There are multiple factors that point to an expansion of reusable packaging containers (RPCs) in the produce industry, says Jon Brooks, vice president of retail sales for IFCO.
A few of those, he said, include environmental social governance (ESG) goals, automation and technology.
Growing pressures from consumers, employees and stakeholders for produce growers and retailers to be more sustainable, reduce their environmental footprint and meet stated ESG goals and commitments are pushing RPCs forward, he said.
“Growers and retailers cannot meet these goals alone and rely on vendors to assist them in their efforts,” he said. “IFCO Reusable Packaging Containers (RPCs) are a perfect partner here for both parties because we can provide measurable and reportable benefits.”
Sustainability used to be a topic that was a “nice to have” benefit, but that’s changing, Brooks said.
“People and businesses are demanding action, and we’re all getting better about how we measure and report our actions through things like ESG reports,” Brooks said.
Aside from sustainability goals, he said the push toward automation also favors RPCs.
“Labor has always been a challenge in the produce industry, but lately even more so,” he said. “To help mitigate labor issues the industry is turning towards even more automation. RPCs are specifically designed with a consistent footprint and the durability to efficiently move produce through automated environments.”
The durability of RPCs can facilitate technology, he said.
“Where IFCO RPCs are used over 100 times we’re able to outfit them with innovative technologies which can add transparency along the supply chain,” Brooks said. “This is especially important as we move into the future and require more from our packaging than just a container to hold produce during transport.”
Another change compared with a few years ago is enhanced collaboration by the supply chain, he said.
“The industry has shifted to be much more collaborative and less transactional,” Brooks said. “We’re driven more by actionable data that is shared with partners throughout the supply chain, and the more these data sets grow the more all parties can benefit.”
Looking ahead, Brooks said he expects the benefits of reusability and the circular economy to be increasingly important.
“Retailers and producers continue to shift more products into RPCs which allows us to be innovative in how we solve various product challenges to make the supply chain more circular,” he said. “A good example of this is our recent awards for innovation on both our dairy and egg crate, and our floral bucket.”
What’s more, traceability will take on an elevated role in packaging as supply transparency and traceability become even more important, Brooks said.
“As RPCs continue to become more intelligent through the use of various technologies, they will play a critical role in providing key data points for everyone throughout the supply chain,” he said.
Brooks said the demand for RPCs across the globe is at an all-time high, and trends toward sustainability, automation and traceability technology will add to that momentum.
