Companies 2025

CPR System Project 2025: Comparative Environmental Analysis of Reusable Crates for the Ho.Re.Ca. Sector

As part of an industrial project, the Food Supply Chain Center supported a company in the fruit and vegetable sector and its catering clients in identifying the most effective product–packaging configurations for distribution.

The first step was to conduct field studies and data collection, examining the crate configurations currently in use and carrying out filling tests with alternative solutions provided by the company.

Once the filling data had been collected, they were integrated with logistics flow information, including product volumes, destinations, passages through distribution centers, and the combination of different items in purchase orders. This approach made it possible to reconstruct the entire journey, from the field to the final customer, through the intermediate nodes of the supply chain.

On this data basis, the environmental efficiency of distribution was assessed across the different crate scenarios. The analysis focused in detail on how loading units were assembled, the quantity of product transported per unit, and the vehicle utilization efficiency.

The outcome was a comparative evaluation of the overall environmental impact, which identified the most sustainable and functional packaging configuration, delivering concrete benefits both for the company and for the entire catering supply chain.