This year Vice President Sustainability & Save Food, Nerida Kelton FAIP, will be attending TokyoPack and providing a presentation, and participating in two separate panels.

On Wednesday the 14th of October Nerida will be joining panel discussion ‘Packaging Foresight 2035: The Transformation you can’t afford to miss. On Thursday the 15th of October she will be presenting ‘The Paradox between Packaging & Food Waste and then joining a IPPO panel.

More details on TokyoPack 2026 and how to register to attend the sessions are below

14th October Panel
https://www.tokyo-pack.jp/event/13994/module/booth/459141/446269

15th October presentation and panel
https://www.tokyo-pack.jp/event/13994/module/booth/459141/446349

Visitor registration
https://www.tokyo-pack.jp

Please read the latest interview with Vice President Sustainability & Save Food, for the WPO, Nerida Kelton by DLG e.V. – German Agricultural Society for the Anuga FoodTec magazine where they discussed the Australasian Institute of Packaging developed Save Food Packaging Design guidelines, how they are being globalised by the WPO World Packaging Organisation Foundation FSSC SAVE FOOD Initiative, FAO, UNIDO Food Business, Wageningen University & Research and more.
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Packaging plays a fundamental and integral role, if designed intuitively at the start, to minimise food loss and waste across the value chain. The Save Food packaging design guidelines will help you on this journey.
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Nerida will also be speaking at Anuga FoodTec 2027 about this very topic (Cologne 23-26 Feb 2027), and she will be on the WPO stand all week so please come and join the WPO.
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The Save Food Packaging Design Guidelines are a practical set of guidelines that help packaging designers, manufacturers, and brands reduce food waste through smart packaging. They bridge the gap between preventing food loss and achieving global sustainability goals. Nerida Kelton, Executive Director of the Australasian Institute of Packaging (AIP), Vice President for Sustainability & Save Food at the World Packaging Organisation (WPO), and WPO representative for the SAVE FOOD Initiative, explains in an interview how companies can use the guidelines to specifically design more sustainable packaging and thereby make a measurable contribution to reducing food loss.

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Read the FULL INTERVIEW here… 

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Map and Directions | Register

Description:

REGISTER HERE… 

October 27, 2026 | 8:00pm (AEDT – Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney).

* check your local start time – click here..

WPO Webinar: Packaging Updates from China

Latest packaging trends and innovations coming out of the region..

Join the World Packaging Organisation (WPO), Interpack China, Messe Düsseldorf and WPO Board Member, China National Export Commodities Packaging Research Institute (CEPI) at a webinar that will discuss the latest packaging industry updates for China including regulations, pack aging advancements and industry trends. This panel discussion will also showcase the up-coming interpack China trade exhibition that will be held from 16–18 November 2026 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC).
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interpack China will welcome around 970 exhibitors across 70,000 square metres, attracting more than 47,000 professional visitors. Highlights for the 2026 edition of interpack China will include the World Packaging Organisation (WPO) Board Meetings, the 2026 International Summit on Green Packaging Development, a Spotlight Forum that will include global discussions. The show will also have a unique international pavilion and international delegations visiting from all corners of the globe.
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Moderator: Nerida Kelton FAIP, Vice President Sustainability & Save Food, World Packaging Organisation
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Panellists:
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Thomas Dohse
Director interpack
Portfolio Processing & Packaging
Messe Düsseldorf
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Larry Chen
Senior Project Director
Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai)
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Jasper Liu
Assistant Director
China National Export Commodities Packaging Research Institute (CEPI)

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Register to attend this free webinar…

Register

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

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

The World Packaging Organisation (WPO) is pleased to advise that the global SAVE FOOD project competition annual award winner for 2024 is Tomato Jos Farming and Processing Limited from Nigeria.

Through a global alliance, the SAVE FOOD Initiative, which was founded by Messe Düsseldorf and interpack, is promoting a more responsible use of resources along the entire food supply chain and actively contributing to the reduction of food loss and waste. Save Food Org follows UN SDG 12.3, fighting for a reduction of food loss and waste.

