Returnable packages used by British organic veggie grower. . .

Riverford Organic Vegetables are harvested one day and delivered the next to British customers who value pesticide-free food. What makes this an even more ecologically sound alternative is the "take-back" box the produce is delivered in. The "boxes are polyethylene (PE)-coated recycled board, and they fold flat," says a company spokesperson. "Most customers with a regular order leave the previous box out for collection. Those flat-packed boxes are back-hauled on the return trip. We aim to get five trips out of each box." While some boxes disappear from the system—"either thrown away by customers or kept and used for storage, Riverford recycles most of the packages at the end of their useful life. It is also working with suppliers to see how that life could be extended."