Wood pallet and crate mold is a major area of concern for manufacturers across various industries. As expected, the food and beverage and pharmaceutical industries have long been concerned about mold on their wood packaging.
Mold is always a possibility when working with natural materials like wood. Fungal mold can wreak havoc on the structural integrity of your wood packaging and contaminate the material being transported on it. Mold can also cause asthma and other respiratory problems. Here are some suggestions to prevent them from growing on wood packaging:
Factors Contributing to Mold Growth
Mold grows on wood surfaces when the conditions are favorable. It requires four essential elements to take root, survive, and thrive:
Moisture
A sufficient temperature
Oxygen
A food source (a wood crate or pallet in this case)
Mold on wood can be a significant problem, but the good news is that mold on wood can be prevented, inhibited, and remedied.
How to Prevent Mold on Wood Packaging
It is impossible to limit oxygen, and it can be challenging to monitor the temperature of the area where your crates and pallets are stored, mainly if they are left outside.
Therefore, making the wood an unappealing food source and limiting the moisture content of your wood is the best and most realistic method to prevent mold.
1. Controlling Moisture Content
You’ll need to find a manufacturer who follows best practices for minimizing the wood’s moisture content. Ensure that your wood packaging manufacturer does the following:
Uses kiln-dried lumber
Store lumber with adequate ventilation.
Keeps lumber out of weather conditions
Even if you are confident that your manufacturer is appropriately protecting their wood and that you are receiving mold-free wood crates and pallets from them, you must also protect the completed ones at your own warehouse to ensure that your pallets will remain mold-free.
2. Heat-Treating Wood
Kiln-drying wood is one method of preventing mold growth on pallets, crates, and other wood packaging. However, if the wood comes into contact with moisture or is stored in a damp environment later, mold growth can occur. Kiln drying is an important mold prevention strategy, but it is ineffective without proper storage.
Heat-treating wood differs from kiln drying. It’s the most effective way to prevent mold infestations on your wood crates and pallets.
Various chemical treatments are available to kill and prevent microbes from growing on your wood crates and pallets. There are also more environmentally friendly treatment options, such as natural plant extracts. The best mold treatment option for your wood will be determined by the type of wood used and the location of your pallets.