A new national initiative has been launched to help Australian small and medium-sized food and beverage manufacturers adopt more sustainable packaging and processing solutions while reducing food loss and waste, according to End Food Waste Australia.
The Food and Beverage Small and Medium Enterprise Packaging and Machinery Solution Centre is a collaboration between RMIT University, End Food Waste Australia, the Australasian Institute of Packaging (AIP), the Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association (APPMA) and Tetra Pak.
Led by RMIT University and the End Food Waste Australia Cooperative Research Centre (EFW CRC), the Centre will provide independent, research-backed support to SMEs transitioning to reusable, recyclable and compostable packaging and processing solutions that align with Australia’s circular economy and sustainable packaging goals.
The initiative will offer co-funded applied research and technical expertise to help businesses assess sustainable packaging innovations and processing changes while seeking to avoid unintended impacts on shelf life, food safety, product quality and food waste.
RMIT University Senior Lecturer of Industrial Design Dr Caroline Francis said the Centre was established to ensure sustainability improvements do not come at the expense of product performance.
“Packaging innovation is essential to achieving Australia’s sustainability goals, but it must be grounded in research,” Francis said.
“This Centre enables SMEs to test and validate real-world packaging and processing changes, ensuring that improvements in recyclability and circularity do not come at the expense of product quality or increased food waste.”
End Food Waste Australia REDUCE Program Team Leader Professor Simon Lockrey said the Centre aims to provide independent guidance for SMEs navigating packaging, processing and machinery decisions.
“The Centre will operate as a national ‘source of truth’ for SMEs seeking guidance on packaging, processing, and machinery solutions,” Lockrey said.
“It will support businesses to make evidence-based decisions rather than relying solely on supplier or informal advice, so they can have informed conversations with key partners such as large retailers.”
Australasian Institute of Packaging Executive Director Nerida Kelton said changing packaging regulations and sustainability expectations were reshaping packaging design.
“The shifting landscape of packaging regulations, both domestically and globally, are changing the way companies need to design,” Kelton said.
“Important changes include designing for accessibility and inclusivity, looking at how packaging can potentially minimise food loss and waste across a value chain and looking at viable alternatives that can reduce the carbon footprint of the packaging. The new centre will allow SMEs to have access to technical consultants from the AIP who can help their packaging journey.”
APPMA Chief Executive Officer Michael Moran said packaging and processing machinery plays an important role in sustainable manufacturing.
“Packaging and processing machinery is a critical enabler of sustainable manufacturing, particularly for SMEs navigating new materials and formats,” Moran said.
“This Centre provides an important platform to connect industry expertise with applied research, helping businesses adopt and integrate advanced technologies that improve efficiency, performance and sustainability outcomes across the production line.”
Tetra Pak Director of Corporate Affairs Flavia Vaz said the company viewed reducing food waste as a key part of its packaging and processing approach.
“Our solutions are designed to protect food, extend shelf life and reduce environmental impact across the value chain,” Vaz said.
“This Solution Centre provides SMEs with practical access to the expertise and technologies needed to trial, validate and scale these solutions with confidence to deliver real impact.”
In addition to co-funding research projects, the Centre will connect SMEs with technical experts from industry and academia.
Research delivery will be supported by several End Food Waste Australia CRC partner institutions, including RMIT University, Queensland University of Technology, The University of Queensland and the South Australian Research and Development Institute.
Eligible Australian SMEs with a valid ABN will be able to apply to participate through a rolling expression of interest process on the End Food Waste Australia website, with successful applicants required to provide matched cash funding on a dollar-for-dollar basis for approved projects.
