The SAVE FOOD Initiative is further expanding its international cooperation and deepening its partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the World Packaging Organisation (WPO). The cooperation aims to continue strengthening the role of packaging, processing and industrial innovation in the global fight against food loss and waste. At interpack 2026, the SAVE FOOD Initiative will be deploying a variety of formats to show how it is advancing its goals worldwide.

Since its foundation in 2011, the SAVE FOOD Initiative has been working with international organisations, industry partners and institutions to reduce food loss and waste right along the value chain. Now that the cooperation with UNIDO and WPO is officially in place, the initiative has acquired additional technical depth, global reach and political relevance.

“Food loss and waste is a global problem that only international cooperation can effectively address,” explains Thomas Dohse, Director interpack and SAVE FOOD Initiative. “With UNIDO and the World Packaging Organisation, we are uniting industry know-how, development policy expertise and practical solutions. This partnership strengthens SAVE FOOD as a global platform and highlights the contribution that packaging and processing is able to make to realising UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

“Strengthening the agrifood midstream is vital for advancing agro‑industrial development, expanding value addition, and building resilient, nutrition‑focused food systems. The “hidden middle” remains where losses concentrate and transformation potential is greatest. Guided by the World Without Hunger Initiative and UNIDO’s Food Loss and Waste Action Plan, we continue to prioritize midstream infrastructure, climate‑smart processing, and SME capacity to reduce post‑harvest loss, enhance food safety, and drive inclusive, climate‑resilient growth,” explains UNIDO Managing Director Mr. Gunther Beger. “SAVE FOOD combines global industry expertise with specific on-the-ground projects. This kind of bridge-building is crucial to establishing sustainable value chains and improving long-term food security.”

“The World Packaging Organisation (WPO) is proud to become a strategic alliance partner of the Save Food Initiative alongside FAO, UNIDO and Messe Düsseldorf. This collective group brings extensive knowledge to global and local discussions on how food loss and waste can be minimised and environmental impacts reduced wherever possible. Through the Save Food Initiative, the WPO can help elevate awareness and education about the true role that packaging plays in minimising Food Loss & Waste. The WPO truly believes that together we can support and foster sustainable food systems around the globe that interlink agriculture, farming, packing, processing, packaging, waste management and end of life recovery of all waste. This should be a collective effort, so we welcome everyone to be a part of the change we need,” says Nerida Kelton, Vice President Sustainability & Save Food, World Packaging Organisation (WPO).

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which has been a longstanding partner of SAVE FOOD since the initiative’s founding, continues to be closely involved in the work of the SAVE FOOD Initiative. In particular, FAO brings its expertise in the areas of food security, sustainable agricultural and food systems and the development of enabling policy environments. Raimund Jehle, FAO Deputy Regional Representative in Europe and Central Asia, explains: “Food loss and waste is a global challenge that requires joint action. The FAO’s partnership with Messe Düsseldorf as part of the SAVE FOOD Initiative supports innovation-driven solutions – including packaging technologies that contribute to food safety, reduce waste and promote food systems that are more sustainable.

The partnership builds on many years of collaboration, including at the SAVE FOOD Design Awards, on specialist forums and during project initiatives. In future, the partners intend to collaborate even more closely on practical solutions – from design-for-recycling and transport and protective packaging to education and training programmes.

SAVE FOOD at interpack: A programme with a global outlook
One central meeting point for this collaboration will be interpack 2026 in Düsseldorf from 7 to 13 May. Together with UNIDO and the World Packaging Organisation, SAVE FOOD will be presenting a multi-day programme that brings together different outlooks and formats. The programme includes SAVE FOOD Expert Talks with international experts and industry representatives, a SAVE FOOD Highlight Route, where member companies will present specific solutions for reducing food loss, and the presentation of the SAVE FOOD Awards. In addition, the SAVE FOOD project competition will also be held at interpack: several projects will be honoured and financially supported for the first time. The aim is to raise the profile of successful approaches, reinforce knowledge transfer and provide specific impetus for sustainable food systems worldwide.

