual handling and market engagement, while supporting broader sustainability goals.

This USDA investment is part of a broader strategy to promote domestic wood innovation and improve forest resilience. In the agency’s announcement, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins said:

“We’re investing in innovation that ensures a steady, sustainable supply of American wood that not only supports jobs and fuels economies, it protects the people and communities we serve, as well as the forest resources they depend on to survive and thrive.”

To learn more about the Pallet Foundation and its commitment to advancing industry innovation and sustainability, visit PalletFoundation.org.

About NWPCA

The National Wooden Pallet & Container Association (NWPCA) is the largest organization of wood packaging professionals globally, with more than 800 company members in 28 countries who manufacture, repair and distribute pallets and wood packaging in unit-load solutions, or who supply products and services to the industry. To learn more about NWPCA, visit palletcentral.com.

Contact:

Brad Gething – Executive Director, Pallett Foundation – bgething@palletcentral.com – (703) 519-6104

Source: National Wooden Pallet & Container Association