JOBS are to be created in the Peterborough area with the opening of a new manufacturing company.

The Green Pallet Company, on the Spitfire Park Industrial Estate, in Market Deeping, has just been set up in a 600 square metre factory and will manufacture environmentally-friendly pallets made from recycled paperboard.

Director Barry Dobson said: "These innovative and environmentally-friendly new pallets will help all firms that use pallets to transport goods to meet their environmental responsibilities. Our products are also fully recyclable."

The firm will officially open its doors for business on December 5 and a special ceremony will be held to mark the occasion to be attended by Mayor of Market Deeping Cllr Reginald Howard and councillor for the Market and West Deeping ward Mike Exton.

Mr Dobson said: "We will employ four people to begin with but hope to increase that to between 10 and 15 over the course of the next couple of years and if this really takes off we hope to open other centres in the UK."

It is estimated that there are 300 million registered movements of pallets in the UK each year.

The Green Pallet Company's pallets weigh just 5kg whereas wooden ones can weigh as much as 40kg and this adds significantly to any load which is being transported. Mr Dobson said: "Cardboard pallets are easily recyclable so that the end user can dispose of them easily.

"This also means there is no need to track pallets that belong to a pool system and avoids expensive penalties for lost pallets.

"Switching to cardboard pallets results in cost and energy savings.

"They will also help exporters in markets such as Egypt and Australia where they no longer accept goods packed on plastic or wooden pallets.

"Industry regulations such as ISPM15 require that wooden pallets are heat treated and fumigated before use. This is not necessary with our pallets.