About the SAVE FOOD Initiative
The SAVE FOOD Initiative was founded in 2011 by Messe Düsseldorf and interpack, the world’s largest trade fair for the packaging sector and the related processing industry, and has since cooperated with, for example, FAO and the UN Environment programme. As a global alliance, it follows UN SDG 12.3, fighting for a reduction of food loss and waste. A special focus is placed on innovations from the packaging industry.
www.save-food.de

If your company or organisation is interested in becoming a member of SAVE FOOD, please contact Ivania Portillo-Elzer: Phone: +49 211 4560 7781, E-mail: PortilloI@messe-duesseldorf.de

In 2021, Foundation FSSC became a member of the UN Global Compact to see how they could align their global vision ‘Creating a Better World’ with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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As the owner of the global Certification Scheme FSSC 22000 for Food Safety, together with their Certified Organisations across the globe, they soon realised that the impact was going to be at grass-roots level within food organisations.
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According to Kelly Mulholland, Technical Manager Safety & Quality at FSSC, “The first step was to create impactful solutions for food businesses via the tools available through FSSC.”
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“To this end, we decided to add a specific requirement on Food Loss and Waste (FLW) in Version 6 of our Certification Scheme. As a result, more than 30,000 organisations were required to implement policies and strategies addressing FLW. This contributed to progress on SDG 12, Responsible Consumption and Production, and specifically Target 12.3,” she said.
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The additional requirement on FLW was included in V6 in the Certification Scheme (Part 2, Section 2.5.16) and applies to all food chain categories except Category I (food packaging manufacturing).
The team at FSSC understood that packaging plays a vital role in reducing Food Loss and Waste, particularly in relation to the design of packaging materials.
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After joining the World Packaging Organisation (WPO), FSSC soon discovered that the Australasian Institute of Packaging (AIP) had already established a research-driven set of Save Food Packaging guidelines, in partnership with RMIT University and End Food Waste Australia. These guidelines have been designed to be implemented by macros, SMEs, and multinational food and beverage companies in any corner of the globe.
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Kelly added that “To address this, we recently announced Version 7 of the FSSC 22000 Certification Scheme now incorporates a new requirement under product design and development, which applies to all organisations that design primary packaging and packaging material.”
Nerida Kelton, Vice President of Sustainability & Save Food for the WPO, and who is also the Executive Director of AIP, reminds everyone that “First and foremost, the true role of packaging is its functionality. Packaging needs to be designed to ensure that a product is protected, preserved, contained, and transported all the way through the value chain from production until it is used in the household.”
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“Save Food Packaging is designed to minimise or prevent food waste from paddock to plate using innovative and intuitive design features that can contain & protect, preserve, extend shelf life, easily open and reseal, provide consumer convenience and portion control; all the while meeting global sustainable packaging targets”, she said.
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Nerida strongly believes that “The inclusion of aspects of the Save Food Packaging design guidelines in Version 7 will have a significant impact for tens of thousands of food and feed companies involved in the processing, handling, or distribution of food products across the world.”
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Kelly added that “Foundation FSSC now has over 40,000 Certified Organisations that are required to consider these packaging design principles, resulting in further support for the reduction of Food Loss and Waste.”
The packaging design requirements included within FSSC 22000 V7 (Part 2, 2.5.13) were developed with the support of the WPO, of which FSSC is an affiliate member, and the AIP, which is a Member of the WPO. The design requirements that in Version 7, are based on aspects of the AIP’s Save Food Packaging Design Principles, which have been globalised by the World Packaging Organisation (WPO).
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FSSC looks forward to further collaboration with WPO and AIP on this important topic and creating even more impact within food companies across the world.
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For more information on FSSC and the FSSC 22000 Certification Scheme, visit www.fssc.com

Foodpro, Australia’s leading trade event for food processing, packaging and innovation, has announced a major new partnership with the Australasian Institute of Packaging (AIP) — giving the industry even more reasons to gather in Melbourne from 26–29 July 2026.