As a part of the initiative the Save Food Org team have developed an annual project competition that actively seeks smart agricultural practices and logistics solutions and/or  innovative processing and packaging ideas that could support minimising food loss and/or waste across the value chain.

Judged by an esteemed panel of experts from the World Packaging Organisation (WPO), UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization), and FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), the judging panel were on the lookout for projects that make a significant impact in reducing food loss and waste with the winning project awarded a grant of € 10,000.

2024 winner Tomato Jos Nigeria
For the 2024 Project competition Tomato Jos was recognised for its groundbreaking efforts to combat post-harvest loss, empower small farmers and promote sustainability in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

Through innovative solutions such as large-capacity crates, training programs and modern farming techniques, Tomato Jos is empowering over 350 small farmers, creating over 4.000 jobs and reducing dependency on imported tomato products.  Their inspiring work addresses one of the most critical issues in Nigeria’s agricultural sector – post-harvest loss of tomatoes, which affects 45% of the crop annually.

Mira Mehta, the visionary behind Tomato Jos, is proving that practical, sustainable solutions can transform communities. From improving transport infrastructure to developing climate-friendly agricultural practices, their mission goes beyond food waste – it’s about creating opportunities and securing livelihoods.

Between surplus and imports
Nigeria is the largest producer of tomatoes in Africa south of the Sahara. Despite this, the country imports tomato products worth millions of US dollars per year. Why? Almost half of the crop yield spoils due to a lack of cold chains, poor storage and transport facilities and high temperatures and humidity, which is an economic disaster for the small farmers.
Tomato Jos, founded in 2014 by Mira Mehta, runs farms, creates jobs and produces its own brand of tomato paste in Kaduna. Training programmes teach small farmers modern cultivation methods while high-quality seeds, fertiliser and technologies ensure higher yields. An innovative credit system facilitates establishing productive operations and reinforces the farmers’ financial independence. “Among other things, we provide small farmers with knowledge about when to ideally harvest tomatoes and how to best sort and package them”, says CEO Mira Mehta.

Transport packaging is the key to success
One of Tomato Jos’ pragmatic solutions is the use of large-capacity crates. These sustainable packaging solutions significantly reduce damage to the tomatoes compared to the woven baskets that are traditionally used. They protect the fruit during transport and are easy to stack thanks to their uniform design. The available space in lorries is used optimally, reducing transport cost per unit. Additional training for the transport personnel in handling the tomatoes when loading and unloading is also having a positive effect.

The Save Food Org Team and the judging panel would like to congratulate Mira Mehta and the Tomato Jos team for their commitment to sustainability and innovation. The €10.000 prize will help them expand training programs, improve packaging systems and scale up their impactful initiative.

Together, let’s continue to inspire change and build a future with less food waste and greater food security.

If your company or organisation is interested in becoming a member of SAVE FOOD, or wants to know more about the annual SAVE FOOD project competition please contact Ivania Portillo-Elzer: PortilloI@messe-duesseldorf.de

PKN talks… Making sustainable packaging information freely accessible globally, and about collaborating to support and celebrate women in packaging.

In this episode, Lindy Hughson, managing editor and publisher of PKN Packaging News talks to Nerida Kelton FAIP Kelton, executive director of the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) and vice-president for Sustainability and Save Food at the World Packaging Organisation (WPO), about educating companies in the design, production and implementation of sustainable packaging.

PKN gets an insight into what her role as the VP for the WPO entails, and the creation of the Global Packaging for Recycling Guide, which is designed to be accessible, free and ensure the recycling of the entire container.

Nerida gives PKN an update on the Save Food Packaging Guidelines, which is pending release globally, and has resulted in collaboration with more WPO countries.

PKN also gets an overview of the results of PIDA with exciting results for the ANZ region at the WorldStar awards, with top 3 placement for the region overall, and with students bringing home golds and silvers for best of show awards.

