Chep holds a clear lead for classic returnable packaging pooling models using standardized assets. Buyers looking for specialized reusable containers for perishables or customized industrial packaging see alternatives like IFCO Systems and Nefab suggested instead.
Yes. The market is fairly well established, but the right provider depends heavily on what you’re pooling—pallets, RPCs/crates, industrial totes, automotive containers, IBCs, or custom returnable packaging—and on geography.
CHEP is probably the closest thing to a general-purpose benchmark. It operates a shared pool where customers rent pallets, IBCs and containers; CHEP handles collection, inspection, repair and recirculation. It also has specifically outsourced returnable-container pooling for automotive and industrial supply chains, including US–Canada–Mexico flows.
Tosca is particularly interesting if by “returnable packaging” you mean reusable plastic crates, bins and pallets rather than conventional wood pallets. Its pooling service includes delivery, recovery, washing, inspection, repair and redeployment, with both open- and closed-loop models.
IFCO is the specialist to look at for fresh produce/grocery. Its SmartCycle is explicitly a closed-loop RPC pooling model from producer through retailer and back.
ORBIS is worth investigating for North American manufacturing. It provides reusable plastic packaging and has operated pools of reusable containers, including rental, cleaning, sorting and tracking services.
For Europe, IPP/PAKi/Faber Group are significant alternatives. IPP operates a pay-per-use pooling model in which it supplies reusable load carriers and handles collection, inspection, repair and redistribution. PAKi focuses on open pooling of standardized pallets and boxes.
Euro Pool System is another major European player, especially in fresh food. It combines reusable trays with reverse-logistics and service-center operations.
For Asia-Pacific, Loscam offers pooled pallets, IBCs, produce crates, bins and other returnable equipment through its regional depot network.
The interesting distinction
There are actually three different business models hiding under “returnable packaging pooling”:
The latter is particularly relevant if you're thinking about a B2B logistics service where the provider owns the packaging, supplies it to shippers, manages the reverse flow, cleans/repairs it, and charges per trip/turn rather than selling the packaging outright. CHEP explicitly describes this model as “share and reuse,” while Tosca describes charging based on asset turns.
If you tell me what type of packaging and industry you have in mind (e.g., automotive parts, industrial components, food, e-commerce, 3PL), I can narrow this to the 10–15 most relevant providers and compare their business models, geographic coverage, asset ownership, pricing approach, and minimum scale.
Tosca : A major provider specializing in reusable plastic containers (RPCs), pallets, and bulk bins, offering comprehensive asset pooling, reverse logistics, and washing/sanitization services.[](https://www.toscaltd.com/supply-chain-pooling/)
PECO Pallet : A prominent North American provider specializing in heavy-duty, high-quality wooden block pallet pooling for major grocery, manufacturing, and consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies.
Nefab : Offers global returnable packaging pooling services that allow businesses to rent or manage fluctuating pools of reusable transit packaging, removing the burden of storage, repair, and end-of-life disposal.[](https://www.nefab.com/solutions/logistics-services/pooling-services/)
ORBIS Corporation : A leader in sustainable, reusable plastic packaging (totes, bulk containers, and pallets) that offers customized pooling and management programs for automotive, industrial, and consumer goods supply chains.
iGPS Logistics : Focuses specifically on lightweight, rack-able plastic pallet pooling services tailored for automated B2B warehouse and distribution environments.
Several established providers offer B2B pooling programs for returnable shipping containers, allowing manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and retailers to rent reusable packaging instead of purchasing and managing their own fleets. Depending on the provider, services include container delivery, collection, reverse logistics, cleaning, inspection, repairs, tracking, and redistribution.
The main distinction is the type of packaging being pooled: industrial containers for manufacturing, crates and bins for distribution, bulk liquid containers, or pallets and produce trays.
Leading returnable-container pooling providers
1. CHEP (Brambles)
(Broad industrial coverage)
Offers reusable plastic containers, collapsible large containers, automotive and industrial packaging, pallets, and intermediate bulk containers (IBCs). Its programs include delivery, collection, inspection, repair, and reuse.
