Munich, Germany, September 20, 2022: IFCO, the world’s leading provider of Reusable Packaging Containers (RPCs) for fresh grocery products, has been highly ranked in ESG and circular economy ratings from Sustainalytics and Circulytics, two prestigious assessments that independently verify sustainability and circular economy commitments and progress. The scores confirm the effectiveness of IFCO’s ESG strategy, its commitment to doing business responsibly, and demonstrates those values are at the heart of the company’s reduce, reuse, and recycle business model.
IFCO received an overall Sustainalytics ESG low-risk rating with a score of 11.2. This score positions IFCO in the top 16% of all global companies rated by Morningstar’s Sustainalytics, a leading ESG rating platform.
The 11.2 rating from Morningstar Sustainalytics placed IFCO in the top three companies evaluated in its subindustry category globally. This placement confirms IFCO’s overall management of material ESG issues is strong and carries low exposure and risk when compared to similar companies. Moreover, IFCO earned a "negligible risk" rating in seven out of eight categories measured further confirming IFCO as a credible partner to those committed to sustainability.
Sustainalytics’ ESG Risk Ratings measure a company’s exposure to industry-specific material ESG risks and how well a company is managing those risks. It has the most comprehensive and sophisticated ESG methodology and works with thousands of companies and their financial intermediaries to help them consider sustainability policies, practices and capital projects.
IFCO also received an A- score from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s circularity assessment tool , Circulytics. IFCO earned an A score in the Circulytics Enabler category and a B in the Outcomes category. Enabler factors include company strategies, people, systems, processes, innovation, and external engagement, which enable circular outcomes. The Outcomes factors provide a snapshot of how circular a company is in terms of material flows, product design, energy use, and more.
Circulytics was launched in January of 2020 and is one of the most comprehensive tools for evaluating and measuring circular economy performance. A circular economy is based on three principles: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials, and regenerate nature.
Under the next phase of its ESG strategy, IFCO will launch a series of external and internal initiatives, including, engagement with policymakers to incentivize reusable packaging; the development of circular procurement criteria; strengthening policies for reusable assets; and faster progress on renewable energy.
"These ratings clearly and accurately represent our forward momentum when it comes to IFCO’s ESG commitments," said Michael Pooley, Chief Executive Officer of IFCO Systems. "They are a strong signal to our customers, associates and stakeholders that we share their values and are making significant progress toward those values. However, IFCO will never become complacent about its sustainability and ESG successes because there is much more work to be done."
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