IFCO’s European Lift Lock reusable packaging containers (RPCs) have once again achieved Cradle to Cradle Certified® Full Scope Silver status, becoming the first and still the only fresh-produce reusable crates to maintain the certification under the program’s more demanding Version 4.1 standard.
The recertification marks the third consecutive time IFCO’s Lift Lock RPCs have received the Full Scope Silver designation, following earlier certifications in 2021 and 2023. This year’s assessment was conducted under the latest Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard Version 4.1, which introduces more rigorous requirements across multiple sustainability categories.
In addition to Full Scope Silver certification, IFCO earned separate Silver certifications for Material Health and Circularity, providing independent third-party verification of key aspects of its SmartCycle reusable packaging system. RPCs encompass an important segment of the reusable transport packaging market.
Independent Verification
According to IFCO, the latest certification confirms that its European Lift Lock RPCs continue to meet stringent requirements covering material health, product circularity, clean air and climate protection, water and soil stewardship, and social fairness.
The company said the additional Material Health and Circularity certifications are intended to provide retailers and fresh produce suppliers with more detailed third-party validation of the environmental and health attributes of its reusable packaging system.
“Retailers and producers want independent verification in the areas that matter most to them: material health and circularity,” said Iñigo Canalejo, Chief Sustainability Officer and Vice President of ESG and Strategic Marketing at IFCO. “That is why we pursued the C2C Certified® Material Health and Circularity certificates alongside our Full Scope certification: we aim at strengthening the transparency and verification of specific performance areas within the IFCO SmartCycle model.”
The certification adds to IFCO’s broader portfolio of sustainability credentials. The company noted that recent Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies have concluded that its reusable plastic containers generate lower greenhouse gas emissions, consume less water and produce less solid waste than comparable single-use packaging systems. Together, the LCA findings and the latest Cradle to Cradle certification provide independent validation of the environmental performance of IFCO’s SmartCycle closed-loop reuse model.
Continuous Improvement
Canalejo said the latest certification process was the most demanding IFCO has completed so far. “The latest recertification process was the most demanding to date,” he said.
“Much like IFCO, C2C Certified is about continuous improvement. It’s constantly following science and legislation. The program is always pushing for true sustainability and circularity that works in practice across the board—not just on paper. That mission resonates with us. We’re proud of our certification, and we also see it as a challenge to keep improving our portfolio of reusable packaging and upgrading our services.”
Unlike certifications that focus primarily on whether products can be recycled at the end of their useful lives, the Cradle to Cradle Certified Products Program evaluates products across five categories: Material Health, Product Circularity, Clean Air and Climate Protection, Water and Soil Stewardship, and Social Fairness.
For reusable transport packaging, the program places particular emphasis on designing products for repeated use, repair and eventual recycling while minimizing impacts throughout their lifecycle.
IFCO said its European Lift Lock RPCs are designed to remain in service for up to 120 trips before being recycled into new reusable containers within the company’s closed-loop SmartCycle system.
Developed by architect William McDonough and chemist Michael Braungart, the Cradle to Cradle framework promotes product designs that eliminate waste by keeping materials in continuous use rather than following a traditional linear “take-make-dispose” model.
Rick LeBlanc, EMBA, is the founder and editor of Reusable Packaging News (subscribe to the free newsletter) and editor of Western Pallet Magazine. A supply chain journalist with more than 30 years of experience, he specializes in pallets, reusable packaging, material handling and related operations. Rick is co-author of Pallets: A North American Perspective and Pallets & Progress: A Collected History of Pallets and Palletized Handling 1922–1945. He is also an advisory board member of the Virginia Tech Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design. Read Rick’s full bio.
