IFCO’s global vice president points to double-digital growth in use of RPCs

Hillary Femal, global vice president of marketing for IFCO Systems (a subsidiary of Sydney, Australia-based Brambles Ltd.), told a group of supply chain executives at Pack Expo 2016 that she expects the double-digit growth in the use of reusable plastic containers (RPCs) to continue.

“All points along the fresh food supply chain are seeking to become more efficient and reduce costs and their environmental footprint,” Femal said during a panel discussion on Nov. 9, the last day of the packaging trade show in Chicago. “RPCs are an ideal platform for achieving these goals because they are operated under a shared and reusable model that helps move the fresh food supply chain toward its goal of a circular, zero waste supply chain.”

During the session, Femal and other speakers emphasized that RPCs lower costs, reduce food waste and minimize a retailer’s environmental impact when compared to single-use packaging and containers.

“The benefits of RPCs helped IFCO achieve a 16 percent growth rate last fiscal year,” Femal added.