IFCO European Lift Lock RPCs remain the only fresh-food reusable crates to hold Silver across Cradle to Cradle Certified® Full Scope, Material Health, and Circularity
IFCO European Lift Lock reusable packaging containers (RPCs) have been recertified with Cradle to Cradle Certified® Full Scope Silver under the latest and more rigorous Version 4.1 standard. The recertification confirms that IFCO’s Lift Lock RPCs continue to meet strict requirements for material health, product circularity, clean air and climate protection, water and soil stewardship, and social fairness. They remain the only fresh-food reusable crates to hold this Full Scope Silver distinction.
In addition, IFCO European Lift Lock RPCs have also achieved Silver level in two additional Cradle to Cradle Certified® certificates: Circularity and Material Health. Together, the three certificates provide retailers and producers with independent verification of the sustainability, health, and circularity performance behind IFCO’s SmartCycle model.
This recertification builds on IFCO’s strong portfolio of independently verified sustainability credentials. Recent Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies have confirmed that IFCO reusable packaging containers deliver significant environmental benefits compared with single-use packaging, including lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduced water use, and less solid waste. Together, the Cradle to Cradle Certified® recertification and independent LCA findings provide retailers and producers with trusted, third-party validation of the environmental performance and circularity of IFCO’s pooling model.
Why Cradle to Cradle Certified matters for retailers and producers
IFCO European Lift Lock RPCs have been Cradle to Cradle Certified® for the third time. In 2021, they became the first fresh-food reusable crates to achieve Cradle to Cradle Certified® Silver. The certification was renewed in 2023. In 2026, with the Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard Version 4.1, the certification has now been renewed under even more rigorous, testing conditions and standards.
“Retailers and producers want independent verification in the areas that matter most to them: material health and circularity,” says Iñigo Canalejo, Chief Sustainability Officer at IFCO. "That is why we pursued the C2C Certified® Material Health and Circularity certificates alongside our Full Scope certification. Together, they strengthen the transparency and verification of specific performance areas within the IFCO SmartCycle model".
The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute sets a robust, stringent standard for product circularity and sustainability performance. The Cradle to Cradle Certified® Products Program takes a wide lens and a sensitive microscope to examine products across multiple dimensions of sustainability. Primarily, the certification process takes a deep dive into all the materials that are used to manufacture a product and assesses how the production, use, and recycling of the product impact the climate, water, air, and soil. The program also examines how a product supports the circular economy and how social responsibility is embedded in the product lifecycle and value chain.
This independent certification gives retailers and producers third-party confirmation that IFCO is operating a proven, closed-loop share, reuse and recycling system for fresh-food crates that is safe for human health and helps protect the environment.
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