IFCO

Ifco has announced that it has hit a significant milestone, namely 1bn annual reusable plastic container (RPC) shipments from producers to grocery retailers across Europe in a 12-month period.

This record number represents over 20 years of steady growth for the group's RPCs, and 'confirms the benefits retailers and producers continue to gain from the company’s solutions'.

“We are excited to share this momentous achievement with our customers, partners and employees across Europe and around the world,” said Wolfgang Orgeldinger, chief executive of Ifco. “Our continued growth is a testament to the value Ifco RPCs offer fresh food supply chains across Europe and around the world.”

Ifco RPCs are used to ship fresh foods in 52 countries across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

According to the company, RPCs reduce costs, protect product quality, and reduce environmental impact and food waste in fresh food supply chains. The annual environmental impact of shipping 1bn cases of fresh produce in RPCs is equal to the elimination of CO2 emissions of nearly 75,000 vehicles, solid waste generated by over 400,000 people, and water consumed by nearly 600,000 people.