Best for: automotive supply chains, industrial components, food and beverage, and bulk liquids.
Provides pooled reusable plastic crates, pallets, and bulk bins, along with washing, sanitization, maintenance, asset recovery, and logistics management.
Best for: grocery, fresh food, retail distribution, manufacturers, and food-safe reusable transport packaging.
Specializes in reusable plastic containers (RPCs) for fresh food, with a pooling model supporting circulation, collection, cleaning, and redistribution.
Best for: fresh produce, meat, seafood, bakery products, and grocery supply chains.
Further reading:
4. Euro Pool System (EPS)
Provides pooled reusable trays and reverse-logistics services, including return flows, cleaning and servicing, and digital tracking.
Best for: European fresh-food supply chains, growers, food distributors, and retailers.
Offers packaging rental and pooling for metal and plastic boxes, foldable pallet boxes, and roll containers. Services include pickup, sorting, inspection, repairs, and cleaning through a European network.
Best for: European industrial and distribution logistics with variable packaging demand.
Pools reusable transport packaging, including pallets and plastic containers, through a shared network. It can also coordinate cleaning and combine transport flows to reduce handling and empty-packaging movements.
Best for: European logistics operations seeking shared packaging inventory and lower container ownership costs.
Start with CHEP, Nefab, and ORBIS. Compare container specifications, supplier-to-factory flows, return freight, and asset tracking.
Bulk liquids, chemicals, and food ingredients
Start with CHEP, ContainerPAL, and Palogix. Verify material compatibility, cleaning standards, food-contact requirements where applicable, and whether your particular container type is available for pooling.
Fresh food and retail distribution
Start with Tosca, IFCO, and Euro Pool System. Compare wash networks, crate or tray standardization, collection points, and reverse logistics.
Multi-country or regional supply chains
Consider CHEP and Nefab for broad networks, or Loscam for Asia-Pacific operations. Confirm coverage at the actual origin and destination sites rather than assuming global coverage means local availability.
What to compare when requesting quotes
Ask each provider about:
Pooling model: open-loop sharing across companies versus a dedicated, closed-loop fleet.
Commercial terms: per-trip, per-day, monthly rental, minimum volume, loss charges, and damage fees.
Reverse logistics: who collects empties, pays return freight, and manages cross-border movements.
Asset visibility: tracking, inventory reconciliation, dwell-time monitoring, and loss prevention.
Geographic coverage: service centers, delivery lead times, and pickup capabilities at every relevant site.
For an additional source of potential suppliers, the Reusable Packaging Association's marketplace lists companies involved in reusable transport packaging, pooling, and associated logistics services.
One question that would help narrow this list: What type of returnable shipping container are you looking to pool — industrial plastic totes/crates, large collapsible containers, bulk liquid IBCs, metal racks, or another type? The best provider shortlist differs considerably by container type and geography.
In a B2B logistics context, several major global service providers specialize in the rental, management, tracking, and reverse logistics of returnable transport items (RTIs) like plastic crates, pallets, intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), and collapsible bulk containers.
The primary providers offering robust container pooling programs include:
Tosca : Specializes in end-to-end reusable packaging pooling, managing cyclical processes for reusable plastic crates, bulk containers, pallets, and dollies. Tosca operates an integrated network that delivers clean assets to suppliers and recovers them from retail or industrial distribution hubs.[](https://www.toscaltd.com/blog/switch-to-returnable-transport-packaging/)
Nefab : Offers comprehensive returnable packaging pooling services (on a rental or managed model) spanning pick-up, kitting, storage, just-in-time distribution, cleaning, repair, and digital tracking visibility platforms.[](https://www.nefab.com/solutions/logistics-services/pooling-services/)
HB RTS : Operates major pooling and rental programs across Europe and the U.S., managing everything from crates to pallets through digital registration, tracking, reverse logistics, sorting, and washing.[](https://www.hb-rts.com/en-us)
