The Institute of Packaging, Ghana, a member of the World Packaging Organisation, joins the global community to observe the International Day of Food Loss and Waste today the 29th of September. The event 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 innovations 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 Green House Gas emitter after the USA and China.

Packaging can play an integral role in minimizing food waste at the start of the value chain so that waste can be prevented in households.

Avoiding food waste is a critical packaging issue and one that food producers, manufacturers, brand owners, retailers and consumers need to better understand.

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.

Please join the WPO and IOPG to observe this important global day by helping to raise awareness of the role that packaging can play in minimising food loss & waste.