Dole Food Co. is increasing the application of Oxifilm, a fully recyclable stretch film, across its banana and pineapple operations in Central America.
The initiative, scheduled for implementation later this month, will cut down on the use of traditional palletisation materials.
This change is expected to remove around 85% of corner boards, straps, and clamps typically used in packaging.
The move will lead to a reduction of 4lb of waste per pallet.
Dole’s current sustainability efforts have already resulted in a reduction of 4,850lb of plastic each week in banana packaging. In pineapple packaging, this figure reaches 11,640lb per week.
By adopting Oxifilm, Dole aims to further reduce plastic usage, bringing savings to 17,460lb per week for both bananas and pineapples.
The switch also brings automation to parts of the palletisation process.
Dole tropical products logistics vice-president Ana Cristina Obregon said: “Scaling up pallet wrapping across our operations is a win for both the environment and our business.
“We’re significantly reducing the use of plastic while also enhancing efficiency in our supply chain and fruit quality. It’s another step forward in Dole’s commitment to innovation and sustainable agricultural practices.”
Dole began using Oxifilm for bananas in June 2023 and for pineapples in August 2024 at its farms in Costa Rica and Honduras, respectively.
The company plans to introduce additional wrapping machinery to its centres in Guatemala and Ecuador in the second quarter of 2025.
