Reusable packaging specialist Ifco has released the results of an updated report that suggests its Ifco Reusable Plastic Containers (RPCs) deliver greater environmental savings for delivering fresh produce in North America than the use of single-use corrugated fiber containers.
The report has been released under the heading 'Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Reusable Plastic Container and Display- and Non-Display-Ready Corrugated Containers Used for Fresh Produce Applications' (LCA).
“Ifco has a strong commitment to the environment, and Ifco RPCs have developed a well-deserved reputation as a sustainable option for fresh produce packaging,” said Daniel Walsh, president, Ifco North America. “This study shows that RPCs – across-the-board – are the most sustainable choice for fresh food packaging compared to corrugated boxes.”
The LCA reviewed the environmental impact of RPCs and Display-Ready Corrugated Fiber Containers (DRCs) and Non-Display-Ready Corrugated Fiber Containers (NDCs) for packaging apples, bell peppers, carrots, grapes, iceberg lettuce, onions, oranges, peaches/nectarines, tomatoes and strawberries.
The study concludes, “In all eight examined environmental indicators (energy demand, global warming potential, ozone depletion potential, water consumption, acidification, eutrophication, photochemical smog, solid waste generation), the Ifco RPCs, as defined in this analysis, provide greater environmental savings for delivering produce in North America than does the use of fiber corrugated containers for these commodities.”
