The holidays are full of packed tables, spontaneous grocery runs, and menus that seem to change faster than the weather, but one thing is always on the wish list: fresh, high-quality food on store shelves. Even at peak season, when supply chains are working overtime, shoppers expect abundant displays and dependable availability, putting extra weight on perishables to move quickly and reliably from farm to retail.
Global pressures add urgency: concerns about affordability, strained logistics networks, and increasing expectations for waste reduction place stress on an already demanding period. Traditional single-use packaging increases the strain by introducing unnecessary waste. Reusable systems, however, keep products circulating at their highest value, offering the durability, consistency, and protection needed for peak-season performance.
Protecting Freshness at the Source
Holiday demand compresses timelines for growers and packers, making product freshness a priority from the moment foods are harvested. Packaging must support that objective, even as volumes rise.
Reusable plastic containers (RPC) are designed with ventilation, strength, and uniformity. This helps extend the life of perishables during early handling and transport. An IFCO study shows that RPCs extend the shelf life of fresh produce by up to four days compared to disposable packaging, helping maintain product quality from farm to retail.”
This preservation benefit becomes even more valuable during the most demanding shipping window of the year, when extended freshness directly supports both sustainability objectives and commercial performance.
Stabilizing Distribution in Peak Season
As perishables move into distribution centers, the need for speed and accuracy grows. High throughput and rapid replenishment cycles can lead to bottlenecks, particularly when inconsistent packaging requires additional sorting or manual adjustments.
Reusable pallets and containers offer uniformity that supports efficient automation, reduces handling time, and improves flow through cross-docking environments. CHEP notes “that pallets, a shared asset across manufacturers, distributors and retailers, are a natural place to start. Standardizing on a consistent, high-performing platform – such as pooled block pallets – simplifies handling, reduces damage and creates efficiencies that extend through the entire supply chain.”
This stability is essential during the holiday season, helping distributors maintain smooth operations while ensuring retailers receive their products on time.
Preserving Quality at Retail
Once perishables reach retail, packaging continues to influence product quality, presentation, and overall shopper experience. Holiday shoppers expect full displays and consistent freshness, even as store traffic intensifies and turnover accelerates.
Durable, standardized reusable packaging provides the structural strength needed to maintain product integrity through back-room handling and stocking. Tosca notes in their 2023 ESG Report, “reusables are created to be stackable and display-ready, reducing product damage during transportation and storage, all the way from farm, to processor, to retail shelves.”
For retailers, this translates to reduced shrinkage, higher sell-through, and better availability during peak demand.
Circular Systems Built for Seasonal Pressure
Beyond immediate performance benefits, RTP aligns with the long-term shift toward a circular economy, one that designs materials for longevity, keeps them in continuous rotation, and maximizes resource recovery.
During the holiday season, these circular characteristics become particularly impactful:
- Assets cycle faster
- Waste is significantly reduced
- Dependence on virgin materials decreases
- Transportation efficiency improves
- Environmental impact declines even as volume increases
Reusable packaging delivers durability, consistency, and recoverability, qualities that support resilience when supply chains operate under stress.
Conclusion
The best packaging for perishables during the holiday season is packaging that performs reliably under pressure while advancing sustainability goals. Reusable transport packaging extends product life, strengthens operational efficiency, and reduces waste, all while reinforcing the core principles of a circular economy.
With industry leaders underscoring its value, from preserving freshness to operational stability to protection under demanding conditions, RTP provides a smarter, more resilient foundation for holiday supply chains. From the farm to distribution centers and retail shelves, reusable packaging ensures perishables move with quality and consistency when it matters most. To learn more about the benefits and applications of reusable transport packaging, contact the Reusable Packaging Association.