Kamps, Inc. has been recognized by John Deere with a 2025 Supplier Sustainability Award, highlighting its role in supporting sustainability initiatives across the OEM’s supply chain.
The award is presented to a select group of global suppliers that demonstrate measurable performance in areas such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction, product circularity, and social responsibility. Kamps provides pallet and wood packaging services to John Deere operations across the United States, supporting a national program focused on pallet supply, recovery, and reuse.
Focus on Circularity and Emissions
John Deere’s sustainability award program, launched in 2021, evaluates suppliers based on three primary categories: emissions reduction efforts, circular use of materials, and social impact initiatives.
For whitewood pallet usage, circularity typically centers on the commodity retrieval, refurbishment, resale, reuse, and end-of-life fiber reduction of common pallet sizes that extend pallet life and reduce reliance on virgin materials, or in some cases, in closed-loop programs. National programs such as the one supporting John Deere operations can also contribute to lower transportation emissions through optimized recovery and redistribution networks. Kamps was recognized as part of this broader effort to align supplier operations with John Deere’s sustainability goals.
National Program Approach
Kamps operates a large-scale wood pallet network across North America, including manufacturing, recycling, and total pallet management services. The company reports more than 400 locations in its network, including over 50 asset-based facilities and company-owned sawmills.
Its work with John Deere reflects a coordinated, multi-site approach to pallet management, supporting consistent service levels across geographically dispersed operations.
“We are honored to partner with John Deere on their innovative pallet program,” said Damon Williamson, Vice President of Business Development at Kamps. “Collaboratively, we have built an industry-leading, comprehensive national program. With a continuous improvement mindset, we are excited for the heights we can reach in years to come.”
Ongoing Emphasis on Measurable Outcomes
Supplier sustainability programs continue to put pressure on packaging and pallet providers to document outcomes, whether through emissions tracking, material recovery rates, or labor and governance practices. For pallet providers, that often means demonstrating not just recycling activity, but system-level performance across reuse cycles, repair rates, and logistics efficiency.
Kamps received the award during John Deere’s “Achieving Excellence” supplier recognition event held on April 16.
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Source: Kampspallets.com
Rick LeBlanc, EMBA, is the founder and editor of Reusable Packaging News (subscribe to the free newsletter) and editor of Western Pallet Magazine. A supply chain journalist with more than 30 years of experience, he specializes in pallets, reusable packaging, material handling and related operations. Rick is co-author of Pallets: A North American Perspective and Pallets & Progress: A Collected History of Pallets and Palletized Handling 1922–1945. He is also an advisory board member of the Virginia Tech Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design. Read Rick’s full bio.