Over four dynamic days, foodpro 2026 will bring together the full spectrum of food manufacturing and packaging with more than 400 exhibitors, cutting edge displays, and hands-on learning opportunities for attendees. Including the chance to take part in AIP-led mini training courses and forums, covering key topics in food packaging innovations, sustainable packaging design and regulations, food waste and the intersection with packaging and more.

The AIP will also be hosting exclusive industry networking events and showcasing the finalists and winners of the 2026 Packaging Innovation & Design Awards (PIDA) across the four days of foodpro.

Nerida Kelton FAIP, Executive Director of the AIP, shared: “foodpro is an important tradeshow for the food and beverage industries and we are very proud to be an Association Partner of the show. The AIP is also delighted to announce that, for the first time, we will be hosting the 2026 Australasian Packaging Innovation & Design (PIDA) Awards Gala Dinner on Tuesday, 28 July, alongside foodpro. The PIDA Awards program celebrates Australia and New Zealand’s most innovative packaging solutions and is the exclusive entry point for the WorldStar Packaging Awards. This prestigious awards night brings together the best-of-the-best to be recognised for their leading-edge designs. The entire industry is invited to attend the 2026 PIDA Awards. Having the awards night aligned with foodpro is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the food and beverage finalists and winners in a dedicated space at the show, so everyone can see which packs took home a PIDA award.”

Louise Brooks, Commercial Product Manager of foodpro, added: “We are incredibly proud to welcome the AIP as an official Association Partner for foodpro 2026 — a partnership that reflects our shared commitment to driving innovation, excellence, and collaboration across the entire food manufacturing and packaging supply chain. The addition of the PIDA Awards Gala Dinner to the foodpro program is a true milestone for the event. It not only celebrates the most ground-breaking packaging designs from Australia and New Zealand but also brings the industry’s brightest minds together under one roof. This is more than a trade show — it’s where the future of food and packaging comes to life. From education and training to world-class innovation and networking, foodpro 2026 will be an unmissable experience for anyone serious about shaping what’s next in food manufacturing and processing.”

foodpro returns to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 26–29 July 2026, celebrating over 50 years of connecting and inspiring Australia’s food manufacturing and processing community. Visitor registrations are now open  at www.foodproexpo.com

The PIDA Awards Gala Dinner will be held at The Crown Aviary on the 28th of July with tickets available through the AIP in early 2026.

Kelton said the translated guide will help advance the uptake of circular design principles across China’s vast packaging and manufacturing sectors by making best-practice guidance widely accessible.

“Circular design is only effective when the relevant collection, sorting and recycling streams exist,” she said. “To be able to apply recyclable packaging design, a certain fundamental knowledge of sorting and recycling processes is necessary. Packaging must therefore be suitable for state-of-the-art sorting and recycling processes, in addition to its basic functions.”

The guide provides brand owners, designers and packaging developers with a clear starting point to better understand packaging recyclability, showcasing global best-practice examples and outlining how design decisions can be aligned with real-world recycling capabilities. Users are encouraged to tailor the guidance to regional and local material recovery infrastructure.

Kelton said she was ‘extremely proud’ to launch the Chinese translation, acknowledging the extensive collaboration behind the project.
“A special thank you to both CEPI and CPF for their hard work on the translation and in particular Jasper Liu, who led the project, and supporting translators Guo Zhenmei, Wu Xiaoqing and Melody Wong,” she said in a LinkedIn post following the event.

The Chinese edition is now available via the WPO website, as well as on CEPI and CPF’s WeChat platforms.
The launch drew support from WPO board members in other regions, with representatives from Poland (Krzysztof Niczyporuk) and Japan (Sonoyama San) also attending the forum.
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Kelton said the translation marks an important step in helping more brands across Asia become ‘recycle ready’, strengthening global alignment on packaging design for circularity.

