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Driscoll Strawberry Associates Pursues Environmental Impact Benefits from CHEP Pallet Pool Program

May 03, 2011 10:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time

WATSONVILLE, Calif.–(EON: Enhanced Online News)–Driscoll Strawberry Associates, the world’s leading producer of fresh berries, is further advancing its environmental initiatives through a unique partnership with CHEP, an industry leader in pallet and container pooling solutions.

Driscoll’s relies on CHEP pallets to transport its organic and conventional strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and specialty berries from the farms along the east coast, west coast and Mexico to supermarkets, club stores, wholesalers and foodservice distributors throughout North America.

Driscoll’s Vice President of Operations, Emmett Linder, said environmental sustainability is a key benefit of using the CHEP pallet pooling program.

“Along with product quality, food safety, and superior customer service, environmental sustainability is an important area of focus for Driscoll’s,” said Linder. “We view the CHEP program as a key element to achieving our long term sustainability program goals. Through our partnership with CHEP, Driscoll’s is projected to reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 146 tons per year.”

Linder added that the CHEP program represents another significant environmental benefit. Based on a third-party life-cycle inventory analysis, the CHEP pooling system is expected to allow Driscoll’s to reduce solid waste generation by more than 387,000 pounds, decrease greenhouse gas emissions by about 292,000 pounds, and achieve electricity savings that would power 216 homes per year.*

“Like the rest of the industry, we are continuing to learn what it means to operate more sustainably. Collaborations such as our CHEP partnership allow us to leverage our business partner’s expertise in a way that makes us more effective and viable over the long-term,” says Linder.

Driscoll’s has been working with CHEP for over 10 years pursuing projects focused on process improvements, in addition to its recent sustainability initiatives.

CHEP USA Vice President of Sales & Business Development Dan Walsh said: “Driscoll Strawberry Associates has long been a leading innovator in the area of berry research and development, and Driscoll’s has taken that passion and applied it to improving the environment. CHEP is honored to work with such an outstanding company and is committed to broadening the sustainability benefits we provide our customers.”

*Savings based on Life-Cycle Inventory Analysis of CHEP USA pallet pooling program conducted by Franklin Associates. The calculation is based on Franklin Associates, “Solid Waste Analysis And Life Cycle Inventory Of Pallet Systems”, 2009 Update.

About Driscoll Strawberry Associates, Inc.,

Driscoll’s is the world’s largest distributor of fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. It is a fourth-generation, family owned and operated company and uses only natural breeding methods to create plant varieties to produce ONLY THE FINEST BERRIES™. Their mission is to continually delight berry consumers. Driscoll’s conventional and organic strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are grown by independent farmers around the globe and are available year ‘round. More information can be found at www.driscolls.com.

About CHEP

CHEP is a global leader in managed, returnable and reusable packaging solutions, serving many of the world’s largest companies in sectors such as consumer goods, fresh produce, beverage and automotive. CHEP’s service is environmentally sustainable and increases efficiency for customers while reducing operating risk and product damage. CHEP’s 7,500-plus employees and 300 million pallets and containers offer unbeatable coverage and exceptional value, supporting more than 500,000 customer touch-points in 45 countries. Our customer portfolio includes global companies and brands such as Procter & Gamble, Sysco, Kellogg’s, Kraft, Nestlé, Ford and GM. CHEP is part of Brambles Limited. For more information, visit www.chep.com.

Contacts

Driscoll Strawberry Associates
Douglas Ronan, Vice President, Marketing
1-866-793-7048
douglas.ronan@driscolls.com
or
CHEP
Derek Hannum, Director of Marketing
+1 407-226-4293
derek.hannum@chep.com

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