4 million EPAL Euro Pallets QR in circulation
Düsseldorf, 17 November 2025
The European Pallet Association e.V. (EPAL) has taken another significant step towards digitising the EPAL pallet pool: since its market launch in January 2024, 4 million EPAL Euro pallets with QR codes have already been produced. This establishes the QR version of the EPAL Euro pallet as a central component of modern and digitally networked supply chains – and the trend is rising: more and more producers of EPAL Euro pallets are starting to produce EPAL Euro pallets with QR codes.
Each EPAL Euro pallet QR is marked with an individual QR code and a serial number. This enables full transparency regarding the location of the pallet and goods in the supply chain, as well as the use and entire life cycle of the pallet. The QR codes can be scanned automatically or manually – without the need for complex labels or additional systems. At the same time, the pallets remain fully compatible with the open EPAL pool: the EPAL Euro pallet QR can be used and exchanged just as flexibly as the classic EPAL Euro pallet.
Michael Brandt, Head of Logistics & Innovation:
“With the EPAL Euro pallet QR, we are bringing the idea of open pallet exchange into the digital age while retaining the many proven characteristics of the EPAL Euro pallet, from the raw material wood and international standardisation to high quality, reliability and durability. The speed with which the EPAL Euro pallet QR is establishing itself on the market demonstrates the expectation of industry and trade for greater transparency, efficiency and digital networking in pallet logistics.”
More and more EPAL licensees are opting to produce the EPAL Euro pallet QR – a clear sign of the growing awareness and acceptance of the system. This is reflected not only in strong production growth, but also in increasing availability and demand throughout the entire supply chain. Together with other digital tools from EPAL, such as the Digital Pallet Passport or the EPAL Pallet App, the EPAL Euro pallet can be tracked and recorded throughout the entire supply chain. With a simple scan, users can access details such as production site, repair history or sustainability data.
The milestone of 4 million EPAL Euro pallets with QR codes is an important step forward, but also just one intermediate stage on the path to digitising the EPAL pallet pool. In addition to establishing the EPAL Euro pallet QR as the new standard for digital processes in the EPAL pallet pool, EPAL has already begun to serialise other pallet types, such as EPAL industrial pallets and EPAL CP pallets, with QR codes.
About EPAL:
The European Pallet Association e.V. (EPAL), founded in 1991, is an international non-profit association and organises the open EPAL pallet pool. More than 1,700 EPAL licensees produce and repair EPAL Euro pallets and other EPAL load carriers. Currently, more than 675 million EPAL Euro pallets and around 20 million EPAL box pallets are in circulation, which makes the EPAL pallet pool the largest open pallet exchange pool in the world.
With its principles of reusing, exchanging, repairing and recycling pallets, the open EPAL pallet pool has been a prime example of a sustainable circular economy for more than six decades. EPAL wooden Euro pallets make a significant contribution to climate protection. They store CO2, avoid waste, reduce the need for wood and thus improve the carbon footprint of users in industry, trade and logistics. EPAL Euro pallets are the backbone of the supply chains of industry, trade and logistics in Europe.
Further information for journalists:
European Pallet Association e.V. (EPAL)
Fabian Preuss (Communications Officer)
T +49 (0) 211 98 480 48 55
M +49 (0) 0152 55 33 62 88