What Nature's Packaging does

Nature's Packaging is a non-profit industry educational initiative that promotes the environmental benefits of wood-based packaging, with a particular focus on pallets. It operates as the one-stop-shop for fact-based materials on the sustainability of wooden pallets, serving packaging professionals, students, and corporate supply chain decision-makers across North America and Europe. The initiative is owned and federally trademarked by Woodpack Global (formerly the National Wooden Pallet & Container Association, rebranded in 2021) and was developed in partnership with the Pallet Foundation, the Canadian Wood Pallet and Container Association (CWPCA), and the Western Pallet Association (WPA). It is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, with a small operational team of 1–10.

The platform's product portfolio is built around three pillars: (1) the Carbon Calculator, an interactive tool based on the EPA Waste Reduction Model (WARM) that quantifies CO2 emissions avoided through pallet reuse and recycling; (2) the industry-wide Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for wooden pallets, certified by UL in 2020 and developed with the USDA Forest Products Lab, which is the first such EPD for distribution packaging and is paired with the first Product Category Rule (PCR) for shipping materials; and (3) the Pallet Design System (PDS), engineering software that lets manufacturers design pallets to performance specifications with safe load capacity estimates and ANSI MH1 / ISPM-15 compliance. Beyond these tools, the site delivers a research library, blog content authored by Brad Gething, PhD and Glenn Meeks, video content, and full localization in six languages (English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese).

The business model is non-commercial: Nature's Packaging distributes all content, tools, and EPD documentation free of charge to any visitor. It generates no direct revenue, has no pricing model, and is sustained through the institutional sponsorship of its association partners and the Pallet Foundation. Its commercial value is indirect — strengthening demand for wood pallets and the member firms of its sponsoring associations — rather than transactional. There are no disclosed funding rounds, and the entity is structured as a federally registered trademark rather than an independent operating company.

Name

Nature's Packaging

Legal name

Nature's Packaging

Website

https://naturespackaging.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Nature's Packaging is a non-profit industry initiative that provides free educational content, an EPA-based Carbon Calculator, a UL-certified industry EPD, and a Pallet Design System tool to promote the environmental benefits of wooden pallets to packaging professionals, students, and supply chain decision-makers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wood Packaging Industry Education and Sustainability Advocacy

NAICS

Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing (321920)

SIC

Lumber & Wood Products (No Furniture) (2400)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability Testing, Certification & Compliance (LCA, Recyclability/Compostability Testing, FSC/PEFC) (IMALAMAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mono-Material & Recyclability-Designed Packaging (Design-for-Recycling, Barrier Alternatives) (IMALAMAD), Sustainable Protective & Cushioning Materials (Paper Cushions, Bio-Foams, Mycelium) (IMALAMAH)

Keywords

• Wood packaging sustainability
• Environmental product declaration
• Pallet design software
• Carbon footprint calculator
• Life cycle assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Nature's Packaging is a non-profit industry initiative that provides free educational content, research, and digital tools that document and promote the environmental benefits of wood-based packaging and pallets. Its primary offerings include the Carbon Calculator (an EPA WARM-based tool that quantifies CO2 savings from pallet reuse/recycling), the Pallet Design System (PDS) engineering software, UL-certified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), life-cycle assessment data, research downloads, and a blog covering sustainable packaging topics.

