About · Sustainability
Zero Waste.
Zero Compromise.
Sustainability is not a marketing slogan at Pallet Colorado — it is the foundation of our business model. Every pallet we touch is kept in productive use for as long as possible, and nothing we handle ever reaches a landfill.
Keeping Wood Working, Not Wasted
Every year, an estimated 400 million pallets are retired from service across the United States. A staggering number of those end up in landfills, taking up valuable space and releasing methane as the wood decomposes. At Pallet Colorado, we believe this waste is entirely preventable.
Our mission is to create a fully circular pallet economy across Colorado. We collect used pallets from businesses, inspect and repair those that can serve another lifecycle, and responsibly process those that cannot. The result is a closed-loop system where wood fiber is never treated as disposable — it is a resource that keeps delivering value at every stage of its life.
Since our founding in 2003, we have operated under a zero-landfill policy. That means 100% of every pallet that enters our facility is either returned to service, chipped into landscape mulch, or converted to biomass fuel. Nothing is wasted. Ever.
The Numbers Speak for Themselves
27K+
Trees Saved Annually
By keeping pallets in circulation, we reduce the demand for virgin lumber by the equivalent of over 27,000 mature trees each year.
4,800
Tons of CO2 Prevented
Recycled pallets require a fraction of the energy to produce compared to new ones, keeping nearly 4,800 metric tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
12M+
Gallons of Water Conserved
Manufacturing new pallets is water-intensive. Every recycled pallet we sell conserves roughly six gallons of water compared to its new equivalent.
0
Pallets to Landfill
Our zero-landfill commitment is not aspirational — it has been our operational reality every single year since 2010.
Every Pallet Has a Next Life
Our approach ensures that wood fiber cycles through multiple stages of productive use before it is ever converted to energy. Here is how each pallet's journey continues.
Reuse As-Is
Pallets in good structural condition are cleaned, inspected, and returned to service immediately. This is the highest-value use of the wood and our top priority for every pallet we receive. Roughly 60% of pallets we collect go directly back to work.
Repair & Refurbish
Pallets with minor damage — cracked boards, loose nails, or missing stringers — are repaired by our skilled team using reclaimed lumber from pallets that are beyond full repair. Around 25% of our intake goes through our repair process, extending each pallet's useful life by several more cycles.
Chip & Convert
The remaining 15% of pallets — those too damaged for safe reuse — are dismantled and processed through our industrial grinder. The clean wood chips become landscape mulch sold to Colorado garden centers or biomass fuel for industrial heating applications. Every fiber finds a purpose.
New Pallets vs. Recycled Pallets
The environmental cost of manufacturing a new wooden pallet is significant. Choosing recycled pallets dramatically reduces your supply chain's footprint.
New Pallet
- Requires harvesting mature trees (12-15 board feet of lumber per pallet)
- Produces approximately 30 lbs of CO2 emissions during manufacturing
- Consumes roughly 6 gallons of water per pallet in the milling process
- Higher cost due to raw material and manufacturing expenses
- Longer lead times from sawmill to delivery
Recycled Pallet Recommended
- No new trees harvested — extends the life of existing lumber
- Up to 80% lower carbon footprint compared to new pallet manufacturing
- Minimal water usage — inspection and repair are low-water processes
- 40-60% cost savings compared to purchasing new pallets
- Available in large quantities with fast turnaround from local inventory
See how much your business could save — both financially and environmentally.
Try Our Savings CalculatorZero-Landfill Policy
Since formalizing our zero-landfill commitment in 2010, not a single pallet has left our facility destined for a dump. This is not a target — it is a strict operational standard that every member of our team upholds daily.
Here is how we achieve it: every pallet entering our yard is tracked through our inventory system. It is inspected, graded, and assigned one of three pathways — reuse, repair, or chipping. Our grading team makes the call on each individual pallet, and our operations managers audit the process weekly to ensure compliance.
We also work with our business customers to set up pallet return programs, making it easy for them to send used pallets back to us instead of discarding them. This closes the loop and ensures a steady supply of recyclable material while eliminating waste for our partners.
Weekly Compliance Audits
Operations managers conduct weekly audits of all pallet streams to verify 100% diversion from landfill. Results are documented and reviewed monthly.
Pallet Tracking System
Every incoming pallet is logged and tracked through its lifecycle at our facility, from arrival to its next destination — whether that is a customer dock or our chipper.
Customer Return Programs
We provide free pallet pickup for businesses generating 50 or more pallets per month, keeping material flowing back into the circular economy.
Sustainability Reporting
We provide our partners with annual sustainability reports detailing how many pallets were diverted, trees saved, and emissions prevented through our partnership. View our latest sustainability report.
Working Together for Colorado's Future
Environmental stewardship is a team effort. We are proud to partner with local organizations that share our commitment to a more sustainable Colorado.
Colorado Environmental Organizations
We collaborate with state and regional environmental groups on waste diversion initiatives, tree planting programs, and industrial sustainability benchmarking.
Denver Business Alliance
As active members of the local business community, we help Denver-area companies meet sustainability goals by providing recycled pallet programs tailored to their operations.
Workforce Development
We partner with local workforce programs to provide training and employment opportunities in sustainable logistics and warehouse operations for Denver residents.
Want to learn more about how we started and where we are headed?
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