An Italian vegetable producer has cut transport emissions and boosted efficiency after overhauling its logistics with reusable crates designed to move more product using fewer journeys.
Fiordelisi, a specialist in sun-dried and semi-dried vegetables based in southern Italy, has partnered with reusable packaging firm Tosca to improve storage and transport across its multi-site operation.
The company, which manages its entire value chain from cultivation through to processing, supplies major retailers and manufacturers across Italy and Europe. Sustainability is central to its long-term strategy, with ongoing efforts to reduce environmental impact while maintaining quality and cost control.
Fiordelisi had previously relied on traditional stackable plastic crates to move products between sites and for outbound transport. While functional, these crates took up significant space when empty and limited the amount of finished product that could be loaded onto each vehicle.
With large seasonal volumes of sun-dried tomatoes, those constraints directly affected efficiency, transport costs and emissions.
After reviewing alternatives, Fiordelisi introduced Tosca’s reusable Active Lock Crates across its logistics network. The folding crates are designed to withstand demanding food processing environments while collapsing flat when empty.
This has significantly reduced the space needed to store and transport empty crates, while the rigid structure and locking system help keep products stable during transit, reducing damage and losses.
The reusable model also supports a circular approach to packaging, cutting reliance on single-use materials and helping businesses prepare for evolving sustainability and regulatory requirements.
Marco Mangano, sales manager for retail at Tosca, said: “Our reusable packaging and pooling model is designed to reduce waste, cut emissions, and improve performance in real-world operations.”
Since making the switch, Fiordelisi has recorded clear operational gains. The foldable design allows the business to store five times more empty crates in the same space, freeing up warehouse capacity and reducing handling.
Transport efficiency has also increased sharply. Fiordelisi can now load 560 additional filled crates per truck compared with its previous solution, equating to more than one extra tonne of sun-dried tomatoes per shipment.
Antonio Fiordelisi, general manager at Fiordelisi, said: “Being able to send over a tonne more product on the same truck makes our transport both more efficient and more sustainable.”
He added: “We reduce the number of trips and the emissions linked to them.”
Gianpaolo Mezzanotte, managing director for southern Europe at Tosca, said the benefits of reusable packaging were clear. “When you can transport more product in the same space, you spend less, generate less waste, and emit less CO₂.”
Fiordelisi said efficiency and sustainability will remain priorities and described Tosca as a long-term partner. The company said the packaging solutions were reliable, efficient and offered a strong cost-to-quality ratio.
Mr Mezzanotte said Tosca was proud to support businesses focused on improving both performance and sustainability, adding that reusable solutions can deliver operational, economic and environmental value across food supply chains.