Product overview

Nature's Packaging is an informational and educational initiative operated by Woodpack Global (formerly the National Wooden Pallet & Container Association), focused on promoting the environmental benefits of wood-based packaging and pallets. Rather than offering a traditional product, the organization provides a suite of digital tools (Carbon Calculator, Pallet Design System), research documentation (Environmental Product Declarations, life-cycle assessments), and educational resources (blog articles, research downloads) that support packaging professionals in making sustainable material choices. The platform serves as a one-stop resource for fact-based materials on the environmental aspects of wooden pallets and containers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Carbon Calculator An online calculator tool that helps users quantify CO2 emissions saved by reusing and recycling wooden pallets, converting impact into relatable metrics such as cars taken off the road and metric tons of CO2 reduced per month. Aimed at packaging professionals, corporate supply chain decision-makers, and students evaluating wood packaging sustainability.
• Pallet Design System (PDS) Engineering software that enables pallet manufacturers and designers to design wood pallets according to performance requirements, calculate safe load capacity estimates, and ensure compliance with ANSI MH1 standards and ISPM-15 international shipping regulations.
• Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) Resources for Wooden Pallets UL-certified, industry-wide Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for wooden pallets — the first EPD for distribution packaging — providing transparent, third-party verified environmental impact information based on a life-cycle assessment covering raw material gathering, transportation, manufacturing, use, repair, and end-of-life stages.
• Research Data & Downloads Library A library of research studies, articles, and tools covering life-cycle sustainability, landfill avoidance, carbon benefits, and best practices for wood packaging specification, reviewed by industry experts.
• Blog / Educational Content Library An extensive collection of articles and educational posts covering wood packaging sustainability, forest management, pallet industry trends, and environmental stewardship, authored by industry experts including Brad Gething, PhD and Glenn Meeks.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% recycling rate achieved by wooden pallets in the United States (2016)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pallet FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA 501 c3 non-profit foundation that funds research projects benefiting the wood packaging industry, including the Environmental Product Declaration and life cycle assessment survey. Primary financial and strategic supporter of Nature's Packaging initiative.
• Woodpack Global (formerly NWPCA - National Wooden Pallet & Container Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe primary North American trade association for wooden pallet and container manufacturers. Developed Nature's Packaging initiative and holds federal trademark registration. Collaborated with Pallet Foundation and USDA Forest Products Lab on EPD development.
• Canadian Wood Pallet and Container Association (CWPCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational industry association representing Canadian wood pallet and container manufacturers. Co-developer of Nature's Packaging initiative serving the North American market.
• Western Pallet Association (WPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional trade association serving Western U.S. pallet manufacturers. Co-developer of Nature's Packaging initiative.
• USDA Forest Service - Forest Products LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch wing of the U.S. Forest Service. Conducted the life cycle assessment research and collaborated on the industry-wide EPD for wooden pallets, providing scientific validation of environmental claims.
• UL (Underwriters Laboratories)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal safety science organization. Certified the industry-wide EPD for wooden pallets and published the first Product Category Rule (PCR) for shipping materials, providing independent third-party validation.
• #ForestProudminorOthersCutting-edge communications effort powered by the Society of American Foresters, supported by a diverse coalition committed to stewarding and championing forest climate solutions. Shares messaging about keeping forests as forests and reconnecting people to forests.
• reThink WoodminorOthersU.S. and Canadian partnership challenging the market to reconsider wood. Projects a unified North American front regarding wood performance, cost and sustainability while educating about advantages of using wood in building construction.
• Two Sides North AmericaminorOthersOrganization that explodes myths and sets the record straight about sustainability of print and paper through carefully researched facts.
• WoodWorksminorOthersCooperative venture of major North American wood associations and government agencies providing free technical support and education related to design of non-residential and multi-family wood buildings.
• American Wood CouncilminorOthersWorks on environmental issues related to wood products, collaborating with Canadian Wood Council on shared initiatives.
• Canadian Wood CouncilminorOthersWorks on environmental issues related to wood products, collaborating with American Wood Council on shared initiatives.
• FEFPEB (European Federation of Wooden Pallet & Packaging Manufacturers)minorOthersEuropean association representing all national timber packaging associations. Conducted critically important research supporting wood as the most economic and eco-friendly transport and packaging material. Inspired Nature's Packaging work through their Packaging from Nature website.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pallet Foundation: 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation funding wood packaging research including the industry EPD. Comparable as a non-profit funding research and educational initiatives that underpin wood packaging sustainability claims — core sponsor of Nature's Packaging.
• Corrugated Packaging Alliance: Industry initiative promoting corrugated (paper-based) packaging, a competing wood-fiber-based substrate. Comparable as a content-and-research-driven industry advocacy platform with EPD-style LCA claims and recycling-rate messaging.
• Sustainable Packaging Coalition: Industry working group focused on sustainable packaging practices across materials. Comparable as an industry-backed initiative providing educational resources and tools for packaging sustainability decisions, though material-neutral rather than wood-specific.
• Two Sides North America: Industry initiative that addresses myths and promotes the sustainability of print, paper, and paper-based packaging. Comparable as a content-driven advocacy platform for a wood-fiber-based substrate, with similar fact-based messaging strategy.
• FEFPEB (European Federation of Wooden Pallet & Packaging Manufacturers): European association representing national timber packaging associations with the 'Packaging from Nature' initiative. Directly comparable as a regional industry advocacy platform promoting wood packaging sustainability — explicitly cited as inspiration for Nature's Packaging.
• reThink Wood: U.S. and Canadian partnership educating about the advantages of wood in building construction. Comparable as a wood-promotion industry initiative backed by major wood associations; though focused on construction rather than packaging, the marketing approach mirrors Nature's Packaging.
• Western Pallet Association (WPA): Regional U.S. trade association for Western pallet manufacturers, co-developing Nature's Packaging. Direct peer as a wood pallet industry association sharing the same educational platform mission in a defined geographic region.
• Canadian Wood Pallet and Container Association (CWPCA): National Canadian industry association co-developing Nature's Packaging. Direct peer as a regional wood pallet industry association promoting sustainability, sharing the same content platform and strategic mission.

Broad incumbents

• WoodWorks: Cooperative venture of major North American wood associations providing free technical support for non-residential wood building design. Comparable as a wood-industry-backed education and content platform, though focused on construction rather than packaging.
• American Wood Council: Trade association working on environmental and structural issues related to wood products, collaborating with the Canadian Wood Council. Comparable as a wood-industry advocacy organization with environmental messaging and policy engagement.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/naturespak
• Facebookfacebook.com/NaturesPackaging
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/naturespackaging

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nature's Packaging