Reusable transport packaging is becoming a more central part of fresh produce logistics, and Italian fresh-cut supplier Almeda offers a clear example of how this model can be embedded from the start. Operating in a segment where speed, hygiene and consistency are critical, the company has structured its logistics around a managed pool of reusable plastic crates rather than relying on disposable packaging formats. The decision reflects a wider shift in the food packaging sector, where operational efficiency and sustainability are increasingly being treated as two sides of the same strategy.

In fresh-cut produce, packaging is closely tied to product quality. Short shelf life, strict handling requirements and fast distribution cycles leave very little room for disruption. For that reason, Almeda chose to build its supply chain using a reusable crate pooling system managed by Tosca, covering production, storage and distribution. Under this model, packaging assets are supplied, collected, cleaned and reissued within a continuous circulation system, allowing the company to maintain hygiene compliance while reducing dependence on one-way materials.

The operational advantage is significant. By standardising crate flows and removing the need to procure and dispose of single-use transport packaging, Almeda can reduce variability in packaging availability and simplify day-to-day logistics. That is especially important in fresh food operations, where packaging shortages or inconsistent formats can quickly affect throughput, handling and delivery reliability. Instead of treating sustainability as a separate initiative, the company has integrated it directly into routine logistics processes, creating a system where reuse supports both resilience and performance.

According to Almeda, the service component is also central to the model. The pooling system allows the producer to focus on its core business while packaging circulation is managed externally, including sanitation and rotation. This turns transport packaging into a managed service rather than a recurring operational burden. In a sector where margins are under pressure and labour efficiency matters, that kind of predictability can be a decisive advantage.

The approach also aligns with the direction of European regulation. The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is increasing pressure on companies to reduce waste and adopt packaging systems that are more resource-efficient. Reusable formats are expected to play an important role in helping food supply chains meet these new expectations, particularly in closed or semi-closed logistics loops where packaging can be recovered efficiently. In that sense, Almeda’s model is not only a practical logistics choice, but also a form of early preparedness for a regulatory environment that is becoming more demanding.

By designing logistics around reusable packaging from the outset, Almeda shows that efficiency, hygiene control and sustainability can be built into the same operating model rather than treated as competing priorities.

For the wider packaging industry, the case is relevant because it highlights how reuse is moving from theory to daily execution. In fresh produce, where transport packaging often remains overlooked compared with consumer-facing formats, managed pooling systems can deliver measurable gains in consistency, waste reduction and supply chain control. As lead times shorten and assortments expand, solutions that reduce friction in handling and improve packaging availability are likely to become more attractive across the sector.

Almeda’s logistics strategy suggests that the future of food packaging will depend not only on new materials, but also on smarter systems for circulation, recovery and reuse. For companies navigating tighter regulations and more complex supply chains, reusable transport packaging is increasingly becoming a strategic infrastructure choice rather than a sustainability add-on.