The reusable packaging solutions provider is celebrating two years of sustainable innovation at Dannstadt Service Centre with the release of a behind-the-scenes video
IFCO, a global leader in reusable packaging solutions for fresh food, has marked the second anniversary of its state-of-the-art service centre in Dannstadt-Schauerheim, south-west Germany, with the release of a behind-the-scenes video offering a glimpse of the daily operations at the facility where half a million reusable packaging containers (RPCs) are cleaned, inspected and prepared for reuse daily.
“The video captures the inner workings of IFCO’s SmartCycle,” the firm said, “demonstrating how the company is disrupting traditional packaging models with automation, traceability and circularity.”
The Dannstadt centre is part of IFCO’s international network of 139 service centres, all supporting the IFCO SmartCycle model.
“With 400mn reusable packaging containers in circulation, IFCO’s system is helping 300 retailers and 18,000 producers worldwide transition to more sustainable, circular supply chains,” the company explained, “while advancing digital transformation and automation.”
Strategically located in a central European transport hub, the Dannstadt service centre has become a key pillar of IFCO’s circular business model since its opening in April 2023.
Equipped with advanced automation, including sorting and crate recognition systems, the centre enables efficient processing of all RPC types and sizes, IFCO stated.
“It exemplifies how IFCO’s SmartCycle transforms sustainability principles into action, offering a scalable solution that reduces waste, carbon emissions and water consumption across the supply chain,” it added.
Babak Yazdani, COO of IFCO, commented: “Our Dannstadt service centre is a blueprint for the future of sustainable food packaging. By combining smart automation, rigorous hygiene and circular design, we’re proving that sustainability and efficiency go hand in hand.”
The building, which has been awarded the prestigious Gold Certification for Green Buildings by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB), is powered by a photovoltaic system, with underfloor heating and LED lighting throughout.
“A four-step hygienic washing system ensures food-grade cleanliness and safety, while water used in the cleaning process is recycled up to 400 times,” the company revealed.
