The Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) announced the winners of the inaugural Save Food Packaging Awards in ANZ during the 2016 National Conference dinner on the 1 June 2016.

The Save Food Packaging Awards are a global program that has been developed by the World Packaging Organisation, in conjunction with Messe Dusseldorf and Interpack, and are designed to recognise companies who are developing innovative and sustainable packaging that minimises food losses and food waste, extends shelf life and improves the supply of food.

A key purpose of the Save Food Packaging Awards is to raise awareness of the critical role of packaging in reducing food waste resulting in a positive overall environmental impact. The AIP believes that it is time that packaging technologists design packaging to save food.

The winners of the inaugural Save Food Packaging Awards for Australia and New Zealand are:

Retail Category

•         A High Commendation goes to Botanical Food Company for Gourmet Garden Herbs & Spices.

•         The winner of the 2016 Retail Category is DON KRC for Cryovac Darfresh Vacuum Skin Packaging.

Food Services Category

•         A High Commendation goes to HealthShare NSW for My Food Choice.

•         The winner of the 2016 Food Services category is SPC Ardmona for SPC ProVital Easy-Open Portion Control Fruit Cup.

The Australia and NZ winners and High Commendations will be formally recognised and displayed as a part of the global Save Food Packaging Program that will coincide with Interpack 2017.

Save Food Packaging Award Judges
The AIP would like to personally acknowledge the Judging Committee who have worked hard to develop the Save Food Packaging Awards for ANZ in record time. The AIP are the first country in the world to have launched their Save Food Packaging Awards and this was down to the efforts and expertise of the judges: Victor Barichello, Keith Chessell FAIP, Karli Verghese FAIP, Pierre Pienaar FAIP CPP and Anthony Peyton MAIP.