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COP30 drives packaging standards to balance food waste with recyclability

F&B manufacturers face updated packaging priorities following discussions at COP30, where industry representatives outlined approaches that balance waste reduction with food preservation requirements.

The UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), taking place in Belém, Brazil, has brought together world leaders to negotiate global climate action. Food systems are increasingly seen as a critical focus area, with an approximate contribution of 30% of all global greenhouse gas emissions.

During the event, the World Packaging Organisation (WPO), representing 66 countries, presented design principles that prioritise food waste prevention across supply chains.

Meanwhile, the FSSC Foundation, a non-profit organisation that owns certification schemes, announced that this will include food loss and waste requirements from April 2027.

Certification scheme adds food waste criteria

The FSSC 22000 certification programme will introduce mandatory food loss and waste requirements for packaging manufacturers from April 2027. The scheme covers 40,000 certified organisations globally, including 6,000 packaging manufacturers.

Aldin Hilbrands, head of the FSSC Foundation, said the organisation’s board had approved version seven of the scheme in draft form. Companies will have a one-year transition period following publication in April 2026.

“We see food loss and waste as a matter of raw material efficiency. By maximising safe food production and minimising waste, we contribute to food security, climate mitigation, and economic viability,” he said. “These concepts are two sides of the same coin that are not conflicting but complementary.”

Industry balances packaging waste with food preservation

Food loss and waste accounts for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to figures presented at the conference.

The WPO outlined an approach that considers both packaging waste and food loss when evaluating environmental impact. The organisation argued that under-packaging can create higher environmental impacts than over-packaging because of increased food waste.

WPO president Luciana Pellegrino said packaging must “contain, preserve, and protect products across the entire supply chain until it reaches consumers”, while providing “convenience, extend[ing] shelf life, [and] ensur[ing] health and safety” and offering “intuitive easy open and resealable features, [and] portioning control.”

The approach requires packaging to be designed for five functions: containing and protecting products; preserving and extending shelf life; providing consumer convenience; communicating storage and preparation instructions; and balancing food waste against packaging waste.

Regional commitments create market opportunities

At the High-Level Ministerial Event on Waste Management and Circular Economy on the third day of COP30, the NOW! (No Organic Waste) Initiative COP30 was launched under the COP30 Plan to Accelerate Solutions.

The plan was positioned as the first global effort to eliminate organic and food waste, aiming to mobilise $10 billion in finance with the goal of significantly reducing methane emissions.

The initiative comes after Brazil announced its own National Plan for the Reduction and Recycling of Urban Waste (Planaro), which integrates with the country’s nationally determined contributions under climate agreements. The plan positions subnational governments as implementation leaders.

All of this organic waste reduction regulation momentum could create market opportunities for packaging solutions that extend food shelf life.

Manufacturers face technical challenges in developing packaging that reduces food waste while meeting recyclability standards. This affects fresh produce packaging particularly, given high waste rates in this category.

At the Action on Food Hub panel discussion Systemic Solutions for Sustainable Food Systems, panellists agreed that science-based approaches were essential for identifying where the gaps are in food systems and packaging design.