Tosca is expanding the reach of its reusable plastic UDP half pallet across Europe after broad deployment in the UK. The pooled 800 × 600 mm platform is designed for fast-moving consumer goods distribution and retail execution, combining a retail-ready form factor with handling efficiency. According to the company, it is the only pooled plastic half pallet available on the market, complementary to quarter pallets and intended to maximise revenue per square metre where shelf space is constrained.
The asset is specified for loads up to 500 kg and is built for repeated use in closed-loop pooling. Its lightweight, ergonomic build is intended to ease manual handling, simplify movements through depots and stores, and shorten time to shelf from production through distribution to the sales floor. In the UK, the solution has been adopted by the six largest retailers and more than 150 FMCG companies, frequently in combination with Tosca beverage trays for 1 and 2 litre formats to create a retail-ready beverages display. The company positions the platform as a durable, hygienic and long-life component that can help reduce labour, protect workers from musculoskeletal strain and maintain a clean in-store appearance.
Design and handling across the supply chain
With its compact 800 × 600 mm footprint and load capacity of up to 500 kg, the UDP half pallet combines structural strength with low weight to streamline picking, transport and store operations. The format moves directly from truck to shop floor without additional shelving or repacking, supporting faster time to market. Space-efficient geometry reduces transport and storage requirements, while the ergonomic design aims to lower manual handling and minimize picking activity, which can support wellbeing and ESG objectives.
In-store use and merchandising
Retail-ready and easy to manoeuvre, the UDP half pallet enables quick shelf replenishment and promotional execution, reducing manual effort and associated labour costs. Integrated pop-up locators are designed to hold trays securely, helping to keep displays stable and tidy while limiting product damage. The format is intended to maximise selling space in varied store layouts, and it complements quarter pallets for flexible planogramming across different footprints.
Promotions and revenue impact
The platform serves as a base for high-impact promotions and end-of-aisle displays that can help capture shopper attention and increase sales, particularly where shelf capacity is constrained. It facilitates tidy, accessible displays that keep products intact and easy to buy as single units, reducing the clutter of fixed multipacks and encouraging impulse purchases. Summarising the commercial rationale, Laurent Le Mercier, EMEA President at Tosca, said: "The UDP half pallet is more than a logistics tool, it is a proven driver of revenue. By moving directly from production to the shop floor without the need for unpacking or handling, it allows retailers to launch promotions faster, optimise every square metre of selling space, and generate additional sales even when shelf space is at capacity. In the UK, this approach has delivered outstanding results for beverage brands and retailers alike, and we are excited to see the same appetite growing across Europe."
UK deployment and European rollout
According to Tosca, the UDP half pallet has been widely adopted by the six largest UK retailers and over 150 FMCG companies. Often paired with the company’s 1 and 2 litre beverage trays, it forms a retail-ready solution for beverage distribution and merchandising that aims to save time, reduce costs and drive additional sales. The UK experience is now generating interest in other European markets, with retailers from multiple categories adopting the solution.
Sustainability and regulatory context
Tosca frames the UDP half pallet within a broader shift to reusable plastic packaging intended to cut waste and help businesses prepare for evolving EU requirements, including the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation and Extended Producer Responsibility schemes. Independent consultancy analysis referenced by the company indicates that, versus a single-use display of 100 products, the UDP half pallet can reduce emissions by 400 to 600 kilograms of CO2 equivalent. Even with limited reuse cycles, the stated environmental benefits are significant. The solution is described as fully recycled, recyclable and reusable, aligning with circular economy goals while delivering operational impacts across the supply chain.
Outlook
Tosca positions the UDP half pallet as a fit-for-purpose option for European retail, combining durability and reuse with flexibility for day-to-day operations and promotions. The company’s UK track record in beverages provides a reference model for wider application, with the half pallet presented as part of a broader portfolio aimed at efficient, innovative and circular systems that create measurable value for retailers and FMCG suppliers.
