6 Key Tips for Choosing the Right Wood Packaging

At SmartShield, we know that choosing the right wood packaging isn’t just about putting your products on a pallet and calling it a day. Whether you're shipping across town or overseas, the right packaging makes all the difference in product protection, cost-efficiency, and compliance. That’s why we’ve put together these six key tips to help you make the best choice for your shipments.

1. Choose Between Crates and Pallets Based on Your Needs

• Wooden crates provide full enclosure and protection, making them an ideal choice for fragile, valuable, or heavy items. They can be custom-built to specific dimensions and lined with foam or moisture barriers for extra security. Heavy-duty wood crates are also a great choice for longer-distance shipments and products that need protection from shock, vibration, moisture, UV rays, or static discharge. They're also a great reusable solution, particularly for high-value items.
• Pallets - including regular pallets, and customized pallets - are a great option for shipping durable items over shorter distances, especially when the product isn’t extremely valuable and you’re aware of the conditions it will be exposed to during shipping or storage. Pallets provide a flat base for stacking, storing, and shipping, and are easy to handle with forklifts, making them ideal for bulk transportation.

2. Consider the Weight and Size of Your Goods

• Heavy or bulky items often require reinforced pallet crates or custom heavy duty wooden crates. Items that are too large to fit within conventional trailers often need custom pallet crates to protect them during transit.
• Odd-shaped or fragile products should have customized designs with additional protective materials to prevent damage in transit. This can be accomplished using additional structures inside the pallet crate to support the items being packaged.

3. Factor in Your Shipping Method and Distance

• Local or short-distance shipments may only need pallets.
• Long-distance or international shipping requires durable, heat-treated solutions to withstand frequent handling and to meet international regulations.
• High-value or fragile shipments should use fully enclosed wooden crates to prevent exposure and theft.
• If you’re shipping via sea container, you should consider the impact of extreme temperature shifts, high levels of moisture, and saltiness in the air.

4. Ensure Compliance with Heat-Treated Wood Certification

For international shipping, heat-treated wood packaging is mandatory to prevent the spread of pests and diseases to other areas around the world. All packaging must comply with ISPM 15 regulations. Look for:

• The IPPC logo (wheat symbol)
• A country code (e.g., "CA" for Canada)
• A unique producer code (SmartShield has its own certification CA-01593)
• "HT" to indicate heat treatment

This is an area that requires your full attention as using non-compliant packaging can lead to shipment delays, fines, or rejections at customs.

Heat-Treated Lumber Fun Facts!

1. Did you know that in order to be classed HT certified, lumber needs to be heated so that its internal core temperature reaches 56 degrees-celsius for at least 30 mins?
2. And while we’re on the fun fact front, did you know that hardwood lumber doesn’t require HT certification at all? 

5. Balance Cost and Durability

• Cheaper packaging may cost you more in the long run due to damaged goods and replacement costs.
• Investing in quality ensures products arrive safely, reducing waste and additional shipping expenses - because as we all know, having to remake a product, repackage it and re-ship it, is not kind on the environment.
• Having a higher quality solution also means that you can potentially reuse the packaging for future shipments.

Check out our crate blog that also outlines SmartShield’s returnable crating program - another planet-kind initiative we offer.

6. Work with a Trusted Supplier

• To ensure quality and compliance, work with a supplier who:
• Provides heat-treated and certified wood packaging
• Offers custom solutions tailored to your shipping needs
• Understands regulations and shipping requirements
• Maintains transparent pricing and excellent customer service

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, the right wood packaging isn’t just about what looks good on paper: it’s about protecting your products, avoiding costly delays, and making sure your shipments arrive in perfect condition. 

Good news? Whether you need a simple pallet or a fully customized crate, SmartShield has the expertise and solutions to make shipping worry-free.

Got questions? Let’s talk: we’ll help you find the best wood packaging solution for your needs. Contact SmartShield today.