PECO Pallet Quantifies Their Carbon Footprint and Pallet Impact

PECO Pallet Case Study

PECO Pallet, a North American leader in pooled pallet solutions, is known for its signature 9-block red pallets made from sustainably sourced lumber. As part of their commitment to sustainability, PECO set a goal to complete a verified greenhouse gas inventory and establish a 2023 baseline before setting reduction targets. They also wanted to conduct a life cycle assessment of their pallets to better understand their environmental impact, and partnered with Tunley Environmental to achieve these objectives.

Tunley supported PECO across every stage of the process. Senior Associate Scientist, Emily Alexander completed a baseline greenhouse gas inventory in alignment with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and identifying Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. The assessment showed that the majority of emissions fall into Scope 3, reflecting the logistics-based nature of PECO’s business. With this verified baseline, PECO was able to set a net zero by 2050 goal alongside short-term GHG reduction and waste diversion targets. Tunley also conducted a life cycle assessment comparing PECO’s reusable block pallet with an industry average stringer pallet. Looking at the scenario of moving 100,000 pounds of product, the findings showed that PECO’s pallet had an estimated eight times lower carbon emissions than the industry average.

Reflecting on the project, Katie Bishop, ESG Manager at PECO Pallet, said that Tunley’s guidance was invaluable across the entire project, from data collection, measurement, reporting and final verification. She explained that the team went above and beyond, supporting with updates to their sustainability report, addressing EcoVadis questions, and responding to customer requests. Katie also highlighted that Tunley took the time to understand PECO’s business and unique challenges, and that their recognition that sustainability isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach made their support both impactful and practical.