Paper edge protectors for pallets are the same L profile as any angle board, but specified around one question: what happens to the protector after the pallet is unpacked. Kraft paper goes into the waste paper stream with the cartons, needs no separate disposal, and carries no ISPM 15 obligation, which is why it displaces timber battens on export pallets.
Specification at a glance
| Requirement | Paper | Plastic | Timber |
|---|
| Export without treatment | No obligation | No obligation | ISPM 15 mark required |
| Disposal at destination | With OCC waste | Separate stream | Bulky, often landfilled |
| Wet handling | Not suitable | Suitable | Suitable if treated |
| Weight added per pallet | Low | Low | Highest |
| Print for branding | 1-2 colours | Limited | Not practical |
The three materials on a pallet corner, compared honestly
Timber battens are cheap per meter and stiff, but they need heat treatment or fumigation for export, they add weight, and they leave splinters and nails in the unpacking area. Plastic corner guards survive weather and reuse many times, but they are a separate waste stream at destination and are usually stolen or lost before the third trip.
Paper sits between the two. It is weaker in absolute stiffness than timber of the same section, so it is specified by wall build rather than by section alone. Where a timber batten would be 20 mm thick, a paper profile needs 5-8 mm of laminated wall to do the same spreading job, and it will not survive a wet dock.
Which pallet type changes the choice
On a standard 1200 x 800 Euro pallet the four corners are accessible, so corner boards go on before wrapping. On a 1200 x 1000 block pallet with a lip, the board has to stop above the lip or it will be crushed when the load settles, so we cut 30-50 mm short and add a top rim piece instead.
For one-way export pallets that are themselves paper, the protector should be paper too, otherwise the whole pallet has to be dismantled before the corrugated can be baled.
Humidity and the sea leg
Kraft loses stiffness as moisture content rises, and a container on a long sea leg will condense. Where the load is moisture sensitive, specify a moisture-resistant coating on the outer face and keep the boards in their bundle wrap until the moment of use. Do not store opened bundles on a concrete floor overnight.
Questions buyers ask before ordering
Are paper edge protectors strong enough for a heavy pallet?
For stacked cartons, yes, provided the wall is built to the load. For machine bases and steel, timber or a doubled paper profile is the honest answer.
Do they need ISPM 15?
No. Paper is not regulated wood packaging, so there is no mark, no fumigation and no certificate to present at the border.
Can they be recycled with the cartons?
Yes, they repulp with old corrugated containers. Remove the banding first if the mill in your area does not accept strapping.
What about rain during loading?
A coated face resists a short shower but the profile is not waterproof. Where loads sit on a wet dock, use plastic corner guards instead.
Can you cut different lengths in one order?
Yes, mixed lengths are normal. We bundle by length and label each bundle so the line does not have to re-sort.
For a specification sheet, post the load weight, pallet footprint and band type to mona@hengnicepacking.com; we reply with a drawing and price.
