Pallets are designed and manufactured specifically to offer outstanding hygiene and durability. They were selected because the primary reason for the move is the requirement to meet extremely rigorous hygiene standards demanded by food companies. For many, wooden pallets, with their tendency to create dust and chippings, are just not an option any more. Plastic pallets are the ideal replacement. Further evidence of this comes from Europe where, in 2003, it was estimated that there were around 20 million pallets of which 5% were plastic. This figure has increased year by year.