Skip to content
In this article

Summary

As part of Tosca’s commitment to sustainability, this post is a part of an ongoing series that highlights our 2025 Sustainability Report.

This report reflects our mission to revolutionize the flow of goods through the supply chain, eliminating waste at every turn.

Water is a precious resource. At Tosca, we’re on a mission to make every drop count in our wash cycles while ensuring that our reusable plastic packaging meets Quality and Food Safety (QFS) standards. This is particularly important to prevent the spread of foodborne illnesses. We are proud that our rigorous attention to detail when washing our reusable assets significantly supports our customers in their aim of preventing the transmission of food-related diseases.

“Water is fundamental to our process. At Tosca, we take our responsibility to manage this vital resource seriously — supporting our sustainability goals while helping customers achieve theirs.”

— Shayne Murphy, U.S. VP of Operations, Tosca

Water Efficiency

When our reusable plastic crates (RPCs), pallets, display bins and bulk containers arrive at a Tosca wash facility, they go through a set of processes designed to uphold our rigorous quality and food safety standards while also enabling us to put these cleaned and fit-for-purpose assets back into the hands of our customers as quickly as possible. Our wash facilities and our testing regimes are engineered to meet the strictest industry regulations, including ISO 22000-certified food safety standards. We are constantly working to create a more efficient workflow, which reduces energy and water usage per asset.

Wash Facilities to Prevent Food-Borne Health Threats

Tosca’s QFS management systems, which includes all of our ​U.S. facilities being ISO 22000-certified, provide a critical defense against foodborne illnesses by thoroughly sanitizing reusable assets with high-intensity water pressure and specialized cleaning solutions. During crises like the ongoing avian influenza outbreak, our advanced cleaning processes help prevent contamination, ensuring safe and reliable packaging for the food supply chain.

Tosca wash center

Water, Food Safety and Traceability

Water is central to food safety compliance, and traceability is the next frontier. At Tosca, our rigorous decontamination protocols, combined with cutting-edge tracking technology, ensure that every RPC, pallet, display bin and bulk container meets the highest hygiene standards.

  • Tosca’s QFS management procedures deliver a powerful line of defense against the spread of foodborne illnesses and infectious animal diseases.​
  • Our Tosca Asset iQ capabilities can support our customers in their compliance with FSMA Section 204 (U.S.) and EU Traceability Requirement (Regulation 178/2002), ensuring full compliance with evolving food safety laws. ​
  • We help our customers stay vigilant about biosecurity risks by expanding the capabilities we have developed during past crises. ​
  • We maintained zero non-compliance findings in our ISO 22000-certified locations (all U.S. locations) for the fifth straight year.
man using controls

“Designing an RFID tracking system is complex because signals can interfere with each other and reflect off metal surfaces. We tested labels that stay firmly attached and remain legible after multiple high-temperature washes. These labels feature a precisely tuned antenna that uses the asset’s plastic to boost the signal while minimizing interference with neighbouring tags.”

Kevin Boone, Traceability Service Manager EMEA, Tosca

Ready to strengthen your supply chain and support your sustainability goals? Contact a Tosca expert and learn about how we can support you.

Related resources

Reusable crates

Corrugated boxes vs. RPCs: What’s the best choice for food safety?

Packaging might not seem like a boardroom decision. But when it can make or break your food safety strategy, it...
Reusable crates

How to reduce risks and boost food safety in the meat industry   

Meat processors struggle to fill open positions and keep well-trained employees on staff. The numbers bear this out. Consider the...
Reusable packaging

5 Strategies for Supply Chain Resiliency in 2025  

One hundred thousand eggs—gone overnight. In early February, thieves stole $40,000 worth of organic eggs from a Pennsylvania trailer, leaving...