returnable plastic containers

Returnable Plastic Containers Make Organic Farming More Sustainable

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Returnable plastic containers are at the heart of the supply chain in many industries. But there is one specific application where the benefits of reusable packaging are even more obvious: organic farming. This increasingly popular industry works on several principles: responsible use of the soil, healthy, preservative-free food and sustainable operations.

Professional packaging producers like Logistic Packaging ensure that organic produce farms and individual growers can stay true to their commitment of running a sustainable business. Over the years, our consultants have shared our know-how with farmers and agribusinesses focused on organic produce, and they are now reaping the benefits of using returnable plastic containers.

What Are the Benefits of Returnable Plastic Containers for Organic Farms?

First of all, using modern packaging materials offers more benefits, beyond sustainability. We develop products that suit the specific needs of each important industry. For agriculture and the food industry, we create returnable plastic containers that:

  • Are made from food grade raw materials
  • Are easy to clean and sanitize
  • Offer optimal protection to the products stored inside them
  • Are easy to handle by employees and automated equipment.

For agribusinesses, our range of products features different types of crates and containers, adequate for all packaging needs:

Here are just a few benefits of using returnable plastic containers for agriculture:

1. Extended Shelf Life

Plastic containers for fresh produce help maximize their shelf life by ensuring that they are properly ventilated and that moisture drains quickly through the perforations in the sides and base.

2. No Markings on Delicate Fruit and Vegetables

Tomatoes, apricots, grapes and other delicate farm products can easily get bruised and damaged by inadequate packaging. Returnable plastic containers for fruit and vegetables have smooth inner walls, protecting the products from damage.

3. Reduced Handling and Operational Costs

Rigid plastic containers can be used onsite for collecting the harvest and then shipped to a central warehouse. There is no need to move harvested fruit and vegetables from a crate to a container resulting in:

  • Reduced labor costs
  • Freshly harvested produce is sent to the warehouse faster
  • Reduced damage and product loss due to extra handling.

What about Sustainability?

Let us now focus on the main topic – how returnable plastic container help organic farms be more sustainable. There are several aspects worth taking into consideration:

Returnable Plastic Packaging Is Recyclable

Many single-use packaging materials made of wood or cardboard end up in the landfill. They are quite cheap to purchase and nobody bothers paying to have them recycled. Although they are biodegradable, not recycling these materials represents an unsustainable use of natural resources.

Plastic packaging materials are also recyclable, but not biodegradable. Due to this fact, and the investment in them, companies choose to recycle old plastic containers. They are used to make new containers, creating a sustainable life cycle for these returnable plastic containers.

Plastic Packaging Uses Less Resources to Produce and Maintain

Although it appears hard to believe, making and caring for reusable plastic containers is more sustainable than producing single-use packaging made of cellulose (wood or cardboard). During its entire lifespan, a plastic container uses up 80% less water and 64% less energy than a single-use box or crate.

Plastic Packaging Helps Companies Reduce their CO2 Footprint

Apart from water and energy, the manufacturing of any packaging material generates CO2. All human manufacturing processes do so. However, using returnable plastic containers helps organic farms and other environmentally conscious businesses reduce their carbon footprint.

These plastic packaging materials are designed for long term use – up to 5 years and over 100 use cycles. This means that one plastic container replaces more than 100 cardboard crates, reducing the need to create these single-use packaging materials and the emissions this process generates.

The team of packaging experts at Logistic Packaging is ready to help all organic agribusinesses and independent growers find reliable and sustainable packaging materials for their products. Send us an email and start discussing your project with one of our specialists!