Circular Packaging Solutions and Global Collaborations Drive Significant Emissions and Waste Reductions

IFCO, a global provider of reusable packaging solutions for fresh foods, reported record-breaking environmental results in 2024, underscoring the company’s commitment to reducing waste and carbon emissions.

In a year marked by strategic acquisitions and product innovations, 2.4 billion shipments of fresh grocery products including fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, seafood, dairy, eggs, and baked goods were transported in IFCO’s reusable packaging containers (RPCs) worldwide.

By relying on these sustainable alternatives instead of single use materials, producers, retailers, and distributors have contributed to the circular economy on a massive scale.

For the eighth consecutive year, IFCO is presenting thousands of customers with the IFCO Sustainability Certificate, which quantifies the environmental impact reduction achieved through the IFCO SmartCycle pooling system.

The latest certificates draw upon third-party peer-reviewed life cycle assessments (LCAs) based on ISO 14040/14044 standards, ensuring the data behind the environmental metrics is science based and accurate.

Additional studies have further validated the decrease in food loss and waste achieved by adopting IFCO RPCs.

IFCO has managed to cut carbon emissions, water consumption, energy use, and solid waste substantially through its SmartCycle approach.

During 2024 alone, customers saved 674,333 metric tons of CO2e emissions the equivalent of driving around the globe 140,344 times by car while conserving 54,308 megaliters of water, comparable to filling 21,723 Olympic-size pools.

They also reduced 14,854 terajoules of energy, enough to power nearly 746,668 households for a year, and prevented 1,363,131 metric tons of solid waste, equal to the annual waste of about 2.73 million people.

Moreover, the system helped avoid 66,015 tons of product waste, equivalent to 105 million meals.

These indicators illustrate the reach of IFCO’s circular model and highlight the measurable impact of choosing reusable over single-use packaging.

At the core of IFCO’s vision is an ongoing drive to refine and expand the sustainability of its products.

A newly commissioned LCA study from Fraunhofer IBP, critically reviewed under the direction of DEKRA, reveals that since 2018, IFCO has decreased the average carbon footprint of its RPCs by another 10%.

The findings also indicate that IFCO RPCs now produce up to 62% fewer CO2e emissions than single-use packaging, an improvement from 60% in the previous review.

These comparative LCAs are central to IFCO’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy, which maps out the company’s path toward becoming a net-zero, zero-waste business by 2040.

Beyond its core packaging innovations, IFCO has broadened its global footprint through acquisitions and the launch of new service centers.

In 2024, the company strengthened its market presence by acquiring BEPCO in the Baltics, giving more customers in that region access to sustainable packaging solutions.

Furthermore, it opened two service centers with advanced automation capabilities in the UK, as well as a digital hub in Barcelona designed to streamline supply chain processes.

IFCO also introduced new products, including the Dora and Nestor lightweight plastic pallets, in addition to the Marina Fish Crate, all integrated with tracking systems and digital technologies that enhance efficiency.

“Every reusable packaging innovation, every digital solution and every acquisition expands our reach and allows more customers to benefit from our sustainable circular business model, reducing waste and carbon emissions in the process. Working closely together with our customers, producers, growers, distributors and retailers we are driving impactful change in the global fresh grocery supply chain.”

Iñigo Canalejo, Vice President ESG & Strategic Marketing at IFCO

Industry professionals will have the opportunity to learn more about IFCO’s expanding portfolio and sustainability initiatives at Fruit Logistica 2025 in Berlin, set to take place from 5–7 February.

IFCO will host visitors at Booth B-40 in Hall 21, where producers, growers, distributors, and retailers can discover how reusable packaging solutions and the SmartCycle approach help cut waste.

During the event, the company will also formally present this year’s IFCO Sustainability Certificates to customers who have contributed to these environmental gains.

IFCO’s efforts align closely with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, notably SDG 12 for responsible consumption and production, and SDG 13 for climate action.

The company’s Roadmap to Net Zero underscores its pledge to maintain a circular model and close the material loop.

This forward thinking approach continues to position IFCO as a key player in the push for more resilient, low impact packaging solutions worldwide.