Cardboard Pallets

Our cardboard pallets are designed to be strong yet lightweight, ideal for export when weight is an issue.

Ideal for export (particularly air freight cost savings) and domestic use where weight and handling are an issue, cardboard pallets – also known as paper pallets – can be made using engineered corrugated cardboard products that are suited for clean room environments in medical, pharmaceutical and non-wet food applications.

Cardboard is exempt from ISPM15 certification, therefore it can be exported without treatment

Strong, lightweight and recyclable.

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ISO 9001 Certified
(Dandenong)
ISO 9001 Certified
(Colac)
ISPM 15
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HACCP
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Australia-wide
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Sustainably
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Family-owned
business

The benefits of cardboard pallets

Cardboard pallets present a versatile and sustainable alternative to traditional wooden or plastic pallets. Their unique characteristics make them particularly attractive for specific industries and shipping needs. Here are some detailed points on the advantages and limitations of cardboard pallets:

Cardboard Pallets

Advantages

Lightweight:
- Reduced Transportation Costs: The lighter weight of cardboard pallets can lead to significant savings in shipping costs, especially for air freight where weight is a critical factor.
- Easier Handling: Employees and automated systems can handle lighter pallets more efficiently, reducing the risk of workplace injuries and speeding up logistics operations.
Environmentally Friendly:
- Recyclable: Cardboard pallets are typically made from recyclable materials, contributing to a circular economy.
- Reduced Waste: At the end of their life cycle, cardboard pallets can be easily disposed of in an eco-friendly manner, unlike some plastic pallets which may end up in landfills.
Customisable:
- Tailored Dimensions and Load Capacities: Cardboard pallets can be designed to meet specific size and weight requirements, ensuring optimal use of space and load distribution.
- Single-use and Multi-use Options: Depending on the needs of the shipment, cardboard pallets can be designed for single-use or for multiple uses.
Hygienic:
- No Splintering: Unlike wooden pallets, cardboard does not splinter, reducing the risk of product contamination.
- Cleaner Surface: Cardboard pallets are less likely to harbour pests and are easier to keep clean, making them suitable for industries with high hygiene standards, such as food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
Cost-effective:
- Fit for purpose: For industry specific single-use applications, cardboard pallets can be cheaper than wooden or plastic alternatives.
- Savings on Return Logistics: For one-way shipments, the elimination of the need to return pallets can result in cost savings.

Limitations

Load Capacity:
- Lower Strength: Cardboard pallets generally have a lower load-bearing capacity compared to wooden or plastic pallets, limiting their use to lighter goods.
- Structural Integrity: Overloading can lead to structural failure, which is less of an issue with more robust materials like wood or plastic.
Durability:
- Moisture Sensitivity: Cardboard can weaken when exposed to moisture, which can compromise the integrity of the pallet.
- Reduced Waste: Even reinforced cardboard pallets typically have a shorter lifespan compared to their wooden or plastic counterparts, especially in harsh environments.
Setup Costs:
- Low volume: Setting up customised die cut formes on small volumes can sometimes be not as cost-effective as alternative materials.

Cardboard pallets offer significant benefits in terms of weight, cost, and environmental impact, making them a viable option for specific logistics needs. However, their limitations in load capacity and durability mean they are not a one-size-fits-all solution. Careful consideration of the nature of the goods and the supply chain requirements is essential to determine whether cardboard pallets are the best choice for a given application. CMTP experts can help tailor your packaging solution.

Product brochures

CMTP Cardboard Cartons and Pallets Fact Sheet

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or give us a call on 1300 531 536

Custom-made pallets

Need custom-made pallets? We offer packaging design and engineering services, and can recommend a cost-effective and optimised solution for your business.

Here’s how it works:

Obligation free business assessmentFill out a form to give us more information on your packaging needs.
Pallet designOur design process takes into account all aspects and steps of packing, storing, shipping, retailing and using your product. We will design the smartest solution to meet your needs as manufacturer, producer or distributor.
DeliveryWith 11 manufacturing sites across the country, we can quickly deliver your products Australia-wide.

