GLF Stories Interview
36 years at GLF – Johan Wester on the industry’s future
Johan Wester joined GLF (GLF Pallet Group) in June 1990. Today, he owns the entire group, is Group CEO of GLF Pallet Group AB and also heads GLF Genarp AB. After 36 years with the company, he wants more customers to plan for pallets that last longer and can be used more often.
Group CEO, GLF Pallet Group AB
- At GLF
- Since June 1990
- Role
- Owner and Group CEO
- Perspective
- Sweden and Poland
The article at a glance
A longstanding commitment
Johan estimates that GLF joined the industry network at least 20–25 years ago.
Experience from two countries
Operations in Sweden and Poland give Johan an international perspective on developments in the industry.
More uses for every pallet
Johan wants more customers to discover the possibilities of reuse and setting up their own pallet pools.
Industry collaboration
A network for the industry’s development
Through Träförpackningskommittén, the Wood Packaging Committee at Skogsindustrierna, Johan keeps up with developments alongside other manufacturers and repairers of wooden packaging. He contributes experience from GLF’s operations in Sweden and Poland to these discussions.
The involvement goes back more than two decades. Johan estimates that GLF joined Svenska Förpackningsföreningen at least 20–25 years ago. It was Lennart Svensson at Gyllsjö Träindustri who recruited the company.
Since then, both GLF and the way the industry works together have evolved. In 2017, the activities of Svenska Förpackningsföreningen were transferred to Svenskt Trä, which is part of Skogsindustrierna. Johan now represents GLF on Träförpackningskommittén and has been a member of its steering group for around two years.
For him, the opportunity to follow developments together with others in the industry is particularly valuable.
“There is so much happening in sustainability, and it is an excellent network where all of us who manufacture or repair wooden packaging and pallets can find out about the latest developments in our industry,” says Johan Wester.
Perspective
Experience across borders
GLF’s operations outside Sweden bring an international perspective to shared issues. Experience from Poland adds to the understanding of how the industry works elsewhere in Europe. On several occasions, Johan has also brought GLF’s Polish CEO, Robert Owcarz, into the discussions.
The international congresses have also made an impression. Johan particularly remembers FEFPEB’s congress in Florence in 2022 (programme, PDF, 7.4 MB). He describes the latest FEFPEB congress in Båstad in 2026 as very rewarding.
“It is very interesting to see how production and repairs are carried out in Europe,” he says.
Motivation
From vegetable crates to in-house production
Johan’s own path in the industry began at the family business in Genarp. His grandfather Malte made vegetable crates for local growers. His father Kent started pallet production in the 1980s and began importing from Poland. When Johan joined the business, it was primarily trading in used pallets and pallet collars that appealed to him.
“Initially, it was the trading side that interested me,” he explains.
In 2013, Johan succeeded Kent as CEO. Over the past ten years, he has increasingly focused on developing the company’s own production. Today, GLF has seven production units in Sweden and Poland. Developing the business internationally also remains a strong personal interest.
The future
Pallets should be reusable
When Johan talks about the industry’s future, he keeps returning to reuse. He believes more customers need to discover the opportunity to set up their own pallet pools, in which pallets are taken back and used again. This means planning both the pallet and its handling for repeated use.
GLF handles the collection and reuse of wooden pallets. The pallets are sorted, and those that can be used again are repaired for continued use.
Johan also sees an opportunity in the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, PPWR, in which increased reuse plays a central role. For him, it is about encouraging more customers to consider the pallet’s service life from the moment they choose their packaging.
Design and emissions data
As part of its custom design work, GLF uses CAD systems to calculate pallet strength. The company also has tools for calculating CO₂ emissions per pallet.
The CO₂ data currently cover scopes 1 and 2: direct emissions from the company’s own operations and indirect emissions from purchased energy. The company is actively working to include scope 3, which covers other indirect emissions in the value chain.
Johan sees helping customers understand what pallets can offer as part of GLF’s role.
“Our customers need to think in more circular terms. And we at GLF need to inform our customers about this. That is our responsibility.”
Johan Wester GLF Pallet Group AB
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