IFCO study confirms sustainability of RPCs
IFCO study confirms sustainability of RPCs
IFCO Systems, a global leader in reusable plastic containers for fresh products, released a study confirming RPCs as a sustainable packaging option.
The report shows the IFCO solution generates 82 percent less solid waste, consumes 92 percent less water, requires 49 percent lower energy demand and lowers ozone depletion by 76 percent for a weighted average of 10 top produce commodities compared with shipping the same amount of produce in display-ready corrugated boxes.
The report was produced by Franklin Associates, a division of ERG, a leading consulting company specializing in life cycle analyses and solid waste management.
IFCO President & General Manager, USA, said:
"We are delighted with the third-party validation that our business processes are effectively managing resources, and are thrilled the report from Franklin Associates confirms the positive impact our customers continue to make on environmental sustainability," Fred Heptinstall, president and general manager, USA, of IFCO Systems, said in a press release. "IFCO is committed to proper stewardship of our natural resources, and this study proves our efforts continue to reap extraordinary results throughout the supply chain."
The study results mean that for every 1,000 pounds of produce shipped in IFCO RPCs instead of display-ready corrugated boxes, growers and retailers save approximately 13 pounds of solid waste, 700,000 BTUs of energy (equivalent to five gallons of diesel) and 360 gallons of water.
"Our study shows that the environmental benefits of IFCO RPCs are primarily due to the benefits of container reuse," Franklin Associates' Rebe Feraldi, the certified life cycle analysis practitioner who was the primary analyst for the project, said in the press release. "While corrugated containers incorporate recovered fiber and are recycled at high rates, they must be manufactured and recycled for each produce shipment made in a single-trip container."
