Lift Lock is the first and only range of reusable food packaging in Europe to have obtained this demanding sustainable certification.
Ifco, global leader in reusable packaging for fresh products, has obtained the Cradle to Cradle Silver certification (3.1 version) for its European range of reusable Lift Lock plastic crates. This standard guarantees the absence of toxic products in the manufacturing process, the use of renewable energies and good water management. In addition to this Silver certification, the range has obtained the Gold level in the “evaluation of the reuse of materials” category, regarding the recyclability of the crates and the implementation of a CSR policy within the group.
The Cradle to Cradle certification
This globally recognized standard guarantees the positive impacts of companies on people and the planet. The products that are Cradle to Cradle certified are evaluated on the basis of material composition, product circularity, air and climate protection, water and soil management and social equity. The principal is based on the design of biodegradable products which are part of a biological cycle bringing them back to the earth; or the design of recyclable products which, after being used, will serve as raw material for the creation of new products.
“The Cradle to Cradle certification identifies the companies that are committed to having a positive impact on the world around them,” explains Hein van Tuijl, general manager of EPEA Benelux, the accredited Cradle to Cradle certification assessment body which evaluated the Ifco products. EPEA guides companies in the certification process of their products in order to meet the Cradle to Cradle Certified® standard aiming to reduce negative externalities, and especially produce positive externalities on the ecosystem.
This rigorous certification process has highlighted the continuous improvement in Ifco’s internal operations. In order to keep this certification, IFCO will have to undergo, every two years, an evaluation of the new improvements made to its certified products providing its clients, and their own clients, full transparency on its activity.
According to Dr. Christian Raad, vice-president of strategy and development at the Cradle to Cradle Product Innovation Institute, “Ifco is paving the way for a new business model for safe, circular, responsibly designed and manufactured food packaging.”
“We could not be more proud of this accomplishment,” claims Michael Pooley, CEO of the IFCO group. “We are committed to sustainability, and this means reusing materials as much as possible. And the Cradle to Cradle program goes beyond reducing negative impacts on the environment. It is about having a positive ecological impact. Repairing crates and reusing the materials instead of throwing them away is an essential element of our business model based on circular economy.”
IFCO’s Lift Lock range
With their innovative ergonomic closure system, the Lift Lock crates are aesthetically pleasing, adapted to transport and storage, to automated systems and to the perfect preservation of fresh products. They are the heart of Ifco’s pooling system in Europe.
The range consists of 22 reusable plastic crates optimized for fruit and vegetables, meat or bakery products. All Ifco crates can be reused an average of 100 times. If damaged, they are either repaired or recycled into granules to make new crates. In addition to reducing packaging waste in the supply chain, the Lift Lock crates help optimize the preservation of fresh products, therefore reducing food waste.
For more information:
Ifco
www.ifco.com