The Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) formally announced that the Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre have approved their Save Food Packaging project as one of the first.
In 2016, the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) was the first member nation of the World Packaging Organisation (WPO) to operate a Save Food Packaging Design Award for Australia and New Zealand category in their annual Australasian Packaging Innovation & Design Awards. Developed in conjunction with the World Packaging Organisation (WPO), the Save Food Packaging Design Awards 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. The AIP has a goal to create a global standard for all Save Food Packaging design and that the criteria and guidelines are embedded in all NPD processes.
The AIP will be the project leader on the Save Food Packaging Criteria and Framework 1.2.1 project and have established an extensive Save Food Packaging Consortium that is made up of leaders in Save Food Packaging design and innovations to ensure that the guidelines are practical for the industries they will serve. The Save Food Packaging Consortium is made up of the AIP as project lead, RMIT as the Research Partner, Project Contributors will be ZipForm Packaging, Sealed Air, Multivac and APCO, Project Partners will be Plantic Technologies, Result Group and Ulma Packaging and the Extension Network will consist of AFCC, APCO, AFGC and AIFST.
The Save Food Packaging Design Criteria and Framework will integrate current research literature with industry knowledge regarding the functional properties and role of packaging in saving food being wasted. Whilst the primary functions of packaging are to contain and protect the content, as well as providing information about the product, the role of packaging in reducing food waste needs to be better understood by food producers, manufacturers, brand owners, retailers and consumers. The connection between packaging design and food waste needs to be discussed more openly in the industry. From field to fork there are several possibilities for food loss and waste to occur. It has been approximated that up to 30% of the edible food produced, does not reach the fork. Packaging’s role in reducing food waste is the next challenge for Packaging Technologists, Designers and Engineers.
Using the industry networks of the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) in partnership with AFCCC, AFGC, AIFST and RMIT University and an Industry Advisory Committee this project will produce packaging design criteria and communication material for the implementation into food packaging that will lead to better packaging design, material selection and format selection using appropriate portioning, sealability, resealability features, date labelling, extend shelf life and provide the information required to assist retail, food service and consumers to minimise food waste. This project will focus upon Australia/New Zealand. Future projects will look to other countries through the World Packaging Organisation (WPO). The global project will also be led and coordinated by the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) as the ANZ WPO Member.
The expected impacts of this project are:
• Packaging criteria for reducing food waste is known and applied in packaging design by food producers.
• The packaging criteria meets the needs of, and is used by, packaging and food technologists/designers/marketers/sustainability managers and is effectively communicated to the retailer, food service and consumers.
• Education and training programs are delivered demonstrating how to use the criteria and integrate within product-packaging development processes.
• Food producers, manufacturers, retailers and packaging companies are designing innovative Save Food Packaging and communicating this to customers and consumers.
• Companies are recognised for their Save Food Packaging innovations through the Australasian Packaging Innovation & Design (PIDA) Awards and the international WorldStar Packaging Awards program of the World Packaging Organisation (WPO). The AIP are the ANZ Board Member on the WPO.
• Best-practice award-winning Save Food Packaging innovations across ANZ are showcased on a regular basis.
• Revision, where required, of the criteria for the Australasian Packaging Innovation & Design (PIDA) Save Food Packaging Design Special Award.
• Contribute to consumer education