Returnable transit packaging - RTP - is getting smart. Schoeller Allibert has developed a range of efficient, hygienic and cost-effective RTP solutions that have been designed not only to withstand the harsh conditions - from blast freezing and steam cooking to industrial cleaning - to which this type of packaging is subject, but also to collect data on its whereabouts and well-being.
These RTP solutions have been provided with a built-in sensor enabling them to be tracked and traced and to generate data about the RTP’s temperature, fill and battery level.
Called Smartlink, the company describes the system as ‘thinking inside the box’. The products come in standardised sizes and are all certified for food contact and compliant with current EU and international food safety standards. Rather than purchasing the packaging, companies rent the solution they need, providing the flexibility to scale up or down as needed.
Aware that digitalisation is a hurdle for many companies Schoeller Allibert also provides services with its RTP packaging to help companies track and connect with their Smartlink assets, access the data they produce and act accordingly.
The RTP produced by Schoeller Allibert for the food industry is moreover made from durable plastics that is recyclable at the end of life. Via processes approved by the European Food Safety Authority in 2014, old RTP can be recycled into new RTP, creating a 100% sustainable packaging cycle. It’s a closed loop that supports Schoeller Allibert’s ambition to work towards a fully circular economy. The accredited process covers both food-grade HDPE and PP crates. This reduces both the packaging cost and the carbon footprint of the RTP users.