The discussion also explores how the AIP has worked to make the Australian Recycling Label more accessible to SMEs, and how to properly conduct Life Cycle Assessments. We also get an insight into the broad reach of the Institute with members in New Zealand and the Philippines.

We wrap up by discussing the AIP’s ongoing support of the PKN Women in Packaging forums, with increased growth in representation throughout the industry, and the importance of the new PKN Women in Packaging Awards programme to ensure that women in the industry are being recognised, supported, and celebrated.

https://www.packagingnews.com.au/video-and-podcasts/podcast/pkn-podcast-ep-87-with-nerida-kelton-wpo-and-aip

Newly appointed President of the World Packaging Organisation (WPO), Luciana Pellegrino formally announced today her new Executive Team that will take over the WPO’s four Vice Presidencies – Marketing, Education, Sustainability & Save Food, and Governance.

With the announcement Luciana Pellegrino introduced a slight modification whereby the previous role of VP for Conferences now will be merged under the Marketing Portfolio with Soha Atallah as the new Vice President.

She also announced a new Portfolio – Governance; based on one of the key pillars of her tenure which will focus on best practices, governance and transparency. Magnus Sidling will be responsible for the Governance portfolio.

Continuing on as Vice President of Sustainability & Save Food is Nerida Kelton FAIP and the new Vice President of Education is Kofi Essuman.

‘Firstly may I take this opportunity to congratulate the other three Vice Presidents and welcome Kofi and Magnus to the WPO Executive Team. It truly is an honour to have been confirmed as the Vice President of Sustainability & Save Food under our new President Luciana Pellegrino.  The Sustainability & Save Food portfolio has an amazing, passionate and dedicated working group that represents all corners of the globe  and we have some exciting projects and initiatives planned for 2024 and beyond. I am extremely passionate about Sustainability & Save Food and appreciate the opportunity to continue to raise the global voice about these critical topics. The first program under the Sustainability & Save Food portfolio for 2024 will be a webinar on the 22nd of February discussing the Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) updates and all of industry is invited to attend.” Nerida Kelton FAIP, Vice President Sustainability & Save Food, WPO

 Register for the Webinar here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9uRdmW9RT9mtfZP7OvOznQ#/registration

The ‘Global Packaging Design for Recycling Guide’, a development of the WPO, has recently been translated into Japanese, and is now available through the WPO website. This is the 11^th translation besides the versions in English, German, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Thai, Latvian, Czech, Hungarian and Georgian.

Developed by the WPO, Circular Analytics, FH Campus University of Applied Sciences and ECR Community, the Global Packaging Design for Recycling Guide is a starting point to understand best practice examples, using state-of-the-art technology that can be applied and tailored to suit the recovery and recyclability capabilities and infrastructure on a regional and local level.

“The ‘Packaging Design for Recycling Guide’ is a very important tool for the global packaging community to ensure that our industry is taking steady steps, based on scientific foundations, to achieve a circular economy model. It contributes to address the challenges that face the world in terms of climate change, environment and preservation of natural resources”, said Luciana Pellegrino, WPO President.

Luciana added that “The WPO recommends that the industry to explore and use the Global Packaging Design for Recycling Guide as a way of driving efforts to have a common voice across the global packaging industry when discussing recycling and developing a circular economy for packaging.”

The Managing Director of the Japan Packaging Institute (JPI), Mr Yoichi Sonoyama added that JPI are extremely proud of the translation as a part of their own 60^th anniversary celebrations.

“It is apt that JPI have finalised the Japanese translation in our 60^th year, especially because the WPO was established in Japan in 1968. We also wanted to play our role in ensuring that our industry has access to the latest resources, training and guides. By delivering better packaging design to everyone, we will be able to provide better packaging around the world. This design guide will help to aid this objective.” Mr Sonoyama said.

According to the WPO Vice President Sustainability & Save Food, Nerida Kelton, “The work undertaken to translate the Global Packaging Recycling Guide should not be underestimated and a huge acknowledgement must go to Yasuhiko Ide, Toshio Arita and Mitsuhiro Sumimoto, from JPI, who were dedicated to complete the translation by the second WPO Board Meeting for 2023.’

