New centre will advance operational efficiency and innovation at the company
Reusable packaging specialist Ifco has opened its new digital hub in Barcelona. The company said the new facility will strengthen its ability to deliver real-time tracking and data-driven insights to its customers around the world, advancing transparency, efficiency, and sustainability across the supply chain.
The Barcelona hub, located in Tech Barcelona’s Pier01, will focus on data analytics and Internet of Things (IoT) technology, allowing Ifco to integrate advanced technologies into its reusable packaging containers (RPCs) to provide 24/7 location and status updates and enable customers to optimise crate utilisation, reduce environmental impact and streamline logistics.
“Opening our new hub in Barcelona is a strategic investment that underscores Ifco’s commitment to delivering exceptional value to our customers. By partnering with Tech Barcelona, we’re tapping into one of Europe’s leading tech innovation hubs, empowering us to further our mission of sustainable solutions on a global scale,” said Mike Pooley, Ifco’s CEO.
Sebastian Grams, the company’s CDO, added: “Ifco’s new digital hub marks a pivotal advancement in our digital journey, enhancing our technological capabilities to drive meaningful improvements in our services. Building this expertise in-house enables us to innovate continuously, while Tech Barcelona’s dynamic ecosystem aligns perfectly with our vision of a tech-driven future for sustainable supply chain solutions”.
The new office will house an in-house team of data engineers, data scientists, analysts, and software developers. Currently staffed by 15 employees, the Barcelona office is on track to expand to around 50 over the next year.
Miquel Martí, CEO of Tech Barcelona, said: “The opening of Ifco’s new digital hub at Pier01 reinforces Barcelona’s role as a leader in circular economy technology. Tech Barcelona will remain a gateway for international companies seeking to make a global impact from our city”.
New sustainability report published
Separately, Ifco has released its ESG Report 2024, offering a ”comprehensive account” of the company’s environmental, social and governance performance throughout fiscal year 2024.
The RPC specialist said the report showcased its commitment to improving and sharing the efficiency and environmental benefits of its SmartCycle circular pooling model. ”Significant progress” had been made in the company’s 2025 ESG Strategy, Ifco said, as it strives to become a net-zero business by 2040.
As in previous reports, the company’s performance is measured over three core pillars – Thriving Business, Thriving Planet and Thriving Society – against the baseline year of 2020. Key achievements included the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) validation of Ifco’s near-term greenhouse gas emissions-reduction targets, confirming its alignment to a 1.5°C reduction pathway.
Another was improving its Sustainalytics Risk Rating to 10.7, reflecting the company’s low-risk status and placing Ifco among the top 500 companies globally. Additionally, it reduced total CO2e emissions by 7 per cent per reusable packaging container (RPC) trip and increased the recycled content in the production of its RPC portfolio to 42 per cent.
”As the ESG report shows, Ifco empowers customers to eliminate single-use packaging from their supply chains, improve operational efficiencies, cut down drastically on landfill waste and reduce the environmental impact of their operations,” the group stated. ”One successful partnership in the UK highlighted in the report resulted in a 45 per cent reduction in trips in reverse logistics.
”More generally, the use of Ifco RPCs in customers’ supply chains generates more savings in CO2e emissions compared with the combined Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions across Ifco’s entire global operations,” Ifco said. ”The same is true of waste generation and water consumption.”
The Ifco ESG Report 2024 provided an overview of the company’s customer-led innovations and pioneering digital approach, it explained.
As well as receiving the 2024 US Plastics Pact Sustainable Packaging Innovation Award for its Vendor-Managed Inventory service, Ifco also expanded its reusable packaging portfolio with the launch of two new plastic pallets, and a new reusable smart fish crate.
“As pioneers in our industry, we are determined to reshape the ESG performance of our business while inspiring others to follow suit,” said CEO Mike Pooley.
”Guided by our Thriving in the Circular Economy strategy, we are making tangible progress towards our goals that amplify our inherent commitment to sustainability.”
Iñigo Canalejo, vice-president ESG and strategic marketing at Ifco, highlighted one key milestone on Ifco’s journey to becoming a net-zero business:
“The validation of our near-term targets from SBTi is a key milestone in our net zero journey and confirms our commitment to set ambitious climate targets that are aligned with science,” Canalejo added.
