Christoph Trixl on Scaling IFCO Through Digital Transformation

The company’s growth trajectory necessitated a shift in organizational culture and systems. To align its workforce, leadership introduced three core values: can-do ownership, ambition for customers, and a unified team approach. This internal reorganization supports a broader strategy to standardize European operations, moving away from fragmented, country-specific management toward a centralized fulfillment model that improves service consistency and efficiency.

Technological innovation serves as the primary engine for the next phase of development. IFCO has developed an in-house tracking system that allows crates to communicate directly with the cloud without requiring external infrastructure from retailers. This end-to-end visibility provides real-time data on shipment location and transit conditions. Following initial success in the United States and pilot programs in Europe, IFCO is now considering offering this low-cost tracking technology to external industries, including airports and retail partners.

Sustainability remains a central pillar of the company’s 2030 ESG strategy. IFCO has committed to delivering one megatonne of carbon savings for its customers and maintaining a zero-waste-to-landfill policy. To address shifting labor markets, the company is also executing an automation roadmap for its wash centers by 2030, a move already yielding cost efficiencies in the U.S. market. These efforts, paired with a focus on leadership diversity, earned the company the Smart Solution Award 2025 for digital sustainability.