This article was published with permission of PKN Packaging News

Precision Meets Practicality: Datwyler Sealing Solutions for Vials

When it comes to pharmaceutical packaging, Datwyler delivers global scale with local agility and National Resources is proud to bring that advantage directly to the Australian and New Zealand markets.
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The Datwyler portfolio includes rubber stoppers and matching caps for a comprehensive range of vial and bottle designs. As the world’s second-largest supplier, Datwyler operates across multiple continents, offering unmatched flexibility and reliability. Their products also include an extensive colour range and optional printed graphics to support brand identity and product differentiation.
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All components are available in ready-to-use or ready-for-sterilisation formats, with modifiable pack sizes and full irradiation documentation for gamma-sterilised items. Compliance is comprehensive, and lead times are consistently shorter than comparable alternatives.
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Locally, National Resources enhances the Datwyler offer by being able to hold inventory to support just-in-time delivery, ensuring responsiveness and continuity. Datwyler’s minimum order quantities are tailored to suit the scale of the Australia and New Zealand markets and their multi-site manufacturing model safeguards supply during global disruptions.
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While we tend to let the numbers do the talking, Datwyler’s pricing consistently delivers exceptional value – without compromising quality or compliance.
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Let’s talk about how Datwyler and National Resources can streamline your packaging supply chain – with precision, reliability and flexibility.

Datwyler: Four Decades of Parenteral Packaging Leadership
With over 40 years as a global leader in parenteral packaging, Datwyler understands what matters most: product protection, manufacturing efficiency and patient safety.
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Their sealing solutions are produced, controlled, and tested under the industry’s most stringent conditions – delivering exceptional quality and reliability. Manufactured using best-in-class alloys and plastic polymers, Datwyler seals offer the cleanest, safest options available to pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturers.

Datwyler’s mission is clear: to enhance operational efficiency, deliver specialised solutions for pharma and biotech applications.
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Backed by a global team of cross-functional experts, Datwyler takes a systems-based approach – considering every critical factor to help customers make confident, informed decisions. Their expansive product portfolio includes high-performance brands like PrimeCaps, designed to meet the complex demands of today’s drug delivery landscape.
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At the heart of Datwyler’s innovation is its Center of Excellence in Germany, where global standards are met and exceeded. This facility drives continuous improvement in manufacturing processes, enabling the development of next-generation sealing solutions tailored to evolving market needs.
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Contact: leonc@nationalresources.com.au

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The move toward electric adhesive application technologies has accelerated in recent years, driven by the need for greater efficiency, reduced operating costs, and improved sustainability. Robatech’s Volta application head reflects this trend, offering an alternative to traditional pneumatic systems while remaining compatible with a wide range of existing hot melt equipment.
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Volta operates without compressed air, a change that reduces noise levels on production lines and minimises the wear associated with pneumatic components. By relying on electric actuation, the system offers greater consistency and lowers the maintenance requirements that often accompany air-driven heads.
A notable feature of the technology is its integrated stitching function, which enables adhesive savings of up to 60% depending on the application. For manufacturers looking to reduce material use without altering product quality, this approach supports both cost and sustainability goals.
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Compatibility has also been a focus in Volta’s development. The application head can be integrated into various melters, hoses, and controllers, including systems from non-Robatech brands.
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This allows OEMs and end users to upgrade specific components without committing to a full equipment replacement — a consideration that has become increasingly relevant as companies seek incremental improvements rather than complete system overhauls.
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As adhesive application continues to evolve, electric solutions like Volta indicate where the industry is heading: quieter operation, lower resource consumption, and equipment that adapts to the diverse setups found across packaging lines.
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Further information about Robatech’s technologies and services is available at www.robatech.com.au, via email at infodesk@robatech.com.au, or by phone at +61 (0) 2 9748 4559.

