40 X 48
Plastic Pallets
Twin Sheet, Light-Duty Series – Thermoformed HDPE
Sustainable Grocery Pallet
GMA Pallet Specifications
Per 53′ Truck Load
AVAILABLE CUSTOM OPTIONS
Plastic Pallets vs. Wood Pallets: What’s the Difference?
The biggest differences between plastic pallets and wood pallets come down to weight, hygiene, consistency, and export readiness. Plastic pallets offer a longer service life and a cleaner, more consistent platform, while wooden pallets typically cost less upfront but splinter, absorb moisture, and require treatment for international shipping.
| Factor | Plastic pallets (Peninsula twin sheet GMA) | Wood pallets |
| Weight | ~14 lb | Typically 40+ lb for a 48 x 40 |
| Durability | Won’t crack, chip, or break; reusable for years | Boards loosen, split, and require ongoing repair |
| Hygiene | Non-porous HDPE with antimicrobial design; easy to wash | Absorbs moisture; can harbor bacteria and pests |
| Fasteners & debris | No nails, splinters, or loose boards | Nails and splinters can damage goods and injure workers |
| Consistency | Uniform molded dimensions, ideal for automation | Dimensions vary by lumber and repair history |
| Export | Exempt from ISPM-15 wood packaging rules | Requires heat treatment or fumigation and stamping |
| Sustainability | Recyclable HDPE; long reuse cycle | Repairable, but shorter working life per unit |
A 48 x 40 Plastic Export Pallet — No ISPM-15 Required
Because it contains no wood, this pallet doubles as a 48 x 40 plastic export pallet. It’s exempt from ISPM-15 heat-treatment and fumigation requirements, so international shipments avoid the treatment costs, stamping, and border delays that come with wooden pallets.
When Wood Still Makes Sense
For one-way domestic shipments where the pallet will never return, low-cost wood pallets can be the practical choice. For closed-loop programs, food and grocery distribution, export, and automated handling, 40×48 plastic pallets pay for themselves over repeated trips.
Why Buy From Peninsula Plastics
When comparing plastic pallet suppliers, look for consistent quality, U.S.-based manufacturing, and the ability to customize. Peninsula Plastics thermoforms every 40×48 plastic pallet in-house, and our engineering team can help you spec pallet solutions for racking systems, automated material handling equipment, and heavier-duty applications across our full product library.
Frequently Asked Questions About 40 x 48 Pallets
What is a GMA pallet? A GMA pallet is the standard 48″ x 40″ pallet footprint originally set by the Grocery Manufacturers Association, the most common pallet size in North American retail and grocery supply chains.
How much does a 40 x 48 plastic pallet weigh? Peninsula Plastics’ twin sheet GMA plastic pallet weighs approximately 14 pounds, roughly a third of a comparable wood pallet.
Do 40 x 48 plastic pallets need ISPM-15 treatment for export? No. ISPM-15 applies only to wood packaging, so plastic pallets ship internationally without heat treatment or fumigation.
How many 40 x 48 plastic pallets fit on a 53′ truck? Because they nest, approximately 1,500 pallets fit per 53′ truckload.
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