Sappi Specialty Papers, Brussels, Belgium, has become a member of the Save Food initiative, signaling a firm commitment to better protection of all foodstuffs world-wide. Save Food is a joint initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Messe Düsseldorf, and interpack, a global trade fair for processes and packaging.

Through projects, trade fairs, and conferences, the initiative aims to increase awareness among decision makers from the worlds of politics, business, and industry of the critical need to fight food waste. The initiative was set up in response to the shocking fact that one-third of all food is wasted or lost in transit to the end customer. The amount wasted or lost would meet the world's demand for food.

"Sappi's commitment to Save Food is in line with our basic strategic focus on innovative and sustainable paper-based packaging solutions. We want to actively help reduce the share of fossil-fuel-based packing materials in favor of renewable and natural raw materials and environmentally-friendly packaging alternatives, while at the same time reducing food waste," explained Kerstin Dietze, marketing manager for Sappi Specialty Papers. 

The incorporation of recyclable components and product protection lie at the very heart of future packaging developments, Sappi notes. Innovative packaging materials, it adds,  have an essential role to play in the value-added chain to increase the shelf life of food. Sappi has set itself the long-term goal of giving paper new functions, increasing the share of renewable resources, and developing packaging that is easier to recycle, all of which are key contributors to environmental sustainability and waste reduction.

"We are delighted to have Sappi on board. The company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of packaging materials, fully supports our goals, and is willing to drive forward new packaging solutions," said Bernd Jablonowski, director of interpack & Save Food at Messe Düsseldorf. 

Save Food now has more than 300 members from the fields of industry, politics, and society. Together they aim to push ahead with innovations, promote interdisciplinary dialogue, and prompt debates to find solutions—along the entire value-added chain from field to consumer. More specifically in terms of packaging and process technology, this means pushing for smart and sustainable production and packaging concepts for improving food supplies to the world's growing population.

Save Food was launched in 2011 in Berlin, Germany, by Messe Düsseldorf and FAO. The initiative aims to firmly position the issue of global food losses on the political and economic agenda. Prominent supporters, such as well-known politician and former German Environment Minister Klaus Töpfer, ensured significant media attention right from the start. Save Food was set up as a joint venture between Messe Düsseldorf and the FAO at interpack 2011 during an international packaging industry congress.