Wooden packaging
Wooden packaging is common especially in industry and logistics, where it is used for transporting and storing products.
Collection of wooden B2B packaging
According to the official statistics of the Pirkanmaa ELY Centre, the recycling rate of wooden packaging in Finland was about 20% in 2022. The EU target is to raise it to 30% by 2030.
Only very small amounts of products sold to consumers are packed in wooden packaging in Finland. The most common wooden packaging used by companies are various pallets and other transport packages. See here for sorting instructions
Repairing and reusing wooden packaging is recommended, as it is both environmentally and economically sensible. If a wooden package cannot be repaired or reused, it must be sorted as wood waste. Clean, untreated wood can be recycled as a material, while treated or painted wood is recovered for energy.
Which wooden packages can be recycled?
- Pallets, box pallets and other trays and frames
- Boxes, crates and barrels
- Cable reels
- Support and spacer pieces (dunnage) used in packaging
Please note that terminals accept only wooden B2B packaging from businesses . Consumers should check local instructions for the recycling of wooden packaging.
Pressure-treated wood is classified as hazardous waste and must be taken to appropriate sorting facility. Small metal parts, such as nails and screws, can be left attached to the packaging, as they are separated during the recycling process.
Material labels for wooden packaging
Wood packaging uses material labels to indicate the material from which the product is made of. The most common labels are:
- Wood: FOR 50
- Cork: FOR 51
What is recycled wood used for?
The primary aim is to repair and reuse wood packaging. Non-repairable clean wood waste is shredded into wood chips, which are used for example as compost aggregate or as secondary raw material in the board industry.
