A shared planet, a shared vision
Why reduce food waste?
Australia’s annual food waste volume is estimated at 7.6 million tonnes, costing our economy $36.6 billion a year.
Beyond these numbers is the human cost. The Foodbank Hunger Report 2021 shows one in six adults haven’t had enough to eat in the last year, while 1.2 million children have gone hungry.
Australian food businesses have a vital role to play as the country progresses towards its target of halving food waste by 2030.
Reducing Australia’s food waste is not just the right thing to do. With all of the challenges facing Australian food businesses, we would not expect them to sign up if it wasn’t a genuine opportunity, and this is. There are business and leadership opportunities involved with reducing food waste such as:
“… you can have it all financial, societal, reputational and environmental benefits.”
Source: Champions 12.3 – The business case for reducing food loss and waste (2017)
As part of implementing the National Food Waste Strategy, Australia launched its roadmap to reduce food waste in 2020. Food Innovation Australia Ltd developed this roadmap to provide a clear path forward to halve food waste in Australia by 2030. The roadmap documents the main steps and initiatives required and recognises governments and private sectors significant contributions. The establishment of Stop Food Waste Australia is a key step in the delivery of this roadmap.
What we do
We are an independent long-term partnership that reduces food waste and food insecurity, drives innovation, and improves the Australian food system’s productivity and resilience. As a vital part of the National Food Waste Strategy, Stop Food Waste Australia’s establishment brings together the people and programs needed to halve food waste in Australia by 2030.
We will create real, practical changes like improved packaging and product design and more precise product labelling. We will work to transform surplus food and food processing wastes into new upcycled food products and ingredients, unlocking new value for the industry.
2021-2025 Strategic Plan
Our 2021-2025 Strategic Plan shows how we will partner with governments, peak industry bodies and food rescue organisations to combat Australia’s $36.6 billion annual food waste challenge. It details how we will:
1
Implement a voluntary agreement
2
Develop new, and implement existing, sector action plans
3
Communicate, engage and partner for impact
4
Evaluate and report our progress
Meet the Team
The Board of Directors from Fight Food Waste Ltd governs Stop Food Waste Australia. Our founding partners make up our partnership committee. These people are already committed to reducing Australia’s food waste.
We are a team of full-time, part-time, Australian, UK and European based people who are both funded, and supported in-kind. We have over 15 years of experience in tackling food waste around the world.
We are working together to achieve an Australia without food waste
Chief Executive Officer
Dr Steven Lapidge
As the CEO of Fight Food Waste Ltd, Steve leads the Fight Food Waste CRC and the powerful Stop Food Waste Australia partnership towards an Australia without food waste.
Chief Operating Officer
Mark Barthel
With financial support from FIAL, Mark is able to take on the role of COO for Stop Food Waste Australia and continue as Special Advisor for the Fight Food Waste CRC
Head of VCP
Claire Kneller
With over five years’ experience in running food waste voluntary agreements around the world, Claire heads up the SFWA team from the Adelaide HQ.
SAP Program Leader
Carolyn Cameron
Continuing FIAL’s work in reducing food waste, Carolyn joined Stop Food Waste Australia to lead the sector action program and get the right people around the table.
VC Manager
Sam Oakden
Continuing FIAL’s work in reducing food waste, Sam joined Stop Food Waste Australia to initially recruit and then work with signatories to the Australian Food Pact.
Communications Manager
Ben Osborne
With extensive industry experience, Ben leads SFWA’s communications activities.
Impact & Reporting Manager
Dr Melanie Hand
In addition to monitoring the impact of the Fight Food Waste CRC’s research projects, Melanie manages the impact and reporting framework for Stop Food Waste Australia.
VCP Advisor
Michael Jones
With considerable global experience in voluntary commitment programs, Michael shares his WRAP insights with the Stop Food Waste Australia team.
Food Rescue SAP Lead
Carolyn Eggart
Having previously worked at OzHarvest, Carolyn manages the office for the Fight Food Waste CRC and is also the lead for the food rescue sector action plan.
Food Cold Chain SAP Lead
Dr Greg Picker
As part of his role with the Australian Food Cold Chain Council, Greg is leading the development of the sector action plan for the food cold chain industry.
Research Analyst
Rachel Devine
As a Research Analyst at WRAP, Rachel brings her experience in analysis, reporting, monitoring and evaluation of both UK and international food waste voluntary agreements.
Project Manager
Claire Turner
Claire facilitates the use of WRAP resources in the Stop Food Waste Australia partnership, as a Project Manager at WRAP Claire manages projects tackling food waste in the UK and Internationally.
Research and Resources
In Australia, the Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre brings together industry, research and the community to develop solutions to reduce food waste
