International logistics service provider IFCO has announced the achievement of a major milestone, as it hits 1bn annual reusable plastic container (RPC) shipments from producers to retail locations throughout the world.
Accoridng to the Brambles-owned group, the record number represents more than 20 years of growth for IFCO's RPCs and confirms the benefits retailers and grower-shippers continue to see from the group's solutions.
“We are excited to share this momentous achievement with our customers, partners and employees,” said Wolfgang Orgeldinger, chief executive of IFCO. “Our growth is a testament to the value IFCO's RPCs offer the fresh supply chain in each of IFCO’s 29 countries of operation.”
RPCs are designed to reduce environmental impact, food waste, and supply chain costs for producers and retailers throughout the world.
The annual environmental impact of shipping one billion cases of fresh produce in RPCs instead of cardboard boxes is equal to the elimination of CO2 emissions of nearly 75,000 vehicles, solid waste generated by over 400,000 people, water consumed by nearly 600,000 people.
In addition to lower environmental impact, the IFCO RPC system lowers supply chain costs and product damage. Over the course of 1bn shipments annually, IFCO RPCs eliminate over 4,000 tonnes of food waste caused by product damage, enough to provide over 2.7m people with the five servings of fruit and vegetables recommended daily for a full year.