Edoardo Leone, Owner and CEO, Almeda.
Reusable crates integrated across the entire operation
Today, Almeda uses Tosca’ s 6419 reusable plastic crates within a pooling model across its full logistics cycle, from production and storage through to distribution and retail delivery. Engineered for highperformance supply chains, this crate combines durability, hygienic design and precise dimensional consistency to ensure consistently reliable handling- reducing damage, delays and product loss. Panels fold easily without pressure, while the Active Lock feature secures the RPC firmly once assembled.
Asset availability, collection and rotation are managed entirely by Tosca within its pooling system. Each plastic crate is washed to rigorous standards before reissue, ensuring consistent cleanliness and compliance across every cycle. For Almeda, this means packaging is never a variable to be managed around; it is a controlled, predictable part of operations. The complexity and cost typically associated with sourcing, storing and disposing of single-use materials simply do not exist.
As Marco Mangano, Sales Manager-Retail, Tosca explains:“ By integrating reusable packaging into a managed pooling system, we remove friction from our customers’ operations. The result is greater efficiency, consistent product flow, and a more reliable supply chain that supports both performance and growth.”
Efficiency and sustainability, built into the same system
The operational benefits of the model are felt across the business. Packaging flows are consistent and predictable, with a system designed around reuse from the outset. Without the logistical friction typically associated with singleuse materials- such as fluctuating availability, waste handling, and disposal costs- operations remain streamlined and reliable. For a business handling highly perishable products under tight retail deadlines, that reliability is not a convenience. It is a competitive necessity.
On sustainability, the impact is practical rather than aspirational. The reusable crate cycle directly reduces material consumption and packaging waste – not as a side effect, but as a structural feature of the model. For Almeda, this means sustainability is not a reporting exercise or a separate programme. It is embedded in how the supply chain functions every day.
With the PPWR set to impose stricter obligations on packaging across the EU, that embedded circularity is also becoming a competitive and compliance advantage.“ Almeda’ s approach offers a compelling model for the sector. By committing to reusable packaging from the outset, they have embedded both efficiency and sustainability into a single operating model. This is the value of a true partnership with Tosca- not just supplying packaging, but actively supporting customers to optimise performance, reduce complexity, and scale with confidence over the
long term,” explained Gianpaolo Mezzanotte, Managing Director-Italy, France, Spain, Tosca.
A partnership built to last
The fresh-cut sector will continue to evolve, with more SKUs, faster replenishment cycles, and tighter sustainability obligations. Almeda’ s approach positions it well for that future. The partnership with Tosca is not a packaging contract. It is a shared operational commitment, built on a foundation of service quality and mutual trust, that Almeda describes in three words: reliable, collaborative, and efficient.
For other operators in the fresh-cut and ready-to-eat sector still weighing the transition to reusable packaging, the Almeda story offers a clear lesson: the earlier the commitment to reusable packaging, the greater the operational and environmental return.
About Tosca
Tosca is a global leader in reusable plastic packaging and performance pooling solutions. Committed to driving sustainability and innovation across industries, Tosca focuses on supplying innovative packaging solutions for a wide variety of sectors.
Tosca’ s end-to-end pooling capabilities offer a smart and sustainable solution for growers, suppliers, and retailers. By utilising reusable plastic containers and pallets, Tosca not only reduces costs but also enhances supply chain performance.
For further information about TOSCA, visit www. toscaltd. com
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