In today’s interconnected world, supply chains serve as the crucial backbone for delivering food, transitioning seamlessly from farm to table. Companies face mounting pressure to implement compliant, food safety-fit solutions that enhance efficiency, minimize waste, and promote sustainability. Tosca, a thought leader in 100% reusable and recyclable plastic packaging and pooling solutions, is pivotal in transforming the modern food and drink packaging landscape. By focusing on smarter logistics, Tosca helps to ensure that every meal not only reaches consumers but does so sustainably. Tosca’s solutions engage every segment of the supply chain—from producers to processors to distributors and retailers—supporting safer handling, reducing waste, and assisting businesses in meeting escalating demands for performance and accountability. In the contemporary food supply chain, optimal packaging choices are becoming increasingly essential.
“Tosca’s mission is to eliminate waste and unlock hidden value across the supply chain,” says Jurgen Van Roy, Vice President of Supply Chain. “From reducing packaging waste to increasing the durability and safety of assets, our model enables businesses to operate more sustainably while enhancing their operational performance.”
Safer, cleaner, smarter: packaging that preserves food integrity
Today’s consumers are increasingly mindful not just of what they eat, but how it arrives at their tables. Transparency, traceability, and sustainability have shifted from optional to essential.
Tosca’s technology-driven solutions promote these goals by enabling comprehensive traceability and minimizing food waste through stable, hygienic load carriers. Marco Gonzalez, Managing Director of Central Europe Downstream, emphasizes: “Customers want to know that their food is safe and sustainably sourced. Our reusable plastic pallets and crates are not only more durable and hygienic, but also designed to prevent damage and contamination. That’s critical for preserving food safety and quality.”
By assisting retailers in eliminating food waste resulting from damaged packaging or spoilage, Tosca significantly contributes to meeting ESG targets and bolstering consumer trust. From meat to dairy to packaged goods, Tosca offers customizable solutions tailored to the unique needs and handling requirements of diverse products.
Driving efficiency from the ground up
Food supply chains are intricate, traversing vast distances and involving numerous stakeholders. At each link, Tosca’s packaging solutions provide a standardised yet flexible infrastructure, enabling retailers and producers to scale their operations without compromising quality.
One of Tosca’s clear advantages lies in its logistics impact. By utilizing foldable, stackable, standardized assets, customers can significantly reduce transportation costs and optimize truck space. Notably, Tosca’s pooling system curtails “empty miles”—trips where trucks return with unused capacity.
Vincent Nagels, Managing Director of Upstream, cites a real-world example: “We had a customer in Denmark sending pallets to Spain, and instead of returning those pallets empty, we now collect them locally and deliver them to another customer in Spain. This simple switch has led to a huge reduction in carbon emissions and transport costs.”
Moreover, Tosca’s customers benefit from enhanced asset visibility and inventory control. In regions like Central Europe, where Tosca’s RFID and IoT technologies are implemented, customers receive real-time tracking information that improves pool transparency and reduces the need for buffer stock, ultimately lowering working capital requirements. This fosters greater predictability, fewer surprises, and facilitates strategic planning. From passive RFID tracking to active IoT monitoring, Tosca’s asset tracking capabilities are designed to evolve in alignment with customer demands. The company remains committed to investing in these technologies as part of its broader agenda for smarter, more responsive supply chains.
Sustainability through circularity: Tosca’s closed-loop strategy
While reusable packaging is naturally sustainable, Tosca elevates this by integrating circular economy principles throughout its operations. Rather than relying on single-use packaging that contributes to landfill waste and depletes resources, Tosca produces plastic-based assets engineered for longevity. When they reach the end of their utility, these assets are recycled and reintroduced into the ecosystem.
“Our entire model is circular,” asserts Jurgen Van Roy. “We collect assets, inspect them, repair if needed, and clean them thoroughly with food-approved detergents. If an asset is beyond repair, it’s recycled and reinstated into the system. No plastic is wasted, and the loop is fully closed.”
This closed-loop strategy yields considerable environmental benefits. Tosca’s pooling model minimizes packaging waste, reduces carbon emissions, and aids customers in complying with evolving regulations across Europe, such as the upcoming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
A comprehensive solution throughout the supply chain
What distinguishes Tosca is its capacity to apply this circular approach across the entirety of the supply chain. It offers a complete, reusable packaging solution—from producer to retailer—that delivers operational efficiency and environmental benefits.
As Vincent Nagels explains, Tosca is vertically integrated, allowing it to manage all value contributors throughout the supply chain. “We are uniquely able to combine our upstream and downstream products to create powerful, effective returnable packaging for our customers, ranging from small-medium companies to some of the largest European FMCGs and retailers.”
Continuous innovation
Innovation is intrinsic to Tosca’s ethos. With a dedicated team focused on product design, material science, and digital technologies, the company persistently pushes the boundaries of reusable packaging.
“We’re not just reacting to change; we’re anticipating it,” states Jurgen Van Roy. “Our innovation team explores how to enhance the strength and durability of assets, make materials more sustainable, and integrate technology like tracking to develop smarter, more responsive systems.”
Furthermore, automation is an area where Tosca proactively addresses evolving needs. As warehouses become more automated, the consistency and reliability of plastic pallets are paramount. Marco Gonzalez adds, “Plastic load carriers are much more suitable because they maintain their shape, weight, and integrity across multiple uses, which is essential for reliable machine and AI handling.”
A trusted partner in transformation
Tosca’s value extends beyond mere products. At its core, the company functions as a strategic partner, closely collaborating with clients to assess their needs, identify opportunities for efficiency, and deploy long-term solutions. This collaborative approach differentiates Tosca in a competitive landscape.
“Customers approach us because they see us as experts in reusable plastic packaging. They come to us for our insights. Whether it’s reducing costs, increasing food safety, or adapting to new legislation, we work hand-in-hand to find the best way forward,” explains Vincent Nagels.
Laurent Le Mercier, EMEA President, concludes: “We value long-term relationships with everyone in the supply chain—from carriers and retailers to third-party wash centers and recyclers. It’s only through close partnerships that we can continuously improve and evolve together.”
As challenges within the global food and drink packaging supply chain intensify, Tosca’s reusable packaging solutions become increasingly vital and transformative.
For additional information about Tosca, visit www.toscaltd.com.