TAMPA, FL — IFCO Systems, the world leader in returnable plastic containers, unveiled new mobile technology that it said will add efficiency and sustainability to the food supply chain.
The MyIFCO Order app is a first-of-its-kind mobile ordering app that enables growers and retailers to place orders for RPCs from their phones or tablets 24 hours a day.
Susan Atwater and Dan Martin of IFCO Systems promoted the company’s MyIFCO mobile app at the recent SEPC Southern Exposure in Tampa,FL. Photo by John Groh.
“This new application puts all order management at the fingertips of our customers, making it possible for them to order, track and manage inventories from their mobile devices,” Dan Martin, president of IFCO North America, told The Produce News Feb. 29 during the Southeast Produce Council Southern Exposure expo in Tampa, FL. “Customers have told us they like being able to order from the field or anywhere they don’t otherwise have access to their computers.”
Martin said while MyIFCO is in the beta mode in the United States, the technology has successfully launched in other parts of the world. “We’re seeing an 80 percent usage rate in markets where it is available,” he said.
IFCO’s ultimate goal is to be predictive with its order management, said Martin. “We want to have a just-in-time option to provide convenience for our customers and allow us to be more efficient,” he said. “Customers can opt to receive push notifications to remind them about ordering so they can best manage their inventory. This covers everything we do today, including meat, eggs, poultry and, of course, produce. There is nothing else like this in the food industry.”
Martin said that adoption of the MyIFCO technology and an increase in the use of RPCs would have a number of sustainability benefits for customers due to the share-and-reuse operating model. He said IFCO RPCs are used up to 100 times before being recycled into raw materials for other products.
When compared to single-use packaging, Martin said IFCO RPCs offer a number of sustainability benefits, including:
- A reduction of CO2 emissions by as much as 60 percent
- An 80 percent reduction in the use of water
- A 64 percent reduction in the use of energy
- An 86 percent reduction in solid waste
- A 96 percent reduction of product damage
“Studies conducted by Cal Poly that covered end-to-end usage revealed that users can realize a savings of 80 cents per box,” Martin added.
He said IFCO also awards Sustainability Certificates to honor its customers’ commitment to the environment, adding that the certificates serve as a powerful tool for documenting the sustainability progress that is possible through collaboration between supply chain partners. The certificates highlight the amount of carbon dioxide, water, energy, solid waste and food waste avoided by utilizing IFCO RPCs in its supply chain.
Launched in 2018, the certificates were previously awarded only to retail customers, but starting this year they will also be given to growers.
"Growers are the starting point of the fresh food supply chain. Thus, they take on great responsibility in providing high-quality, sustainable fruits and vegetables. By awarding growers with our Sustainability Certificate, we honor their environmental commitment,” Wolfgang Orgeldinger, CEO of IFCO SYSTEMS, said in a statement. “The certificate is a clear message to growers’ as well as to retailers’ customers and business partners. It shows that our customers are tackling environmental challenges in a tangible and measurable way."
“Also, labor reduction is a big issue, and many of those initiatives work best with sustainable practices, so IFCO is well positioned as a leader,” said Martin. “It’s an exciting time to be in the industry.”
