European Common Footprint for Corrugated Trays adds “Quality” to Packaging Standard
(Brussels, Belgium, Jan. 4, 2017) The European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers (FEFCO) has published information about a recent modification to the Common Footprint (CF) standard for corrugated packaging trays used for fruits and vegetables. The new CFQ standard adds a new dimension to CF: Q for QUALITY.
“With CFQ, FEFCO and the national organisations have created a standard that takes into account both the produce to be packed and the distance it travels,” said Angelika Christ, Secretary General of FEFCO. “The CFQ standard will not only help growers and retailers select the tray that is a perfect fit for their needs, but also deliver the quality promised every time.”
The CFQ standard promises strength and durability, cross-border compatibility, the best weight to volume ratios for shipments, and trays that can be stacked easily and safely.
CFQ accredited trays consider both the type of fresh produce being packed and the distance it must travel. This makes them the best choice for retailers looking for strong packaging that is able to cushion, carry and protect fruit and vegetables throughout their journeys.
The CFQ stamp offers assurance that trays can be stacked safely and quickly so distribution centres can handle trays from different origins, stacking them on top of each other with ease.
CFQ ACCREDITED TRAYS FOR SAFE, EFFICIENT LOGISTICS
1. Consistently high performance. The strength and durability of any tray carrying the CFQ stamp has been rigorously tested to ensure it is fit for purpose while optimising handling and transportation.
2. Simplicity for your supply chain. The CFQ stamp offers assurance that trays can be stacked safely and quickly so distribution centres can handle trays from different origins, stacking them on top of each other with ease.
3. Optimised transportation. Light and modular, with standardised bases and variable heights, CFQ trays offer the best weight to volume ratio for shipments, maximising truck loads and minimising transportation costs.
4. Cross-border compatibility. The modular CFQ trays are strong and fit for purpose. In Europe, all trays with the CFQ logo are compatible, facilitating handling and logistics operations.
5. Assured quality. Use of the CFQ stamp is only granted to corrugated manufacturers once their trays have been audited to ensure they meet CFQ’s strict technical specifications.
BUILT-IN RESISTANCE FOR STORAGE AND TRANSPORT
CFQ – corrugated packaging trays The CFQ stamp offers assurance that trays can be stacked safely and quickly so distribution centres can handle trays from different origins, stacking them on top of each other with ease.
Strict technical specifications mean retailers can be confident that the CFQ trays will protect their fresh produce and ensure it arrives in store in perfect condition. A variety of tests are carried out to confirm that trays adhere to the standards:
Resistance to vertical compression. The Box Compression Test verifies that CFQ trays stacked on a pallet, especially those at the bottom, are able to support the weight of those above without being crushed.
Resistance to bending. The Static Bottom Deflection Test verifies that CFQ trays are resistant to sagging under the weight of produce, ensuring the fruit and vegetables in the trays beneath are kept safe.
Resistance to moisture and fluids. Water absorption tests (Cobb method) verify that, when kept under the correct storage conditions, the corrugated in CFQ trays can absorb a defined amount of moisture or fluid while maintaining the characteristics of the tray.
EFFICIENCY FROM GROWER TO RETAILER
The CFQ tray’s variable height, along with its construction and choice of papers, can be adapted to ensure it’s an ideal fit for the produce it’s carrying yet as light as possible. Standardised interlocking tabs and matching receptacles ensure CFQ trays of different heights can be stacked together safely and efficiently.
The CFQ tray’s standardised base size corresponds to sub-multiples of pallets allowing efficient use of the pallet footprint. CFQ trays fit perfectly onto a standard pallet or half pallet, avoiding gaps and pallet overlap so space can be used optimally, even with mixed loads.
This perfect combination of space optimisation and ideal packaging weight optimises transportation, allowing companies to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions — saving energy, cost and the environment.
HARMONISED MODULAR TRAYS
The CFQ standard gives assurance that every tray is an ideal fit for its produce while optimising transportation. Equally important, CFQ trays from different producers in different countries can be stacked together.
A network of corrugated manufacturers can produce standardised CFQ trays quickly and deliver just in time to meet seasonal demand peaks from their locations near growing areas, cutting down on stock levels throughout the supply chain.
To learn more about CFQ standard, please visit FEFCO’s website: www.fefco.org/technical-documents/common-footprint-quality-standard-cfq (Source: FEFCO)
