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MUNICH, Germany, February 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Following another record year of environmental savings, IFCO, the world's leading supplier of reusable transport packaging (RTP), has awarded its customers the IFCO Sustainability Certificate for the seventh time. consecutive year. The certificates recognize the commitment of farmers, producers and retailers to drive sustainability in their supply chains. Importantly, each certificate shows the specific environmental savings achieved together with IFCO in terms of carbon emissions, energy use and water consumption, as well as solid waste and food waste.

Record environmental savings achieved in 2023In total, by using IFCO's SmartCycle circular model, customers have generated the following environmental savings in 2023.

The role of life cycle analysis and the IFCO Sustainability Certificate

Supported by the results of third-party peer-reviewed life cycle assessment studies, IFCO reliably calculates the environmental benefits of using IFCO RPCs and awards[BJ7] sustainability certificates to its customers each year. LCA studies,1 carried out by LCA experts Franklin Associates in the US and the Fraunhofer Institute in the EU, scientifically quantify the environmental performance of IFCO RPCs compared to single-use packaging. The studies1 were conducted in accordance with ISO 14040/44, the leading international standard for life cycle assessment (LCA) studies, life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) phase and life cycle inventory studies. life cycle (LCI). By analyzing carbon emissions, energy use, water consumption, solid waste and food waste, these studies provide comprehensive data on the cradle-to-grave environmental savings achieved by switching from one packaging to another. I only use ERT from IFCO.

LCA studies show that, compared to using single-use packaging, customers generate up to 60% less CO2e, use 64% less energy, consume 80% less water and reduce solid waste by 86%. Additionally, a separate study by the Fraunhofer Institute and the University of Bonn found that IFCO RPCs also reduce food waste by 96%.2

Basically, environmental benefits are achieved as IFCO RPCs are reused up to 120 times, repaired when damaged and, when they can no longer be repaired, granulated to be recycled in a closed loop and converted into new IFCO RPCs at the end of its long useful life. This unique circular model has recently received the prestigious Certified® Cradle to Cradle Silver award for “Lift Lock” ERTs in Europe. Additionally, IFCO's unique SmartCycle pooling system is professionally managed through resource-efficient, high-tech service centers that help producers, suppliers, distributors and retailers achieve their ambitious sustainability goals and reduce the overall environmental footprint of their supply chains.

Beyond IFCO's SmartCycle circular modelWhile ACV studies confirm that IFCO's circular business model is inherently sustainable, the company is committed to going further. Guided by IFCO's ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) 2025 strategy, Thriving in the Circular Economy, IFCO has set ambitious targets to make fresh food supply chains sustainable and ensure a significant positive impact on our planet and the environment. society. IFCO's 2023 ESG report confirms that the company is on track to achieve ESG goals by 2025, including the use of 100% certified renewable electricity for all IFCO-operated service centers and carbon neutrality in its operations.

Additionally, IFCO has officially committed to setting carbon emissions reduction targets in line with science. By 2040, IFCO intends to fully decarbonize its supply chain and become a Net Zero company. The key levers and milestones of decarbonisation are outlined in detail in the IFCO Roadmap to Net Zero Emissions. In addition, the Science Based Targets initiative, an independent body, validated IFCO's short-term science-based targets (SBT) for 2031, confirming that the company's targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are met. They align with a 1.5 degree scenario, as recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The environmental benefits of IFCO RPCs are measurable and impactful Since 1992, when IFCO pioneered reusable packaging solutions, the company has continued to invest in its circular business model to support its goal of making the fresh food supply chain sustainable . In response to customer demand, IFCO first introduced Sustainability Certificates in 2018 so that each customer could highlight the positive environmental impact of their decision to switch to IFCO RPCs. Receiving the certificate is also a clear endorsement of a company's sustainability values.

Michael Pooley, CEO of IFCO, explains: "Through our investments in high-tech facilities and digital solutions, we are making IFCO's SmartCycle pooling system even more efficient, which ultimately benefits our customers, our society and our planet. For the seventh consecutive year, we are delighted to award our customers with IFCO Sustainability Certificates in recognition of their commitment and progress towards accelerating the shift towards sustainable supply chains."

Íñigo Canalejo, Vice President of ESG and Strategic Marketing, states: "We ensure that the impact of our circular business model is measurable. As ACV's independent studies have consistently shown, we support our clients in their transition towards the circular economy and reducing our environmental footprint. Our transparent approach allows our customers to make informed decisions about the environmental impact of their reusable packaging choices. Increasingly, IFCO customers are highlighting the positive impact of using IFCO RPCs. in their supply chains by including these environmental savings in their ESG reports and sharing them with their employees, customers and other stakeholders. And we are proud of that."

Download the IFCO ESG Report 2023: https://www.ifco.com/about-ifco/sustainability/esg-report-2023/

About IFCOIFCO is the world's leading provider of reusable packaging solutions for fresh foods, serving customers in 50 countries. IFCO operates a pool of more than 380 million reusable packaging containers (RPCs) worldwide, used for more than 2 billion shipments of fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, bread and others. items from suppliers to grocery retailers each year. IFCO RPCs ensure a better fresh food supply chain by protecting freshness and quality and reducing costs, food waste and environmental impact compared to single-use packaging. More: www.ifco.com | Follow us on LinkedIn @IFCO SYSTEMS

About Cradle to Cradle Certified Cradle to Cradle Certified is the world's most advanced science-based certification program to design, manufacture and verify materials and products that are safe, circular and responsibly manufactured. For more information, see https://c2ccertified.org/

[1] "Carbon footprint of food packaging" by Stiftung Initiative Mehrweg (SIM) – The Foundation for Reusable Systems and carried out by the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics (IBP) in accordance with international standards on Cycle Analysis Life Insurance (LCA) ISO 14040/44, – Critical review by DEKRA. February 2018.

"Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Reusable Packaging Containers and Display-Ready and Non-Display Corrugated Containers Used for Fresh Produce Applications" LCA commissioned by IFCO and conducted by Franklin Associates, peer reviewed by members of the panel (BAMAC, Ltd. and Center for Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan) in accordance with international standards on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) ISO14040/14044, February 2017, Conversion factors come from several recognized organizations , like the EPA.

[2] "Determination of spoilage levels of fresh fruits and vegetables depending on the type of packaging" by Stiftung Initiative Mehrweg (SIM) – The Foundation for Reusable Systems and carried out by the Fraunhofer Institute for Logistics and Material Flow. May 2013.

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