Globally, up to one-third of all food produced is lost or wasted, presenting a pressing challenge as populations grow and resources become scarcer. Recognizing this, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.3 emphasizes the need to halve food loss and waste by 2030. Against this backdrop, DCZ experts Michela Boehme and Ahmatjan Rouzi took part in the Save Food China Forum 2024, held on November 18 in Shanghai. Organized by FAO China, Messe Düsseldorf, and the Save Food Initiative, the forum ran alongside the Shanghai World of Packaging (SWOP) Expo, a major platform showcasing sustainable packaging solutions from both domestic and international companies.
Key discussions at the forum
The event opened with remarks from Evian Gu and Thomas Dohse from Messe Düsseldorf as well as FAO China’s HAN Yan. This was followed by a presentation from DONG Le, FAO China, highlighting progress in measuring food loss and waste through index-building and the development of targeted policy approaches.
The subsequent panel discussions put the spotlight on the important role that packaging can play in reducing food loss and waste along the entire food value chain—from post-production to storage, transportation, processing, and consumption. Together with colleagues from the World Resources Institute (WRI), United Nations agencies, the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), as well as other Chinese and international research institutions, DCZ experts Michela Boehme and Ahmatjan Rouzi discussed:
- Innovative packaging technologies to preserve food and reduce spoilage.
- Sustainable materials and circular systems to enhance resource efficiency.
- Strategies for promoting sustainable consumption habits and reducing household waste.
Recognizing innovation
A key moment during the forum was the presentation of the Sustainable Design Award 2024, which honors advancements in packaging technologies aimed at reducing food loss and waste. This year’s awardees included Multivac (Germany) and United Caps (Luxembourg), recognized for their contributions to smart and sustainable packaging concepts that help reduce food loss and waste, improving the supply of food to a growing global population.
Insights and recommendations
The discussions and innovations showcased at the Save Food China Forum 2024 underline the potential of sustainable production and packaging systems to address food loss and waste. Packaging solutions, combined with circular practices and consumer behavior changes, play a pivotal role in achieving the targets set by SDG 12.3.
Further information on food loss and waste in China, along with policy recommendations, is available in the DCZ’s policy brief: Food Loss and Waste in China.
