The research also proposes opportunities for the food manufacturing industry to address food waste through sustainable primary, secondary and tertiary packaging.

The study also considers how food waste can and should influence packaging design and follows on from the AFGC's Future of Packaging whitepaper.

According to Karli Verghese, who led the research study, there has been no other significant research into the role packaging plays in minimizing food waste.

"Packaging actually plays a critical role in protecting fresh produce and processed food in transit, in storage, at point of sale and prior to consumption. In doing so it helps deliver a wide range of functions while reducing food waste."

The report shows that food manufacturing is the second largest contributor to the 1.5 million tons of food waste generated by Australia's commercial and industrial sector each year, sending 312,000 tons to landfill. It was trumped only by food services, which contributes 661,000 tons of waste.

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