IFCO Launches Marina, Digitally Enabled Reusable Fish Crate
IFCO, a leading provider of reusable packaging containers, has launched Marina, the smart reusable IFCO Fish Crate. Designed in close collaboration with the fishing industry, Marina brings greater protection, efficiency and sustainability to the fresh fish and seafood supply chain. Featuring track-and-trace Bluetooth Low Energy tags and QR codes, the Marina Fish Crate enables real-time data collection, improving the cold chain management of fresh and chilled products along the entire fish and seafood supply chain, from ship to all points of sale.
Single-use expanded polystyrene boxes can break down into microplastic pollution and contaminate the marine food chain and human health, so governments around the world are increasingly tightening regulations and introducing EPS bans. As a result, many producers, wholesalers and retailers in the fishing industry have made eliminating EPS boxes and switching to sustainable packaging a priority. The IFCO SmartCycle pooling system ensures the switch to Marina is simple, seamless and sustainable.
Nestable when empty, securely stackable when full, the Marina Fish Crate saves space on ships and on shore, cutting carbon emissions in transport and improving handling conditions. Its uniform dimensions are compatible with existing supply chains, automated logistics systems and the IFCO Plastic Pallet Dora.
Francesca Amadei, vice President Southern Europe at IFCO, highlights the unique advantages of the Marina Fish Crate: “Marina is the result of intense collaboration across the fishing industry. We’ve taken on board the unique demands of every step of the fresh fish and seafood supply chain in our R&D efforts.”
The Marina Fish Crate offers a sustainable and efficient complete packaging solution. Like all IFCO Reusable Packaging Containers (RPCs) Marina uses fewer natural resources throughout its life cycle compared to single-use packaging. And, unlike conventional fish boxes made from expanded polystyrene (EPS) that are typically sent to landfills or end up as marine pollution, Marina is 100% recycled at the end of a long service life into new products.
Inigo Canalejo, vice president ESG and strategic marketing at IFCO, highlights the long-term benefits of Marina for the fishing industry and the planet:
“We see it as our responsibility to improve the environmental sustainability of every category of the fresh grocery supply chain. Our Marina Fish Crate is a smart, innovative packaging solution that will have a lasting positive impact on the fresh fish and seafood supply chain. We’re proud to have designed a sustainable and more efficient alternative to harmful expanded polystyrene containers.”
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