Sustainability & Environmental Responsibility
With years of industry experience, our skilled team is committed to continuous improvement—seeking smarter, more efficient ways to better serve our customers while minimizing environmental impact. Sustainability is not an afterthought at Atlanta Pallets & Services; it is built into how we operate every day.
Atlanta Pallets & Services is committed to responsible manufacturing and sustainability practices. We participate in EcoVadis, demonstrating our alignment with recognized environmental, ethical, and supply chain responsibility principles.
Learn more below about how responsible forestry and wood-based products support a healthier environment.
Call Atlanta Pallets & Services today to learn more.
Forestry in Georgia: Key Facts (Updated 2024–2025)
- Forestry is one of Georgia’s largest and most economically significant industries
- The industry supports approximately 144,000 jobs and contributes over $41 billion annually
- Georgia has the most privately owned timberland of any U.S. state
- Forests cover about 64% of Georgia, totaling roughly 24 million acres
- About 23.7 million acres are classified as timberland
- Roughly 500,000–600,000 private landowners own 91% of Georgia’s timberland
- Public ownership accounts for approximately 9%
- Georgia is a leading producer of pulpwood, ranking #1 in softwood production
- Approximately 40–45% of annual timber harvests are used for pulp and paper products
- Softwoods account for roughly 60–65% of timberland; hardwoods 35–40%
- Georgia is home to over 900 logging operations and more than 300 wood-using mills
Wood Is a Renewable, Carbon-Neutral Material
Trees naturally absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen through photosynthesis, storing carbon throughout their lifetime and in the products made from them. This makes wood a renewable, carbon-neutral material when forests are responsibly managed.
Compared to materials such as plastic, steel, aluminum, glass, and concrete, wood products require significantly less energy to manufacture. Wood pallet production involves limited processing—cutting and assembly—while alternative materials require multiple energy-intensive steps and generate higher fossil fuel emissions.
Modern manufacturing practices further reduce waste. Bark is repurposed as mulch, sawdust is used for animal bedding or fuel, and wood trimmings are reused for additional products or paper manufacturing. As a result, wood products generate minimal environmental waste and offer one of the most energy-efficient packaging solutions available.
Source: American Hardwood Council
How Wood Pallets Support Environmental Sustainability
Wood is widely recognized as a low-carbon, renewable material because trees actively sequester carbon as they grow. Carbon is primarily released when wood decays, burns, or is converted to energy, which is why responsible harvesting and sustainable forest management are essential.
When combined with regeneration, harvesting mature trees can stimulate new growth that continues the carbon sequestration cycle. For more than 50 years, U.S. hardwood forests have annually stored the equivalent of approximately 165 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, even while supporting active harvesting.
Wood packaging products—such as pallets and crates—extend carbon storage throughout their useful life while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Additional benefits include:
- Rapidly growing young forests absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide while producing oxygen
- Carbon remains stored in wood products for decades through reuse, repair, and recycling
- Emissions from wood product manufacturing are typically lower than the carbon absorbed during tree growth
- U.S. hardwood forest volume is approximately 90% greater today than it was 50 years ago, with continued growth projected
Source: American Hardwood Council, USDA Forest Service, American Wood Council
Environmental Benefits of Wood Pallets
Wood pallets offer a sustainable, efficient, and responsible packaging solution—supporting renewable forestry, reducing carbon impact, and minimizing waste.
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