IFCO achieves billion RPC shipment milestone

June 19, 2014

IFCO has achieved a significant milestone this fiscal year: one billion annual reusable plastic container (RPC) shipments from producers to retail locations worldwide.

IFCO has achieved a significant milestone this fiscal year: one billion annual reusable plastic container (RPC) shipments from producers to retail locations worldwide. The record number represents more than 20 years of growth for these RPCs. “We are excited to share this momentous achievement with our customers, partners, and employees,” said Wolfgang Orgeldinger, chief executive officer of IFCO. “Our growth is a testament to the value IFCO RPCs offer the fresh supply chain in each of IFCO’s 29 countries of operation.”

IFCO owns and operates its RPC business in North America, South America, Europe, and Africa, and operates via joint venture in Asia. RPCs reduce environmental impact, food waste, and supply chain costs for producers and retailers. The annual environmental impact of shipping one billion cases of fresh produce in RPCs instead of cardboard boxes is equal to the elimination of: •CO2 emissions of nearly 75,000 vehicles •Solid waste generated by more than 400,000 people •Water consumed by nearly 600,000 people In addition to lower environmental impact, the IFCO RPC system lowers supply chain costs and product damage. Over the course of one billion shipments annually, these RPCs eliminate more than 4,000 metric tonnes of food waste caused by product damage, enough to provide more than 2.7 million people with the five servings of fruit and vegetables recommended daily—for a full year. With more than 180 million RPCs in circulation, IFCO is a leading provider of reusable containers to the fresh food sector. It handles all RPC logistics, from distribution to cleaning to re-entry into the supply chain. After retail use, its RPCs are folded, collected, and shipped back to one of IFCO’s service facilities, where they are sanitized and prepared for re-use. IFCO is a Brambles Company. For further information, go to www.brambles.com.