As brands worldwide accelerate their shift toward fibre-based packaging, this year’s global packaging award season offered a powerful message: innovation and sustainability have become inseparable. Across Europe, Asia and Oceania, companies that champion renewable, responsibly sourced materials, especially fibre-based solutions from sustainably managed forests, rose to the top.
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Many of these leaders rely on the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) to ensure their wood and fibre come from forests managed with care. In 2025, a remarkable number of PEFC-certified manufacturers earned major packaging awards, demonstrating that high performance and sustainability are not competing ambitions, but powerful drivers shaping the industry’s future.
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Celebrating the achievements of PEFC-certified companies this year goes beyond acknowledging award wins, it recognises the growing impact of fibre-based packaging on global sustainability goals. As the industry pivots toward sustainable, recyclable materials, PEFC certification remains a trusted assurance of responsible sourcing, ensuring that the transition to fibre supports healthier forests, happier and safer workers, and stronger social and environmental benefits across the value chain.
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Read more….

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SIG launches world’s-first alu layer-free full barrier solution for multi-serve aseptic cartons, further reducing carbon footprint by up to 61%*

• World’s first alu-layer-free full-barrier packaging material for multi-serve aseptic cartons
• CO2 reduction by up to 61%*
• Full shelf life of up to 12 months
• “Plug-in” solution running on installed SIG filler base
• Full performance of up to 15,000 packs per hour for multi-serve cartons
• Available at scale to customers around the world

SIG, the pioneer of aseptic carton packaging without aluminum layer, announces the commercial launch of another industry-first: SIG Terra Alu-free + Full barrier for multi-serve aseptic cartons. Building on the success of this groundbreaking packaging material innovation in the field of single-serve cartons – with over 300 million packs sold in China since 2023 – SIG is scaling up the world’s first, aluminum-layer-free full-barrier packaging material to multi-serve aseptic cartons and ready to provide it at scale to customers around the globe.

The groundbreaking packaging structure for multi-serve cartons with no aluminum layer cuts the carbon footprint of SIG’s standard aseptic cartons by up to 61%1 when combined with forest-based polymers**. Made of more than 80% paper, the material simplifies the packaging structure to only two main raw materials, that can all be linked to renewable sources.

Performance and compatibility
The packaging material offers the same full barrier protection as standard aseptic cartons and the same full shelf life of up to 12 months. It can seamlessly run on existing SIG carton filling lines with full performance including high-speed of up to 24,000 packs per hour on SIG filling lines for small-size cartons and up to 15,000 packs per hour on filling lines for multi-serve cartons with only minor, low-cost adaptations. The plug-and-play solution is enabling SIG customers worldwide to make use of the additional environmental benefits that come with the alu layer-free full barrier packaging material suitable for a wide range of beverages without compromising product quality or production performance.

“At SIG, we are leading the industry transition to alu-layer-free aseptic carton packaging materials. With our full barrier material with no aluminum layer, we are offering a powerful differentiator and embodiment of sustainability in aseptic carton packaging, unlocking new opportunities for packaging sensitive product categories such as plant-based products, juices, and nutritional beverages. As a result, our SIG Terra portfolio now offers an aseptic carton solution without aluminum layer for all product categories we serve, without compromising on shelf life”, said Christoph Wegener, Chief Markets Officer at SIG.

Simplifying packaging structures
Decarbonizing the food and beverage industry is more important than ever. In aseptic cartons, an aluminum layer is traditionally used to protect food and beverage products from oxygen and light. Although aluminum accounts for just around 5% of a standard aseptic carton, it accounts for up to 25% of its carbon footprint in a full-barrier package. Removing the aluminum layer is a significant step in reducing the already low carbon footprint of standard SIG aseptic cartons even further and simplifies the packaging structure from 3 to just 2 main raw materials, thereby increasing the share of paper to over 80%.

