Among the key points of green transition there is the detachment from the old linear economy. This theme should be better communicated as a technology that looks to the collective good and for which, among other things, Italy is at the forefront: at European level, the economy is circular at 12.8%, Italy is at 21.6%, according to the fourth report concerning circular economy. In terms of recycling of all waste, our Country has reached 68%, the highest average in the EU. The virtuous model of crates and cartons for fruit and vegetables goes in this direction, which avoid disposable packaging to be disposed of, with a consequent positive impact on the environment. It is a concrete response also to the sharp increase in the cost of packaging in 2022, triggered by the inflationary spiral. The distribution system that uses reusable containers reduces by 80% the tonnes of CO2 equivalent that the solution with disposable containers would produce, according to a study conducted in Italian large-scale distribution by ‘Food Supply Chain Center’ research centre of the University of Bologna. We are talking about weight reduction, lighter and more performing papers to reduce logistics costs, research to lengthen shelf-life and allow savings on food waste. The future is increasingly that of digitalization, to ensure traceability and offer ‘talking’ packaging that also do communication about the product.
2023 is a year of confirmations and innovations for Cpr System. On the one hand, the plan to introduce the new Redea crate in large-scale distribution continues at full speed, replacing the traditional green crates. Monica Artosi, general manager, underlined: ‘All the brands associated with Cpr System have joined the replacement process and, to date, around 50% of them are already using Redea. At the end of the transformation process, which should be completed in 2024, 16 million green crates will be replaced, regranulated, and transformed into Redea’. The numbers of total movements of Cpr System in 2022 are very satisfactory. ‘We have reached around 167 million movements including crates, pallets, and minibins. Specifically, then, considering only the total movements of the crates, there are a total of 159 million, including fruit and vegetables, meat sector, fish products, and delicatessen products. The numbers are very positive despite the great difficulties of the year related to the increase in logistics and energy costs throughout the European market and testify to the solidity and validity of the strategic choices made by Cpr System, which has always worked alongside the production chain and the one of distribution to achieve maximum economic, social and environmental efficiency’. Among the most important innovations there is the inclusion of Redea crate in distribution in collective catering, in the school canteens of the Municipalities of Bologna, Reggio Emilia, and Modena. ‘It is the result of an important collaboration between Cpr System, Conor, Camst Group, Cirfood, and the University of Bologna. A great novelty that opens up further outlets in terms of waste reduction and environmental and economic sustainability’.
Ifco’s mission is to make the fresh food supply chain sustainable. In 2022, it reached the milestone of 2 billion shipments of reusable packaging, enabling customers in the supply chain to achieve significant environmental savings. In addition, it was recently recognized by Sustainalytics, a leading independent ESG risk assessment agency, as the Top-Rated European ESG company. Alessandra Fumagalli, general manager for Italy sales, explained: ‘This recognition highlights the strength of our ESG efforts. In 1992 we were the first to experiment with reusable containers (RPC) for fruit and vegetables. Today our unique sharing-reuse-recycle model offers the most efficient, cheap, and sustainable alternative to single-use packaging for fresh fruit and vegetables and more’. Ifco RPCs have an average life of 10 years and are shared and reused up to 120 times. If damaged, they are repaired or granulated and recycled into new cassettes. A closed loop process that generates zero waste. ‘Independent Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) certify that our approach leads to environmental savings, based on scientific data. Compared to single-use packaging, the use of our Rpc reduces CO2 emissions by up to 60%, water consumption by 80%, energy by 64%, and solid waste by 86%. Our protective design also reduces food waste by 96%. Banana Lift Lock Rpc, our latest innovation, offers better performance with lower environmental footprint. It fits perfectly into the logistics operations and guarantees perfect ripening of bananas. Our innovations help face digital transformation and bring transparency to the supply chain. Our digital tools and standardized designs make supply chain automation and fresh product traceability easy’.
Positive data also comes from Conip. The numbers certified in the Life Cycle Assessment 2022, the annual environmental impact document, are eloquent. Fabiola Mosca, general manager, explained: ‘In 2021 the Consortium recovered and sent for recycling 75% of the crates released for consumption on the national territory, avoiding the emission of 150 thousand tonnes of CO2eq; saved 2.3 million GJ of energy, the consumption of 606 million litres of water, the use of 135,000 tonnes of virgin raw material, and the import of 778,000 barrels of oil, allowing for savings of 40 million EUR’. Conip network today brings together 120 consortium members and has started a dialogue with the large wholesale fruit and vegetable markets to expand its closed loop network. The National Plastic Packaging Consortium, active since 1998 and recognized since 1999 by the Ministry of the Environment, was the first collective system in Europe to produce crates and pallets in recycled and entirely recyclable polyolefin material thanks to the adoption of ‘closed loop’ system. Conip crates are produced with secondary raw material deriving from the recycling of the same crates and are entirely recyclable. This system is able to achieve a balance between environmental sustainability, food safety, and industrial development. All this thanks to the recovery service guaranteed by the Conip circuit, which has no costs for the user to whom, on the contrary, it recognizes an economic value for the end-of-life crates collected by the consortium members. Other aspects that determined the evolution of Conip crates were the ability of the consortium system to guarantee the suitability of the recycled plastic material in direct contact with fruit and vegetables, guaranteeing on the one hand the continuous recyclability of the crates and on the other one compliance with Moca standards.
With over 115,000 reusable packaging handled, Tosca is trying to communicate, through its products and services, its propensity for sustainability, understood in all its forms. The company has precise plans and offers customized, green models, with greater attention to the supply chain, reliability, and transparency in the traceability of assets through IoT technology, thus managing to measure the objectives to be achieved. An example of the work it is carrying out is the new Circular pallet launched on the market in the first quarter of 2023. It has the same dimensions and share as the Epal pallet, but it is entirely produced with recycled plastic from plastic waste. Salvatore Lucarello, director and sales manager of Tosca Italia, explained: ‘The capacity is 1000 kg per shelf, for a weight of about 20 kg and a production cost/value similar to that of Epal, in wood, but with the innumerable advantages of plastic pallet and reuse. The satisfaction shown by the partners of the Italian large-scale distribution allows us to develop increasingly articulated customizations, which represent a strategic tool for transmitting the value of our brand’.
