If your company ships or stores goods—particularly for export—using standard wood pallets just isn’t always good enough. This is where heat-treated pallets come in. In this blog, we’ll look at what heat-treated pallets are, how they’re made, why they’re important, and why you might want to consider sourcing heat-treated pallets for your Alberta business.
What Are Heat-Treated Pallets?
Simply put, heat-treated pallets are wooden pallets that have undergone a controlled heating process to reach a temperature high enough to sterilize the wood. Specifically, during treatment, the wood is brought to a core temperature of between 132.8–140 °F (≈ 56–60 °C) and held for at least 30 minutes under regular conditions.
Once treated, each pallet is stamped for traceability and carries a certification mark indicating it meets shipping requirements.
Why Are Pallets Heat Treated?
Pest & Disease Prevention
Wood isn’t inherently sterile. Trees grow in environments full of insects, larvae, fungi, and other organisms. Without treatment, wooden pallets risk transporting these pests into new regions, potentially introducing invasive species that can harm foreign ecosystems, forests, and agriculture.
Heat-treating kills these foreign bodies, naturally sanitizing the wood and making it safe for transport worldwide.
Because many countries require that wood packaging materials be free from pests and diseases, untreated pallets can result in shipments being quarantined, rejected, or penalized.
Compliance with International Export Standards
For businesses shipping goods abroad, using heat-treated wood packaging is often mandatory. The treatment process ensures pallets meet the requirements of the standard ISPM-15, developed by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).
Pallets bearing the ISPM-15 stamp are recognized internationally and accepted by customs authorities in most countries, helping you avoid delays, fines, or rejection at the border.
Safer & More Sustainable than Chemical Fumigation
In the past, pallets were fumigated using chemicals such as methyl bromide to kill pests. Unfortunately, that process had serious environmental and health ramifications.
Heat treatment offers a chemical-free alternative—by relying solely on heat, it prevents the introduction of toxins into the wood. This makes heat-treated pallets safer for workers, end-users, and the environment.
Additional Benefits: Reduced Moisture & Improved Durability
Though sterilization and compliance are the main goals, heat treatment also offers practical side benefits. The heating process can help reduce the wood’s moisture content, making pallets slightly lighter, reducing the risk of mould or rot, and, in some cases, extending the usable life of the pallet. Reduced moisture can also help improve stability and performance during storage or long-term shipping.
When Should You Use Heat-Treated Pallets?
International Shipping & Export
Anytime you ship goods across borders using wood pallets, compliance with ISPM-15 is essential—meaning you’ll need heat-treated pallets.
Protecting Goods from Contamination
If your cargo is sensitive (such as agricultural products, food, or pharmaceuticals), or if you’re concerned about pest contamination, heat-treated pallets offer a safer, cleaner packaging solution to keep your goods secure.
Durability & Reuse
For supply chains that reuse pallets or store items long-term, heat-treated pallets offer better protection against pests and moisture, leading to fewer pallet replacements and more reliable shipments.
Heat Treated Pallets in Alberta: Supporting Your Local Business
If you operate in Alberta (or anywhere in Canada) and are involved in exporting, regional shipping, or cross-border trade, sourcing heat-treated pallets in Alberta makes a lot of sense.
- Buying locally reduces transit time and cost compared to sourcing pallets internationally.
- Local suppliers familiar with the Canadian climate and logistics may offer pallets better suited for cold weather or cross-provincial shipping.
- Ensures compliance with international shipping standards without the guesswork of where the pallets came from or how they were treated.
By partnering with a trusted local supplier, you get certified heat-treated pallets that meet export standards, giving you confidence in your packaging, compliance, and supply chain reliability.
Alberta Pallet: Your Trusted Source for Heat-Treated Pallets
Heat-treated pallets are more than just “wood pallets.” They’re a vital tool for safe, compliant, and sustainable shipping—especially when exporting goods across borders. From eliminating pests to ensuring global standard compliance to boosting durability and safety, heat-treated pallets deliver clear advantages over untreated wood or chemically fumigated alternatives.
If you’re in Alberta and need reliable, export-ready pallets, sourcing heat-treated pallets in Alberta is a smart move—one that supports both your bottom line and environmental responsibility. For more information, contact Alberta Pallet today.