| IFCO RPCs are the Environmentally-Friendly Produce Packaging Solution
In addition to significant supply chain cost savings compared to corrugated boxes, IFCO RPCs offer dramatic environmental benefits. In a landmark study* conducted by Franklin Associates, world-renown for pioneering in the field of Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) studies, the environmental benefits of RPCs as compared to corrugated boxes were documented. The findings were validated in 2006 in an international peer review.**
Since the study’s publication, additional benefits have been identified, including a reduction in truck miles when shipping produce in RPCs. Because RPCs protect produce so much better than corrugated boxes, less product is wasted (industry estimates are 8-11% of all produce shipped is wasted due to shrink), hence fewer shipments are necessary.
Equally as impressive are RPCs’ social benefits. Due to their ergonomic design, RPCs are much healthier for workers to use: vast reductions in pulls, strains, and other injuries have been documented when retailers switch from corrugated to RPCs. The result is a produce transport packaging system that’s healthier for consumers, workers, and our world.
RPC Systems Require Less Energy
In almost every product application studied, the benefits of the closed-loop RPC system more than offset the benefits of lighter container weight and a high recycling rate for corrugated containers. As a result, total energy requirements for RPCs are 39% lower than corresponding DRCs in all average use scenarios.
RPC Systems Produce Less Waste
RPCs produce 95% less solid waste than corrugated boxes in all produce applications and scenarios. This is due to several key factors:
• The burdens for production of RPCs are allocated over a (large) number of useful lives,
• RPCs that remain in the pooling system are recycled when they are removed from service,
• Losses of RPCs from the closed-loop system are smaller, and
• Corrugated boxes make only one trip before they are recycled or disposed.
RPC Systems Produce Less Greenhouse Gas
RPCs’ reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are mainly due to lower fossil fuel consumption, since that is the source of the majority of GHG emissions. In 18 of 20 scenarios involving 10 commodities, RPCs produced an average of 29% less GHG.
Visit IFCO and the Environment for more information.
* Franklin, William and Sauer, Beverly. “Life Cycle Inventory of Reusable Plastic Containers and Display-Ready Corrugated Containers Used for Fresh Produce Applications.” Franklin Associates, A Division of Eastern Research Group, Inc., Prairie Village.KS. Published 2004.
** S. Paul Singh (School of Packaging, Michegan State University), Vanee Chonhenchob (Packaging Department, Kasetsart University), Jagjit Singh (3Orfalea College of Business, California Polytechnic State University). Published Online: 19 Apr 2006.
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