A new independent lifecycle assessment (LCA) confirms that IFCO reusable packaging containers (RPCs) significantly outperform single use packaging in key sustainability metrics. IFCO, a leader in reusable packaging solutions for fresh food, commissioned the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics (Fraunhofer IBP) to conduct the peer reviewed comparative study in accordance with international standards.
Taking the full lifecycle into account, compared to single use packaging IFCO RPCs have a lower carbon footprint and save natural resources, the study shows. The results reflect the cocmpany’s longstanding commitment to continuously improve and share the efficiency and environmental benefits of the SmartCycle circular pooling model. In the process, the company empowers all stakeholders to embrace the circular economy and make the fresh grocery supply chain sustainable.
Comparative LCAs are complex to undertake but they are an essential component of the group’s ESG strategy. Such studies help identify and define the decarbonisation levers and milestones that support IFCO’s goals of becoming a net zero, zero waste business by 2040. They are outlined in detail in the IFCO Roadmap to Net Zero, which includes near term science based greenhouse gas reduction targets for 2031 validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), an independent body.
This new LCA highlights the following environmental benefits of the European portfolio of IFCO RPCs over single-use packaging. Over the entire lifecycle, the group’s RPCs were found to:
Consume 69% less water.
Generate 96% less waste.
Consume 59% less energy.
Generate up to 62% less CO2e, an improvement from 60% in 2018.
Iñigo Canalejo, vice president ESG and strategic marketing, said: ‘Providing scientifically verified data on the sustainability of our reusable packaging compared to single use packaging gives our customers the confidence that IFCO RPCs are the best choice for their supply chains. This latest independent lifecycle assessment confirms that our continuous improvements are delivering impactful, measurable results. With up to a 62% reduction in carbon emissions along with significant savings in water use, energy consumption and waste, IFCO RPCs are essential in making the fresh grocery supply chain sustainable.’
The 2024 comparative lifecycle assessment updates a 2018 study by the Fraunhofer IBP and builds on the first LCA conducted in 2004. These assessments are vital tools for evaluating progress and identifying areas for improvement in minimising the environmental impact of the SmartCycle circular pooling system and optimising reusable packaging solutions for the fresh grocery supply chain. Performed by the renowned Fraunhofer IBP, this LCA complies with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards, ensuring accurate and comparative analysis of environmental impacts from raw material extraction to disposal. The results are peer reviewed by a panel of independent experts, guaranteeing credibility of the conclusions, thereby meeting the growing demand for transparent information on the environmental impact of products and services.
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