Vincent Nagels, Managing Director of Upstream, Tosca, on how automation, circularity, and evolving regulations are reshaping reusable plastic pallet pooling.
RPN: Tosca has expanded significantly through acquisitions, including Polymer Logistics and Contraload. How have those businesses informed Tosca’s overall approach to plastic pallet pooling?
VN: The acquisitions of businesses such as Polymer Logistics and Contraload have strengthened Tosca’s expertise across reusable plastic transport packaging and pooling models globally. They brought deep operational knowledge, established customer networks and strong experience in managing reusable assets at scale. Combined with the expertise already within Tosca and their established presence in Europe, these strengths have helped shape the strong global business Tosca is today.
More broadly, they reinforced a shared view that pooling works best when it combines operational consistency, asset visibility and service reliability.
RPN: How would you describe Tosca’s pallet pooling business today in terms of scale, geographic reach, and major market segments served?
VN: Today, Tosca operates across multiple global markets, supporting customers throughout Europe, North America and other international regions with reusable packaging and pooling solutions. The business supports a broad range of sectors, particularly FMCG, fresh food, retail and industrial supply chains, where consistency, hygiene, automation-readiness and operational efficiency are increasingly important.
We have the largest pool of reusable plastic pallets in Europe, as well as the most extensive EU network of wash facilities where we clean plastic pallets in an automated way.
RPN: Has Tosca brought its various pallet-related operations together into a unified global strategy, or are they still largely managed regionally?
VN: Tosca increasingly operates with a unified strategic direction around reusable packaging and pooling, while still recognising that customer requirements and supply chain structures can vary significantly by region.
The overall focus is on delivering scalable, circular packaging and pooling solutions that improve operational performance, reduce waste and support evolving customer and regulatory requirements globally.
RPN: What are the biggest differences between Tosca’s approach to plastic pallet pooling and more traditional wood pallet pooling models?
VN: One of the biggest differences is consistency. Plastic pallets offer more standardised performance, which is increasingly important in automated and high-throughput supply chains.
They also provide advantages in hygiene, durability and traceability, while helping reduce issues commonly associated with wood such as splinters, nails, moisture absorption and inconsistent quality.
Tosca’s approach is also built around circularity and long-term asset management, helping customers improve operational efficiency while reducing waste across the supply chain.
RPN: How does Tosca decide when a pooled plastic pallet solution makes sense for a customer versus a dedicated or closed-loop system?
VN: It depends on the customer’s operational model, supply chain complexity and objectives.
For some businesses, a shared pooling model delivers the greatest efficiency and scalability. In other cases, particularly where supply chains are highly controlled or specialised, a dedicated or closed-loop approach may be more suitable.
The decision is typically based on factors such as asset flows, automation requirements and operational priorities. Regardless of the model chosen, working with a pooling partner such as Tosca allows businesses to focus on their core operations while avoiding the complexity of managing their own asset pool or investing significant capital in load carriers and reusable assets.
RPN: Are customers increasingly looking for shared reusable pallet systems, or are most programs still tied to specific supply chains?
VN: We are seeing growing interest in shared reusable systems, particularly as businesses look for more flexible and scalable ways to improve efficiency and reduce waste. At the same time, many reusable pallet programs are still closely linked to specific supply chains, especially in sectors with unique operational or retail requirements. The market is evolving, and customers are increasingly evaluating which model best supports their long-term operational and sustainability goals.
Regulatory developments are also increasing interest in reusable transport packaging. Under the PPWR, businesses placing transport packaging on the market will be required to achieve reuse targets, including up to 40% reusable transport packaging by 2030, driving a significant shift away from single-use solutions.
Tosca helps customers meet these requirements through its pooled reusable pallets, crates and containers, providing a ready-made circular solution without the cost and complexity of asset ownership. Our pooling model supports compliance with PPWR reuse objectives, reduces packaging waste, and helps businesses prepare for evolving EPR obligations. As Europe’s Circular Economy Act and related policy initiatives continue to promote resource efficiency, reuse and waste prevention, shared reusable systems are becoming an increasingly attractive and practical route to both compliance and sustainability goals.
RPN: How important are automation, traceability, and regulatory compliance in driving the adoption of pooled plastic pallets today?
VN: They are becoming increasingly important. Automation depends on consistent, reliable load carriers, while traceability is helping businesses improve asset visibility and operational control across the supply chain.
At the same time, regulations such as PPWR and EPR are accelerating interest in reusable solutions as companies look to reduce packaging waste, improve circularity and support long-term compliance and operational efficiency.
RPN: What role do sustainability regulations such as PPWR and EPR initiatives play in shaping customer conversations around reusable plastic pallets?
VN: Regulation is becoming a much bigger part of customer discussions. Businesses are increasingly looking ahead to requirements around packaging waste reduction, reuse targets and extended producer responsibility, particularly in Europe.
As a result, reusable plastic pallets and containers are no longer viewed purely as a sustainability initiative. They are increasingly part of broader conversations around operational resilience, compliance readiness and long-term supply chain efficiency.
RPN: What trends are you seeing in terms of standardization versus customized pallet solutions across different industries and regions?
VN: There is strong demand for standardisation, particularly in FMCG and retail environments where automation and operational consistency are critical. However, some industries and supply chains still require more tailored solutions depending on product type, logistics flows or handling requirements. The trend is really towards balancing standardisation with operational fit — creating solutions that can scale efficiently while still meeting specific customer needs.
RPN: Looking forward, where do you see the biggest opportunities and challenges for reusable plastic pallet pooling over the next several years?
VN: The biggest opportunities are likely to come from the continued push towards automation, circularity, food safety and more resilient supply chains.
Businesses are under growing pressure to improve efficiency while reducing waste and supporting compliance goals, which aligns strongly with reusable pooling models. Challenges will include managing increasingly complex supply chains, scaling infrastructure effectively and helping customers navigate changing regulatory environments.
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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.