Pioneering the industry
SIG is the pioneer in its industry and introduced a packaging material without an aluminum layer for aseptic cartons in 2010: SIG Terra Alu-free – developed for plain liquid dairy products. Drawing on its extensive knowledge and experience with alu-layer-free structures and building on the success of SIG Terra Alu-free, the company has continued to grow its aluminum-layer-free aseptic carton portfolio – with every solution reducing the already low carbon footprint of standard SIG aseptic cartons even further. With SIG Terra Alu-free + Full barrier SIG expanded the alu layer-free options for wider use with oxygen-sensitive products such as fruit juices, nectars, flavored milk or plant-based beverages. SIG aims to roll out SIG Terra Alu-free + Full barrier to all flagship aseptic carton formats, both small-size and multi-serve, suitable for all beverage and dairy categories step by step.

Since launching the first alu-layer-free aseptic carton in 2010, SIG has sold over 4 billion packs featuring no aluminum layer, including 300 million alu-free full-barrier cartons. These milestones reinforce SIG’s leadership in sustainable aseptic packaging.

Gavin Steiner, Chief Technology Officer at SIG: “Sustainability is integral to our business, and we strive to create a regenerative food packaging system. Looking ahead, SIG plans to raise the paper content in its aseptic cartons to at least 90% including closures by 2030, with an interim target of 85% without closure this year – further boosting renewability, lowering carbon footprints, and with the potential to streamline the recycling process for aseptic cartons, only requiring the separation of paperboard and polymers.”

* based on an independent ISO-compliant life-cycle assessment: https://api.sig.biz/media/0dhjrkj1/lca_sig-terra-alu-free-plus-full-barrier-and-sig-terra-alu-free-plus-full-barrier-plus-forest-based-polymers-for-sig-midibloc-and-sig-midifit.pdf
** via a certified mass-balance system

About SIG 
SIG is a leading solutions provider of packaging for better – better for our customers, for consumers, and for the world. With our unique portfolio of aseptic carton, bag-in-box, and spouted pouch, we work in partnership with our customers to bring food and beverage products to consumers around the world in a safe, sustainable, and affordable way. Our technology and outstanding innovation capabilities enable us to provide our customers with end-to-end solutions for differentiated products, smarter factories, and connected packs, all to address the ever-changing needs of consumers. Sustainability is integral to our business, and we strive to create a regenerative food packaging system.

Founded in 1853, SIG is headquartered in Neuhausen, Switzerland, and listed at the SIX Swiss Exchange. The skills and experience of our approximately 9,600 employees worldwide enable us to respond quickly and effectively to the needs of our customers in over 100 countries. In 2024, SIG produced 57 billion packs and generated €3.3 billion in revenue. SIG also has an AAA ESG rating by MSCI, a Platinum CSR rating by EcoVadis, and is included in the FTSE4Good Index. For more information, visit www.sig.biz 

Would you like someone that is completing a Master degree in Food & Packaging Innovation?

The Master of Food and Packaging Innovation is an inter-disciplinary degree that explores food science, entrepreneurship and innovation in product and packaging design at  an advanced level. The degree was developed over 11 years ago as a joint initiative between the University of Melbourne and the Australasian Institute of Packaging (AIP).

The degree has been designed to offer the students industry experiences and  knowledge through access to AIP technical experts as lectures, visits to food and packaging related sites and an internship program.  Students can graduate with the technical foundational knowledge and practical experience in the industry.  This is the first step to bringing the  talented school of graduates into the industry is to enable them to work in Food, Beverage and Packaging businesses.  There are many graduates already  working in the industry within the region and a number are now packaging technologists.

Food Internship 
Subject (MFPI FOOD90036)
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The internship comprises up to 200 hours in which the student is expected to work within the business on a project as determined by the company. The timing of the internship is flexible and is determined by the nature of the project, which will generally be negotiated between the company’s needs and the student’s availability.
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Each year the Master of Food & Packaging Innovation degree has students that are looking for a place to learn and gain practical industry-related experience.  Would your business like to support the next generation by offering them an internship?

If you are interested in joining the Master of Food & Packaging Innovation internship program then please contact us…