In pharmaceutical and life sciences supply chains, the pallet under a load is part of the quality system. Contamination, pests, moisture and poor traceability can all put product integrity at risk, and each is harder to control with the wrong handling equipment.
That is why so many manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors have moved away from wood to plastic pallets and containers.
What GDP expects from storage and handling
Wholesale dealers in the UK operate under Good Distribution Practice (GDP), overseen by the MHRA. GDP does not name specific pallets or containers. It does expect distributors to:
- Protect medicines from contamination, damage and pest activity.
- Keep storage areas clean, dry and within specified conditions.
- Clearly separate quarantined, rejected, returned and released stock.
- Maintain traceability through the supply chain.
- Have cleaning procedures that can be shown to work.
Every piece of handling equipment that touches product, packaging or clean areas either helps meet these expectations or makes it harder to meet.
Why wood causes problems in pharmaceutical environments
Wooden pallets are cheap and familiar, but in regulated environments they have well-known weaknesses:
- They can’t be properly cleaned. Porous timber absorbs liquids and harbours contamination that surface cleaning won’t reach.
- They shed debris. Splinters, fibres and dust are unwelcome anywhere near clean areas or primary packaging.
- Moisture and mould. Timber absorbs moisture in storage and in transit, which can encourage mould growth.
- Untreated wood can carry insects, which is a pest control risk and an export compliance issue.
- Protruding nails and broken boards damage cartons and shrink wrap and can puncture packaging.
Many pharmaceutical sites restrict or ban wood from production and clean areas entirely, using plastic pallets and containers there and transferring goods at the boundary.
What plastic pallets offer
Cleanability. Solid, non-porous plastic can be washed, sanitised and dried, and cleaning can be validated. Closed deck or hygienic pallets with smooth surfaces and no hidden cavities are the strongest choice for clean areas.
Consistency. Plastic pallets are moulded to consistent dimensions and weights, which matters for automated storage, conveyors and robotic handling. Wooden pallets vary, and a warped pallet can jam an automated system.
Durability. A quality plastic pallet last for many trips, so the cost per trip is often lower than replacing wood, even though the purchase price is higher.
Segregation by colour. Coloured pallets and containers make stock status visible briefly; for example, one colour for quarantine and another for released goods. This supports the GDP requirement to keep stock separate and reduces the risk of mix-ups.
Traceability. Plastic pallets and containers can carry RFID tags or permanent barcodes, linking each asset to batch records and movement history. See Exporta’s product tracking options.
Containers, crates and tote boxes
Pallets are only part of it. Pharmaceutical operations also use:
- Attached lid containers and tote boxes for picking and moving small items between sites. The lids protect contents and can be sealed for tamper evidence.
- Euro containers in standard footprints that stack neatly on pallets and suit automated storage.
- Pallet boxes for bulk components, returns and packaging materials.
As with pallets, colour coding, sealing options and cleanability should be part of the specification.
Temperature-controlled distribution
Cold chain medicines add extra demand. Plastic pallets and containers cope better than wood with the condensation that forms when goods move between temperature zones, and they don’t absorb moisture that could affect packaging. Check the rated temperature range of any pallet used in freezer or ultra-cold storage, as plastics behave differently at low temperatures.
Exporting medicines and medical products
Wooden packaging moving internationally, including from Great Britain to the EU, must meet ISPM 15 heat treatment and marking rules. Plastic pallets are exempt, which removes a compliance step and the risk of shipments being held at the border because of non-compliant timber.
What food and pharma have in common
Many of the hygiene principles here are the same one’s food manufacturers apply under BRCGS: cleanable surfaces, pest control, segregation and traceability. Businesses operating across both sectors, such as nutraceuticals, food supplements and medical nutrition, can often standardise on one fleet of hygienic plastic pallets and containers. Read how Exporta supports food manufacturers.
Specifying pallets for a pharmaceutical site
When specifying, confirm:
- Deck type (open or closed) for the areas it will be used in
- Load ratings for static, dynamic and racking use.
- Compatibility with automated handling and racking systems
- Cleaning method and chemical compatibility
- Colour and marking requirements for segregation.
- Fire performance requirements from your insurer or site risk assessment.
Exporta supplies plastic pallets, containers and pallet boxes to pharmaceutical and life sciences businesses across the UK. Talk to the team about hygienic handling for your site.