“These translations are no small feat and require experts in technical packaging terminology to be able to accurately formulate the translation. The Japanese translation is now available to download and access for free via the World Packaging Organisation website and we are looking forward to launching even more guides in 2024. The goal is to ensure that every country in the world has access to the guide so that we can design our waste at the start and ensure that packaging is recycle ready”, says Mrs Kelton.

To download the Japanese translation visit https://worldpackaging.org/wpo/45/ or download via https://www.worldpackaging.org/Uploads/2023-11/ResourcePDF69_1699181956.pdf

If anyone is interested in translating the guide into their language please reach out to Nerida Kelton nerida@worldpackaging.org

The World Packaging Organisation (WPO) is inviting all members and the wider industry across the globe to observe the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste on 29 September, which is coordinated by Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

The ‘International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste’ is designed to make a clear call to action for both the public and private sectors to prioritise actions and move ahead with innovation to reduce food loss and waste.

Why is it important to reduce food loss and waste?

• One third of all food produced in the world is wasted and when food is lost or wasted, all the resources that were used to produce this food -, including water, land, energy, labour and capital – go to waste.
• Environmentally food that is lost or wasted is responsible for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
• If food waste was a country, it would be the third largest GHG emitter behind the USA and China.

According to WPO President, Prof Pierre Pienaar CPP, ‘Packaging can play an integral role in minimising food waste at the start of the value chain so that waste can be prevented in the households. Avoiding food waste is a critical packaging issue and one that food producers, manufacturers, brand owners, retailers and consumers need to better understand.”

Vice President Sustainability & Save Food, Nerida Kelton, added that ‘Without adequate intuitive packaging design features and fit-for-purpose packaging, food can potentially be wasted all the way through the supply chain to the consumer.  By modifying packaging designs and ensuring that Save Food Packaging Guidelines are followed food waste and loss can be minimised and/or prevented.’

“The most innovative and intuitive Save Food Packaging uses design features that can contain and protect, preserve, extend shelf life, easily open and reseal, provide consumer convenience and portion control; all the while meeting global sustainable packaging targets. Opportunities for packaging design to minimise food waste can include better facilitation or communication around portion control, date labelling, extension of shelf life, protection, resealability and openability, serving size, food safety/freshness information, information on storage options and improved communication on packs,” she said.

The WPO has been working on the issue of Food Waste and the role that packaging plays for many years now and has developed a special award category for innovative and intuitive Save Food Packaging Design in the annual WorldStar Packaging Awards.

Nerida added that “The ‘Packaging that Saves Food Special Award’ is designed to raise the profile of the critical role of packaging to reduce food waste and therefore reduce product’s overall environmental impact. It also recognises companies that are developing innovative and sustainable packaging that minimises food losses and food waste, extends shelf life and improves the supply of food”.

The WPO encourages all businesses to consider entering this award category to help showcase Best Practice Save Food Packaging Design across the globe.

How can WPO Members and the wider industry become involved in the ‘International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste’?

• Take advantage of this important opportunity to call for action. Run a webinar discussing the Food Loss and Waste challenges and programs in your region or country.
• Engage with your industry media discussing the issue in your region or country
• Recognise local Food Waste Champions and thank them for their work
• Recognise local charities and associations who are helping to minimise food waste in your region or country
• Showcase the good work that is being done in your region or country regarding Food Loss & Waste
• Support your local Foodbank by asking your members to donate canned non-perishable goods
• Showcase local companies who have developed innovative and intuitive Save Food Packaging designs
• Encourage your food and beverage manufacturers to donate goods to Foodbanks and Food recovery services
• Establish an annual industry event to pack hampers for those in need
• Let the WPO know what your association or business is working on in the area of Food Waste and Save Food Packaging
• Leave your own video message about Food Loss and Waste on your social media platforms and tag in #worldpackagingorganisation #FLWDay2022 #FLWDay #stopfoodwaste #fightfoodwaste #savefoodpackaging #packagingthatsavesfood