The World Packaging Organisation (WPO) has been invited to judge in the first edition of the Save Food Design Award/Sustainability Design Award China will take place during the Swop (Shanghai World of Packaging) trade fair, held in Shanghai, China from 22-24 November.
The awards are part of the Save Food Initiative, which aims to contribute to the reduction of global food losses and waste along the entire value chain through a global alliance and it is supported by UN Environment, Messe Düsseldorf and Interpack.
Due to its relevance to the packaging world, the World Packaging Organisation (WPO) was invited to be part of the jury. The organisation was represented in the online judging process, that took place on 6 November, by the vice president of Sustainability & Save Food, Nerida Kelton, and by a joint effort of two of its Chinese members, China Packaging Federation (CPF) and China National Export Commodities Packaging Research Institute (CEPI). There were also judges representing the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Messe Düsseldorf GmbH.
“The invitation to be part of this new competition was an honour to WPO and we are quite sure WPO local members – CPF and CEPI – gave a valuable contribution in the judging process,” said WPO president, Pierre Pienaar.
Luciana Pellegrino, senior vice president of Marketing and WPO President-elect added, “It is worth reminding that WPO is a long-time partner of Messe Düsseldorf, especially at Interpack, and has contributed to other projects related to the Save Food Initiative. WPO is also a long-time partner of other institutions that support the award, like Unido.
“Packaging plays an essential hole to reduce food loss and save food and WPO makes sure to be involved in global and regional projects that leads to packaging solutions with these purposes,” said Nerida Kelton, WPO vice president of Sustainability & Save Food.
Two different categories were judged in the Save Food Design Award/Sustainability Design Award China:
Save Food Design
This category was open to companies that have developed innovative products/solutions that minimise or prevent food loss and waste from production to consumption. The solution was required to encompass innovative and intuitive materials, technologies, and machinery that enable containment, protection, preservation, and extension of shelf life while simultaneously aligning with global goals to reduce food waste and packaging waste. Products/solutions from the following areas were considered:
• Materials/packaging formats
• Systems & technologies
• Processing machinery
• Packaging machinery
• A whole-of-supply-chain end-to-end solution that incorporates materials, technologies and machinery
• Others
Sustainability Design
This category was open to those who have developed innovative products/solutions that ultimately offer positive environmental impacts and a reduced product CO² footprint. The products/solutions were required to take into account reductions in material and/or machinery waste, water consumption, energy consumption, material reduction and eficiency, recycling recovery, and end-of-life considerations. The products/solutions may also identify sustainability reporting and plans, adherence to ESG principles and guidelines within the company, the ability to comply with national/regional legal requirements, as well as positive environmental and societal drivers for change. Products/solutions from the following areas were considered:
• Materials/packaging formats
• Systems & technologies
• Processing machinery
• Packaging machinery
• An entire supply chain end-to-end solution that incorporates materials, technologies and machinery
• Others
The winners will be announced during Swop and will receive a certificate during the award presentation. The Gold winner additionally will have the opportunity to present its product or solution as part of the conference program at the trade show.
