TAMPA, FL - Shortly after evolving its sustainability strategies to optimize the operations of its industry allies, IFCO Systems has announced it has awarded its annual Sustainability Certificate for the fifth consecutive year, acknowledging its retail and grower partners’ sustainability efforts using IFCO RPCs.

“As the company that makes sustainability its purpose, striving for a sustainable fresh grocery supply chain, IFCO is very proud to acknowledge its clients’ commitment to a sustainable future,” explains Michael Pooley, Chief Executive Officer. “We realize that the majority of our customers have committed to ambitious sustainability targets, and we are delighted to contribute to their progress and provide reliable evidence of their savings.”

IFCO first launched its sustainability certification initiative in September 2018. As part of the initiative, each of the company’s retailer and grower customers will receive a certificate highlighting the amount of carbon emissions, water, energy, solid waste, and food waste avoided by utilizing IFCO RPCs in their supply chain.

IFCO has been a pioneer in the reusable packaging space for decades. As explained in a press release, the innovator has been operating its business model based on the circular economy, where crates are reused up to 120 times and, when no longer repairable, are 100 percent recycled into new IFCO RPCs. With this method, IFCO enabled more than 616,699 metric tons of CO₂e emission savings in 2021 for customers using IFCO RPCs.

Utilizing its unique business model, the IFCO SmartCycle^™, based on the principles of “share and reuse,” the company reduces the environmental footprint of its partners’ supply chains.

Companies harnessing IFCO solutions generated the following environmental savings in 2021:

• 616,699 metric tons of CO₂e—equivalent to 333,190 fewer cars on the road in a year
• 10.8 million cubic meters of water—equivalent to over 244 million five-minute showers
• 38,688 terajoules of electricity—enough to power over 20.4 million light bulbs for a year
• 310,795 metric tons of solid waste—equivalent to the trash produced by 229 million individuals per day

The use of IFCO RPCs saves food waste equivalent to 92 million average meals. These benefits carry through to IFCO customers’ supply chains and represent a significant achievement for companies wanting to protect their fresh products while still being committed to improving their sustainability performance.

Expanding its sustainability commitment in a move to drive the circular economy, IFCO recently released its ESG (Environmental Social Governance) 2025 strategy, outlining the tactics it plans to implement to combat climate change and food waste for a sustainable fresh grocery supply chain.

Keep reading AndNowUKnow as we report on all the latest innovations and strategies revolutionizing the fresh produce industry.

IFCO Systems