Increasingly sustainable solutions inserted in the global fresh produce chain were the main agenda topics at the 2024 edition of FRUIT LOGISTICA BERLIN, held last week, in Germany’s capital. Having participated in the last six editions, which is the world’s most important event for the FLV (Fruits, Legumes and Vegetables) market, Termotécnica exhibited its FarmFresh packaging line in the Brazil Pavilion. The space is coordinated by Fruits of Brazil, an export promotion program run by ABRAFRUTAS – Brazilian Association of Exporters of Fruit and Derivatives -, with support from the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (APEXBrasil).
The sustainability attributes of FarmFresh EPS (better known as Styrofoam*) packaging are increasingly attracting the attention of new markets. Since it began supplying packaging for Brazilian fruit exports, Termotécnica has had a network of partners in countries such as the United Arab Emirates, France, England and Netherlands for recycling FarmFresh conservers.
On expanding its operations into international markets, Termotécnica created the portal RecycleEPS.com. The recycling portal contains information on what EPS is and how to dispose of it correctly, as well as showing, through an interactive map, where to find the nearest collection points located abroad. “We want to raise awareness about correct disposal and recycling of this material for other markets. Together with partner recyclers in other countries, we can expand the reverse logistics and EPS recycling process, actually putting the circular economy into practice”, affirms Albano Schmidt, president of Termotécnica, one of Latin America’s largest EPS processing companies, pioneer and biggest recycler of this post-consumer material in Brazil.
Developing new products to meet potential customers’ demands and strengthening strategic partnerships were also important for Termotécnica at FRUIT LOGÍSTICA. “By extending shelf-life, maintaining a stable temperature and being very light, our packaging also contributes to sustainability aspects such as reducing losses and waste in the distribution chain in addition to lowering CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, as well as being 100 % recyclable”, states Managing Director of Termotécnica, Nivaldo Fernandes de Oliveira. The executive has just joined the Board of IFPA Brazil (International Fresh Produce Association), an entity that integrates the chain of producers and distributors of flowers and fresh products in several countries.
FarmFresh follows upward trends with increasing fruit exports
ABRAFRUTAS released figures that demonstrate the significant advance in fruit exports in 2023, surpassing the 1.2-billion-dollar revenue benchmark, representing a 26.73% growth compared to the previous year. In terms of volume, the increase was 6%, equivalent to sending more than one million tons of fruit to the international market.
Matching this performance, Termotécnica has been consolidating its position as a supplier of packaging solutions for fruit exports to markets around the world. Approximately 1.65 million FarmFresh conservers have already been sold to transport 7 million kilos of fruit.
Mango and lime are among the most exported fruits using FarmFresh conserver solutions. Furthermore, the packaging is also used to send cargo of avocado, grape, pitaya, fig, papaya, guava, passion fruit, lychee, atemoya over long distances, to countries across Europe, such as France, Spain, England, Austria, as well as to the Middle East, Russia, China and Canada.
FarmFresh provides effective gains for fruit exports
Always seeking solutions to overcome logistical barriers, going further and maintaining the quality of packaged products longer, Termotécnica collaborates with producers and distributors of export-type fruits to maintain high standards of food safety, traceability and sustainability.
Focusing on the quality of export-type fruits, from the field to the consumer’s table, FarmFresh solutions have been a differentiator that adds great value throughout the chain. Nivaldo de Oliveira reinforces that “packaging is an important vehicle for positioning and communicating these benefits and added value. All the conservation technology and the design of our FarmFresh solutions enable our customers to communicate these quality differentials in Brazilian fruits to international markets.”
FarmFresh’s EPS packaging line offers effective gains and increased competitiveness for export businesses:
- Significant reduction of losses on long distance shipments.
- Temperature conservation, without breaking the cold chain, and less dehydration of fruits.
- Lower air-freight costs, with fewer kilos per pallet, generating savings in total freight costs.
- Valuing fruits at the point-of-sale, gaining market share.
In terms of sustainability, FarmFresh conserver boxes contribute on three fronts:
1) In post-consumer recycling, since EPS is a material that can be 100% recycled and transformed into raw material for other applications, such as vases, skirting boards and moldings.
2) Increase shelf-life of fresh products by up to 30%, which helps reduce losses and waste in the distribution and consumption chain, in-line with the SAVE FOOD Initiative from the FAO/UN, of which Termotécnica is a signatory.
3) Contribute towards lowering the carbon footprint, with the reduction of CO2 equivalent emissions in transport due to the solutions’ lighter weight, which reduces fuel consumption.
