IFCO, a global leader in reusable packaging solutions for fresh food, achieved record environmental savings with customers in 2024. The company will award IFCO Sustainability Certificates to thousands of customers worldwide for the eighth year in a row. FCO has accelerated growth and sustainability by delivering record environmental savings for customers in 2024.
IFCO Sustainability Certificates: Revolutionizing Packaging Through Customer-Centric Approach
The company has ushered in a targeted expansion and a series of customer-centric packaging innovations. It has delivered 2.4 billion shipments of fruit and vegetables, meat and poultry, fish and seafood, dairy and eggs, baked goods, bananas, and other fresh grocery products in IFCO reusable packaging containers (RPCs) in 2024 globally. In total, by using the IFCO Smart Cycle circular pooling system instead of single-use packaging, customers generated the following environmental savings during 2024:
Carbon Emissions
The company saved 674,333 metric tons of CO2e emissions which is equivalent to circling the planet 140,344 times by car.
Water Conservation
The company saved 54,308 megaliters of water which is equivalent to 21,723 Olympic size pools.
Energy Conservation
The company saved 14,854 terajoules of energy which is equivalent to the annual energy consumption of 746,668 households.
Checking Waste Generation
The company checked 1,363,131 metric tons of solid waste generation which is equivalent to the solid waste produced by 2.73 million people in a year. It also checked 66,015 tons of product waste generation which is equivalent to 105 million meals.
Assessment Methodology: Third-Party Peer-reviewed Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
IFCO uses third-party peer-reviewed life cycle assessment (LCA) studies. These studies are based on ISO 14040/14044 standards. These studies aim to scientifically quantify the environmental benefits of the IFCO SmartCycle in reducing CO2e emissions, water consumption, energy use, and solid waste. Further, they also include other third-party studies to quantify reductions in food loss and food waste.
What are IFCO Sustainability Certificates?
IFCO Sustainability Certificates are science-backed certificates that accurately quantify and recognize each customer’s unique contribution to significant environmental savings. These contributions are achieved through the efficient and food-safe IFCO SmartCycle circular pooling system. The company will award customers with individual Sustainability Certificates for the eighth year in a row.
Demonstrating Sustainable Goals
These certificates allow producers, growers, distributors, and retailers to demonstrate their commitment to improving the environmental performance of their supply chains. Further, customers increasingly use the certificates to showcase their tangible progress toward their own sustainability goals.
Fruit Logistica 2025
IFCO will also celebrate these achievements with customers at Fruit Logistica 2025 which is the world’s leading fresh produce trade show. It will commence from 5–7 February in Berlin. The company will award IFCO Sustainability Certificates to customers at Booth B-40 in Hall 21.
Future Prospects: Reducing Carbon Footprint Through Sustainable Packaging
In 2024, a new critically reviewed Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study was commissioned by IFCO, and conducted by Fraunhofer IBP. It was reviewed by a panel under the direction of DEKRA. The study updated the environmental impacts of reusable packaging containers and cardboard boxes over their full life cycle. Since 2018, IFCO has cut the average carbon footprint of its RPCs by an additional 10%.
Need for Comparative LCAs
These Comparative LCAs are essential for IFCO’s ESG Strategy to thrive in the circular economy. It also helps to define the decarbonization levers, activities, and milestones that support IFCO’s goals of becoming a net-zero, zero-waste business by 2040. These levers are described in more detail in the IFCO Roadmap to Net Zero.
IFCO Roadmap
This IFCO roadmap underscores IFCO’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production, including adopting a circular model and closing the material loop. In line with SDG 13: Climate action, the roadmap commits to near-term science-based greenhouse gas reduction targets for 2031 validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), an independent body. IFCO’s ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) Report 2024 details the progress the company has made on this path.