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
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
Since 2004, Mark has developed the evidence and business case for action on food waste in 17 countries. Mark brings 30 years’ experience in the food and agri-business industry and is a passionate advocate for the role that reducing food waste can have in addressing climate change, improving food security and food chain resilience and the delivery of a more sustainable and equitable food system.
Head of Voluntary Agreement Partnerships
With over five years’ experience in running food waste voluntary agreements around the world, Claire heads up the SFWA team from the Adelaide HQ.
Head of the Australian Food Pact
Sam has been involved in the implementation of the Australian National Food Waste Strategy since 2018 and currently leads the team delivering the Australian Food Pact. Sam is passionate about using collaboration to drive a more sustainable and profitable food system.
Technical Specialist
Leanne has more than 20 years’ experience in the food industry working across all sectors in risk management and best practice in food safety management systems. She brings a comprehensive knowledge of food industry systems and process analysis to the SFWA team.
Technical Account Manager
With a passion for simplifying complex technical information to help improve business decision making, Nick brings more than 25 years’ experience in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors to the Technical Account Manager role.
Technical Specialist
Emil has extensive experience throughout the food value chain, from working as a chef to co-founding two food-tech startups in Denmark. With a background in engineering and food science, Emil wields a broad range of tools for creating solutions and innovations towards an Australia without food waste.
Technical Account Manager
With over 20 years’ experience in agriculture, both as a farmer and in industry, Melissa is a passionate advocate for positive sector growth.
SAP Program Leader
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.
Sector Action Plan Project Coordinator
From Yorkshire vet to Sydney pastry chef, Sarah brings more than 10 years of food industry experience to the role of Sector Action Plan Project Coordinator.
Food Rescue SAP Lead
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.
VCP Advisor
With considerable global experience in voluntary commitment programs, Michael shares his WRAP insights with the Stop Food Waste Australia team.
Impact & Reporting Manager
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.
Project Manager
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.
Communications Coordinator
Amelia is an experienced communications professional passionate about leading engaging communications activities for meaningful impact.
Program Coordinator
Kristina has worked in the food industry in new product development and tourism hospitality across varying roles. She brings strong organisational skills and a passion for sustainability to support the Stop Food Waste Australia team in the program coordinator role.
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
