Plastic crates for fruit and vegetables
Plastic crates for fruit and vegetables, collapsible garden crates for picking apples and strawberries, and transport containers for fruit growers and fruit and vegetable wholesalers.
Poland’s fruit and vegetable market is currently a mix
wooden crates for picking, plastic ones for transport, cardboard for retail sale. It is gradually consolidating around plastic RTP (returnable transport packaging).
Seasonality is extreme:
in Poland, strawberries in May and June, cherries in June, apples from August to October, cabbage from September to November. The crate fleet has to be scaled to the harvest calendar.
Transport of agricultural products to the retail chains falls under
the re-use targets for transport packaging (Article 29(1) PPWR). The obligation rests with the economic operators using transport packaging – you as a fruit grower or a wholesaler included. The target is at least 40% of packaging within a re-use system from 1 January 2030, with an endeavour to reach 70% from 1 January 2040. PPWR sets no general exclusion for primary agriculture – only selected categories of packaging are excluded (flexible packaging in direct contact with food or feed, for example).
We match the size of the crate fleet
to the profile and scale of production – from single farms to producer groups.
bekuplast crates
are made in the standard Euro sizes (400×300 and 600×400 mm), which match the dimensional requirements commonly applied by the retail chains.
CHALLENGES
Four challenges for fruit growers, vegetable farms and wholesalers
This is how we scale plastic crates for fruit and vegetables to the harvest season and to what the retail chains require.
Seasonality – demand for crates rises sharply at the peak of the harvest
Demand for crates at the peak of the harvest runs many times higher than off season – we scale the returnable fleet to your farm’s harvest calendar.
Temperature-controlled transport – from the field to the retail chain
Strawberries, raspberries, lettuce and cucumbers need chilled transport. The crates have to withstand condensation, temperature differences and fluctuating humidity.
Standardisation for the retail chains
Many retail chains work to the EURO standard of 400×300 and 600×400 mm, which is why those dimensions are in common use across supply chains. The fleet has to be adapted to that standard.
The short service life of wooden harvest crates
Low-quality wooden orchard crates wear out quickly, whereas HDPE crates last many seasons. The return on investment depends on the scale and profile of the farm – we will work it out for your case.
CHALLENGES
Four challenges for fruit growers, vegetable farms and wholesalers
This is how we scale plastic crates for fruit and vegetables to the harvest season and to what the retail chains require.
Seasonality – demand for crates rises sharply at the peak of the harvest
Demand for crates at the peak of the harvest runs many times higher than off season – we scale the returnable fleet to your farm’s harvest calendar.
Temperature-controlled transport – from the field to the retail chain
Strawberries, raspberries, lettuce and cucumbers need chilled transport. The crates have to withstand condensation, temperature differences and fluctuating humidity.
Standardisation for the retail chains
Many retail chains work to the EURO standard of 400×300 and 600×400 mm, which is why those dimensions are in common use across supply chains. The fleet has to be adapted to that standard.
The short service life of wooden harvest crates
Low-quality wooden orchard crates wear out quickly, whereas HDPE crates last many seasons. The return on investment depends on the scale and profile of the farm – we will work it out for your case.
PPWR · COMPLIANCE
PPWR and agriculture – what is covered and what is not
Transport of agricultural products to the retail chains falls under the re-use targets for transport packaging (Article 29(1) PPWR) – the obligation rests with the economic operators using transport packaging, which means you as a fruit grower or a wholesaler as well. The PFAS restriction (Article 5(5)) covers all packaging intended to come into contact with food, including paper trays and fruit crates with a fluorinated barrier coating. PPWR does not exclude primary agriculture as a whole; Article 29(4)(c) excludes only packaging in flexible format in direct contact with food – rigid HDPE crates and containers remain within the targets. Separately from the transport provisions, Article 25 and Annex V are worth keeping in mind: from 1 January 2030 the use of single-use plastic packaging for pre-packed fresh fruit and vegetables weighing less than 1.5 kg will be prohibited.
NEXT STEPS
What you can do now
Transport packaging in which agricultural products reach the retail chains falls under the re-use targets. The PFAS restriction (Article 5(5)) covers all packaging intended to come into contact with food, including paper trays and fruit crates with a fluorinated barrier coating.
koszt ppwr
The cost of switching to reusable packaging
Compare the cost of single-use crates with returnable crates for fruit and vegetables – the calculator gives you the break-even point and a cost comparison of single-use and returnable packaging for an orchard or a farm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which crates do you recommend for picking strawberries?
EURO garden crates with a 400×300 mm base dimension, a perforated bottom (juice from the fruit drains away) and perforated side walls (ventilation), designed for stacking. We will match the exact size and volume to the type of fruit.
Which crates do you recommend for apples?
For picking in the orchard: EURO garden crates with a 600×400 mm base dimension, closed-wall, with a perforated bottom. For transport to the retail chain: EURO crates of 600×400 mm in the standard, lower height.
Which crate dimensions do the retail chains most often require?
We make crates in the standard Euro sizes of 400×300 and 600×400 mm, matching the dimensional requirements commonly applied by the chains. We can adapt the marking, the colour and the perforation to a particular category.
Is agriculture covered by PPWR?
Transport of agricultural products to the retail chains falls under the re-use targets for transport packaging (Article 29(1) – at least 40% of packaging within a re-use system from 1 January 2030, and an endeavour to reach 70% from 1 January 2040). The obligation applies to the economic operators using transport packaging, so it covers you as well. PPWR sets no general exclusion for primary agriculture – Article 29(4)(c) excludes only flexible packaging in direct contact with food, and your rigid HDPE crates are within the targets. The PFAS restriction (Article 5(5)) covers all packaging intended to come into contact with food. Separately from the transport provisions, Article 25 and Annex V introduce, from 1 January 2030, a ban on the use of single-use plastic packaging for pre-packed fresh fruit and vegetables weighing less than 1.5 kg.
How many cycles do HDPE garden crates last?
HDPE crates serve many seasons of intensive use and withstand repeated rotation cycles, whereas cardboard crates are usually single-use and low-quality wooden ones wear out considerably faster. We will match the specific durability to your application.
Do you have pallets that need no ISPM 15 treatment for fruit exports?
Yes – plastic pallets fall outside the ISPM 15 requirements, so they need neither phytosanitary treatment nor the IPPC mark used on wooden pallets. Polish fruit growers exporting to the United Kingdom, Turkey or the Middle East avoid the recurring cost of treating and certifying every pallet.
CONTACT
Let’s discuss a solution for your process
- A quick call back
- We talk about your specific requirements
- Free of charge and without obligation
- Product samples available
