For brand owners looking for an informed and balanced approach to meeting the 2025 National Packaging Targets, the 2030 Food Waste Targets, and the federal government mandatory packaging design standards, a visit to the Sustainability Corner on the Result Group stand at APPEX will pay dividends.
According to Michael Dossor, group general manager, “It is only apt that Result Group is launching the Sustainability Corner on our stand as we have been a key player in helping to guide companies on the role that packaging plays in creating a circular economy for the region for many years.”
“Through our partnerships with key organisations in this space we are proud of how much Result Group has contributed to educating the industry in topics such as sustainable packaging, Save Food packaging and Active & Intelligent packaging.
“We wanted to take these partnerships a step further and create a unique Sustainability Corner where visitors to APPEX can access detailed information, research, leading technical experts and resources that discuss sustainable & circular packaging design, Save Food packaging design, and food waste.”
“We also respect that there are several key leading associations in this space that have the expertise to guide visitors, and so we have invited them to showcase their work in sustainability on our stand. The supporting organisations are End Food Waste Australia, End Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre, the Australian Food Pact, GS1 Australia, the Australian Institute of packaging (AIP) and the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO),” said Dossor.
Recognising the interdependence of recycling and packaging, the group says the Sustainability Corner will be a central point where both elements gain a mutual understanding. Through collaboration and shared knowledge, it aims to bridge gaps, fostering a more integrated and sustainable approach within the industry.
What can you expect to learn about?
End Food Waste Australia (formerly Fight Food Waste CRC & Stop Food Waste Australia) – and all associated bodies such as the Australian Food Pact, End Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre – will be providing information and knowledge on Food Loss and Waste, interventions across the value chain, extensive research and reports and how to join the Australian Food Pact.
Food waste impacts people, our planet and industry profitability. Australia produces enough food to feed 75 million people every year, yet millions of Australians go hungry every day. A staggering 7.6 million tonnes of food goes to waste each year (enough to fill the Melbourne Cricket Ground ten times over), 70 per cent of which is edible. We know that food waste feeds climate change, with near 10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions coming from the food we throw away. And it’s costing us, with food losses totalling a massive $36.6 billion each year in Australia.
End Food Waste Australia’s (EFWA) mission is an Australia without food waste, starting with halving food waste by 2030. It aims to create a more productive, sustainable and resilient Australian food system by ending food waste and food insecurity.
EFWA says it is leading impactful and research-informed food waste action driven through partnerships that will make real change from paddock to plate. From research and development to on-the-ground support, their expert team is committed to make this happen. If you grow, make, move, sell or buy food, you are vital in the fight against food waste. EFWA aims to provide the link between government, businesses, industry bodies, retailers and consumers, to help connect and get everyone onboard to end food waste.
It claims to have formed the world’s largest dedicated public-private partnership of more than 100 organisations focused on ending food waste and have led Australia’s most comprehensive research in consumer food waste behaviours, uncovered new technologies for transforming unavoidable food waste into new resources, and developed evidence-informed food waste best practices.
“Each year, Australian industry and households discard an astonishing 7.6 million tonnes of food, and the majority of it ends up in landfill. The end of food waste starts with all of us, and together, we can turn the tide and make a global impact that will resonate for generations, creating a more productive, sustainable, and resilient food system for Australia and its communities,” EFWA CEO, Dr Steven Lapidge said.
APCO is Australia’s co-regulator for packaging and has historically had a remit that includes helping its members acquit their environmental obligations to government, coordination of the 2025 National Packaging Targets, the Australasian Recycling Label and Sustainable Packaging Guidelines. APCO is currently working closely with industry and government to support the development of stronger regulations that will see mandated packaging design standards and recycled content requirements.
“APCO welcomes government’s move to strengthen the regulation of Australia’s packaging system to improve equity, certainty and consistency, and reduce environmental impacts while progressing toward a circular economy. APCO is here to support businesses on this journey and we look forward to answering your questions at APPEX 2024,” commented APCO CEO, Chris Foley.
GS1 Australia will be providing access to information on everything related to 2D barcodes, traceability, interoperability and supply chain ease of use and the importance exiting standards play in creating National Traceability Framework. The importance of the link with sustainable practices GS1 plays will be on show.
The AIP will be providing visitors access to the Save Food Packaging Design guidelines and all of the resources, research and checklists that have been developed for the industry.
Nerida Kelton, executive director of the AIP said, “The Save Food Packaging design guidelines that will be showcased in the Sustainability Corner will help companies to minimise food loss and waste through better packaging design at the start. The Institute will also highlight best practice examples of Save Food Packaging design and Sustainable Packaging design that have won Australasian Packaging Innovation & Design (PIDA) Awards and WorldStar Packaging Awards on the Result Stand.”
Operating as a place for the most recent updates, legislations, and requirements, as well as a platform for knowledge-sharing and the exchange of ideas, the Sustainability Corner aims to serve as a focal point for the entire industry. This includes packaging, brand owners, producers, recyclers, and industry bodies, fostering deep collaboration across all aspects of sustainability. More than just a conceptual space, it provides a hands-on experience, featuring innovations that have the potential to initiate tangible and sustainable change.
Dossor added that he is personally passionate about this topic and has led the way by being on a number of GS1 Australia’s working groups, a member of APCO’s National Packaging Targets Implementation (NPTI) Working Group, a Consortium partner of the AIP-led Save Food Packaging design consortium in the End Food Waste Australia Cooperative Research Centre, running Active & Intelligent Packaging training course for the AIP, has joined the Active & Intelligent Packaging Industry Association (AIPIA) as a foundation member globally and contributes to all discussions about getting the balance right between food and packaging waste targets.
ESGs: A continual journey
Whether you are just starting, making progress, or finishing up your journey in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), think of the Sustainability Corner as a helpful friend. Result Group says it will provide an active platform for continuous engagement, ensuring that your ESG initiatives remain in harmony with the dynamically evolving landscape of sustainable practices.
Each organisation plays a distinct role, whether focusing on legislative aspects, setting supply chain standards, or providing training and education for packaging experts and entrepreneurs.
Despite these diverse roles, their ultimate objective remains the same – deep collaboration, education, provision, and goal setting within the industry. Their joint efforts aim to support manufactures, retailers, customers, and various stakeholders in navigating regulatory requirements while transitioning towards sustainable practices.
“Sustainability lies at the heart of our business – all our solutions are geared towards waste minimisation for a more environmentally conscious future. This collaborative spirit defines our engagement with these four industry associations, and their unwavering support is invaluable,” Dossor said.
Result Group will host the Sustainability Corner on Stand E030.
