From its roots in Germany to a global presence, IFCO champions a circular economy model that reduces waste, optimizes efficiency, and redefines the fresh grocery supply chain for a sustainable future.

IFCO has emerged as a transformative force in the fresh grocery supply chain since its humble beginnings in a small German town in 1992.

What started as a novel idea to improve fresh food delivery through reusable packaging containers (RPCs) has evolved into a global leader in reshaping how fresh produce moves from farm to store while prioritizing sustainability at every step.

As the world’s foremost supplier of RPCs, IFCO’s impact extends across more than 50 countries, managing over 370 million containers through 114 service centers.

The company’s innovative pooling system, which allows RPCs to be reused up to 120 times before being recycled into new containers, has revolutionized the fresh grocery supply chain by offering a sustainable alternative to single-use packaging.

The magnitude of IFCO’s operation is remarkable, with 2 billion shipments annually facilitated by more than 1,600 staff members serving over 18,000 producers and 550 retailers globally.

This extensive network has enabled IFCO to create significant environmental impact: in 2023 alone, the company helped eliminate 658,279 tonnes of CO2 emissions, save 12,677 megaliters of water, and prevent 363,070 tonnes of solid waste.

IFCO’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond its core business model. The company has set ambitious environmental goals, including achieving carbon neutrality in operations and securing 100% certified green electricity for all IFCO-operated Service Centers.

Images: Courtesy of IFCO

Their efforts have not gone unnoticed – in 2024, IFCO received a Sustainalytics ESG low-risk rating score of 10.7, ranking 424th out of 16,236 companies globally and seventh among 180 companies in their “Business Support Services” sub-industry.

In recent years, IFCO has continued to innovate.

The introduction of products like the Dora Plastic Pallet and the Marina Fish Crate exemplifies IFCO’s dedication to addressing specific industry needs with tailored, reusable solutions.

The Dora Plastic Pallet, designed to replace conventional wooden pallets, is over 25% lighter and boasts anti-slip surfaces, making it safer and more efficient for handling.

Its durability and resistance to moisture also ensure a more hygienic solution, especially relevant in high-volume, perishable food logistics.

Meanwhile, the Marina Fish Crate, developed with input from the fishing industry, incorporates advanced features like Bluetooth Low Energy tags and QR codes for real-time tracking, offering superior insulation and cold chain management crucial for fresh seafood.

Leading retailers have taken notice of IFCO’s sustainable solutions. Sprouts Farmers Market, a rapidly growing specialty retailer in the U.S., expanded its partnership with IFCO in October 2024, implementing RPCs across all their distribution centers to reduce landfill waste and improve supply chain efficiency.

A recent independent life cycle assessment conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics in November 2024 validated IFCO’s environmental claims, showing that their RPCs generate up to 62% less CO2 emissions compared to single-use packaging – an improvement from 60% in 2018.

The study also demonstrated significant savings in water use, energy consumption, and waste reduction.

IFCO’s success stems from its circular economy model based on share-reduce-reuse principles.

The company’s SmartCycle pooling system ensures RPCs are efficiently managed through high-tech service centers, where containers are cleaned, sanitized, and redistributed.

When RPCs can no longer be repaired, they are granulated and recycled into new containers, creating a closed-loop system that minimizes waste and maximizes resource efficiency.

Looking ahead, IFCO has committed to becoming a Net Zero business by 2040, with science-based targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.

The company’s roadmap includes implementing low-carbon technologies at service centers, transitioning to green electricity in production processes, and optimizing their SmartCycle system.

Under the leadership of CEO Michael Pooley, IFCO continues to push the boundaries of sustainable supply chain solutions.

“Our decarbonization roadmap builds on the success of the IFCO SmartCycle. While our circular business model is inherently sustainable, we are committed to achieving even more.”