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Wakefern adopts reusable plastic containers for fresh produce

Partnerships with RPC manufacturers to help reduce food and plastic waste

Russell Redman

August 13, 2021

2 Min Read
IFCO_reusable_plastic_containers-RPCs-produce.jpg
Wakefern has partnered with IFCO Systems (above), Tosca and other RPC makers to improve the quality and sustainability of fresh fruit and vegetables.IFCO Systems

Wakefern Food Corp. aims to cut food and plastic waste in store produce departments through the use of reusable plastic containers (RPCs).

The Keasbey, N.J.-based grocery retail cooperative, whose supermarket banners include ShopRite, said Thursday that it has partnered with IFCO Systems, Tosca and other companies that specialize in RPCs to improve the quality and sustainability of fresh fruit and vegetables as well as lower costs for shoppers.  

RPCs provide more effective product protection and temperature control, in turn maximizing supply chain efficiency, according to Wakefern. The containers’ highly ventilated, foldable and sturdy designs bring improved freshness and save time, space and money for shippers. And in warehouses, RPCs offer better storage and handling of produce via efficient stacking and integration with automated processes, resulting in less potential food loss and waste versus conventional single-use packaging, the company noted.

Compared with single-use packaging, RPCs generate less carbon dioxide and solid waste and require less energy and less water to manufacture, Wakefern reported. Citing data from the Plastics Industry Association, the cooperative said RPCs and recycled plastic products use 66% less energy than comparable items made with raw plastic material.

Related:Price Rite kicks off pilot of Flashfood food waste reduction app

“Adopting reusable RPCs is a win for our customers, our suppliers, the environment and Wakefern,” Robert Zuehlke, manager of corporate social responsibility at Wakefern, said in a statement. “Wakefern is focused on engaging vendors whose products help drive a more sustainable future by reducing the environmental impacts of packaging, food waste and greenhouse gas emissions.”

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Compared with single-use packaging, RPCs like Tosca's provide more effective produce protection and temperature control, Wakefern said.

 

The use of RPCs dovetails with current waste reduction and sustainability initiatives at Wakefern and its retail stores. Wakefern’s recycling center has processed more than 2.6 million tons of material since opening in the late 1970s, and in 2020 the cooperative’s stores recycled 128,648 tons of waxed and corrugated cardboard, 421 tons of newspaper, 132 tons of office paper and 38 tons of metal. ShopRite also composted over 8,200 tons of food waste at stores.

On the consumer side, late last year ShopRite rolled out own-brand products with a special How2Recycle label developed by the Sustainable Packaging Coalition. The label informs customers how to properly dispose of all product packaging parts and components. Items bearing the How2Recycle include Paperbird paper goods and home cleaning products and Bowl & Basket food and dairy products.

Related:CVS, Target, Walmart stores to test plastic shopping bag alternatives

The nation’s largest retailer-owned cooperative, Wakefern has a network of 362 supermarkets in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island under the ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Dearborn Market, Gourmet Garage and Fairway Market banners. ShopRite’s nearly 280 stores are located in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland.

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About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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