Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. announced a strategic partnership with Arena Packaging, a leading packaging, design, and pooling company in North America, to introduce Reusable Plastic Containers (RPCs) for bananas. The groundbreaking invention aims to transform industry standards for the leading fruit in fresh produce while significantly reducing food waste, carbon emissions, operational costs and preserving the fruit's health.

With the introduction of RPCs, banana shipments now enjoy improved airflow and extended shelf life. RPCs are reusable and trackable, with a remarkable life cycle of up to 15 years. Each container will be reused approximately five times a year, and if damaged, individual parts can be collected, replaced, and repurposed. 

For 60+ years, bananas have traditionally been shipped in single-use cardboard boxes, typically holding up to 40 pounds per box. These boxes are then transported to grocery stores, where bananas are air-stacked in the back room, a labour-intensive manual process that takes 20 to 40 minutes to complete. Although cardboard is widely recyclable, developing options where packaging is reused is a first step in fighting climate change. Implementing the Banana RPC has also resulted in a healthier-looking fruit on the shelf, with less handling throughout the supply chain.