Product gallery

FAQs

Corrugated cardboard pallets, also called paper pallets, are made from engineered corrugated board and reinforced paper products instead of timber. They’re lightweight, clean and designed to suit your product’s size and weight. They’re made at our Derrimut and Dandenong South sites.

Stronger than most people expect. We can engineer cardboard pallets to hold up to a tonne, depending on the design and how the load is spread. They won’t match a heavy-duty timber pallet for raw strength, but for light to medium loads they do the job at a fraction of the weight.

Yes, and it’s one of their biggest advantages. Cardboard is exempt from ISPM 15, so cardboard pallets need no heat treatment, fumigation or stamping before they leave Australia. That saves time and paperwork, and removes the risk of goods being held at the border over non-compliant timber packaging.

Yes. They can be made largely from recycled fibre and are 100% recyclable in most cases, so they can go straight into standard cardboard recycling at the end of their life. For businesses working to reduce waste, that makes end-of-life disposal simple.

Cardboard pallets make sense when weight, hygiene or export paperwork matter more than raw strength. They suit air freight, one-way export shipments, clean environments and light to medium loads. For heavy loads, rough handling, outdoor storage or long-term reuse, timber is still the better choice. Not sure which fits? Talk to the team.

No. Cardboard weakens when it gets wet, and that can compromise the pallet’s strength. Cardboard pallets are best kept in dry conditions and aren’t suited to outdoor storage, wash-down areas, cool rooms with high humidity or wet food products. If moisture is part of your supply chain, a timber pallet is the safer option.

Yes. With no nails, splinters or timber to harbour pests, cardboard pallets suit clean room environments in medical, pharmaceutical and dry food applications. They’re also a good fit for cosmetics and other high-hygiene industries where packaging cleanliness is closely checked.

They can. Air freight is charged on weight, and cardboard pallets weigh far less than timber ones. On a single shipment the saving might be small, but across regular air freight it adds up quickly. The lighter weight also makes them easier and safer to handle by hand.

Cardboard pallets are made to order, so the dimensions and load capacity are designed around your product. We use die-cut formes to produce them accurately and consistently, whether you need a one-off run or regular supply. Send us your product size, weight and how it’s handled, and we’ll design to suit.

They can be designed for either single use or multiple uses, depending on your needs. Single-use designs keep costs down for one-way export shipments, while sturdier multi-use designs suit closed-loop supply chains where pallets come back. Tell us how your pallets travel and we’ll recommend the right build.

Have other questions? Give us a call.

Click to Call 1300 531 536

Here’s what some of our clients say about our service

CMTP have been a key supplier of EOS Defence Systems since July 2017. Their expertise and assistance with our product packaging have enabled EOS Defence Systems to reduce shipping costs by more than a third. Their exceptional product consistency and quality control have provided packaging which both protects and enhances final customer perception. CMTPs customer focus is commendable with agile response to delivery demand. And thanks for the support. EOS would achieve little without support of Suppliers like CMTP.

Dr Warwick Holloway

President, EOS Defence Systems - Australia

We have a very busy business sending expensive and delicate joinery around the world, which needs to be wrapped and crated for maximum protection. We looked around and most crate building companies wanted a minimum 2 week turn around, which we found didn’t always work for us, then by chance we found CMTP group. Not only does Kieran and CMTP go out of their way on customer service, but their turnaround is very obliging, and their prices are competitive as well. Oh, and they only use certified export grade materials, so there’s no quarantine troubles at the other end. We would not hesitate in recommending this company.

Shane Powell

Signaction, Australia

CMTP have developed pallets for the specific use within the wine industry, the wineXP and being a generic industry wide pallet they hold stock and deliver promptly. Our business is a contract bottler and it is important that our customers have packaging satisfaction. CMTP stand by their product and engage with any issues directly with our customers.

Andrew Torresan

Operations Manager, Torresan Estate, Contract Wine Bottling & Packaging

You’re in good company

Here’s just a few of the partners we work with.

Australia’s most trusted packaging solutions, made-to-order

Cost-effective product protection begins with the right manufacturer. To request a free packaging review of your business, just give us a call, or fill out the form and a member of our friendly team will be in touch.

Request a Quote

or give us a call on 1300 531 536