“Pooling is a concept not too dissimilar from a rental car,” says Jonathan Parks, the senior vice president of supply chain for plastic pallet pooling provider iGPS.

The future of pallet pooling is one where advancements in tracking, sorting and inspection technology could solve any number of pressing issues that may crop up. And although the vast majority of pooling providers use wood for their pallets, plastic is gradually gaining momentum as a lightweight alternative material that’s highly durable and easy to produce in large quantities.

Check out iGPS’ Back to the Future report on current developments and future trends in pallet pooling.