NEWS STORY: INAUGURAL INDUSTRY ACTION AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Celebrating Excellence in Food Waste Reduction: Highlights from the Inaugural Industry Action Awards

The inaugural Food Waste Action Awards, a highlight of the 2024 National Food Waste Summit, celebrated outstanding achievements in the fight against food waste. Hosted on the first evening of the Summit, the event honoured innovators, collaborators, and researchers making significant contributions to reducing food waste.

Industry Impact Award

The prestigious Industry Impact Award recognised individuals or organisations whose innovative practices, technologies, or initiatives that are making a tangible impact on food waste reduction.

Finalists of the Industry Impact Award were:

  • Blantyre Farms – Edwina Beveridge
  • Yume Food
  • Sodexo
  • FareShare
  • Whole

WINNER: SODEXO AUSTRALIA

The Industry Impact Award was presented to Sodexo Australia, recognised for Sodexo’s innovative circular approach to food waste reduction. Sodexo’s initiatives, including sustainable sourcing, food waste measurement, and strategic partnerships, have resulted in a remarkable 45% reduction in avoidable waste at sites using their WasteWatch program. Their commitment to donating surplus food to food rescue charities and converting unavoidable food waste into compost or biodiesel further cements their role as industry leaders.

Collaboration Award

The Collaboration Award acknowledges teams that have come together to solve significant food waste challenges through partnership and teamwork.

Finalists of the Collaboration Award were:

  • University of Queensland and Hilton Surfers Paradise
  • RMIT and Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP)
  • EatWell Tasmania

WINNER: RMIT UNIVERSITY AND AIP

The Collaboration Award was awarded to RMIT University and the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) for their groundbreaking Save Food Packaging Criteria and Framework project. This initiative stands as a global benchmark in collaborative efforts to reduce food waste through innovative packaging solutions. The project, involving extensive collaboration among industry and academic partners, has developed practical guidelines to enhance packaging design, improve shelf life, and provide vital information to assist retail, foodservice and consumers to minimise food waste.

Researcher Award

The Researcher Award celebrates outstanding contributions to research in the field of food waste reduction.

The Research Award finalists were:

  • Dr. Caroline Francis – RMIT University
  • Mark Boulet – BehaviourWorks, Monash Sustainable Development Institute
  • Huize Ni – University of Adelaide
  • Kerridyn Hooker – Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
  • Associate Professor Lukas Parker – RMIT University

WINNER: DR MARK BOULET

Dr Mark Boulet from BehaviourWorks and the Monash Sustainable Development Institute received the Researcher Award for his exceptional work in food waste reduction. Dr Boulet’s applied research has led to impactful campaigns and tools, such as the Oz Harvest ‘Use it Up Tape,’ aimed at changing consumer behavior. His leadership in the National Consumer Behaviour Change campaign underscores his pivotal role in promoting sustainable practices.

Special Recognition: Foodbank Australia Award

The event also featured a special presentation by Sarah Pennell from Foodbank Australia, highlighting the critical role of community support in addressing food waste.

WINNER: SIMPLOT AUSTRALIA.

The Industry Action Awards concluded with a call to action, urging all participants to continue their efforts towards halving food waste by 2030. The event underscored the importance of innovation, collaboration, and research in achieving a sustainable future.

As we look forward to the next day of the National Food Waste Summit, the successes celebrated tonight serve as a powerful reminder of the collective effort needed to tackle food waste. Congratulations to all the finalists and winners for their inspiring contributions!