Leading brands will strengthen the food & beverage industry’s sustainability drive in the region
Singapore, 28 June 2019 – Food Industry Asia (FIA) today announced that IKEA Food Services AB, Tetra Pak and Sealed Air are the newest members to join its network of responsible and innovative businesses in Asia.
Food has been an important part of IKEA since the beginning with the first restaurant opening in 1959. With the aim of creating a better everyday life for the many people by offering good food at a great price, the company strives to constantly renew and improve how they meet their customers. IKEA stays committed to source from sustainable fisheries and responsible farms that strive to protect the environment and communities. Minimising food wastage is also one of the key food principles, as evident by IKEA’s efforts of having saved over a million kilogramme of food from being wasted at the end of FY18, which is equivalent to over 2.5 million meals.
Ann-Louise Ingvarson, Quality Manager at IKEA Food Services AB, said, “With more than 680 million people enjoying IKEA food offer every year, we have the ambition to offer healthy and sustainable food at affordable prices for the many people. We believe that working together with others on tackling the challenges and the opportunities in the food industry is important and we are confident that a collaboration with FIA will contribute to our IKEA vision of creating a better everyday life for the many people.”
Founded in 1960, Sealed Air is a knowledge-based company focused on innovative packaging solutions, with a global footprint of 100 manufacturing facilities. Its portfolio of widely recognised brands includes Cryovac® food packaging and Bubble Wrap® protective packaging. They enable a safer, more efficient food supply chain and protect valuable goods shipped around the world.
The multinational corporation is committed to sustainability – in 2018, it made a bold pledge to design and advance its innovative packaging solutions to be 100 per cent recyclable or reusable by 2025, and achieve a target of 50 per cent average recycled content across all packaging solutions of which 60 per cent is post-consumer recycled content.
Onat Bayraktar, Vice President of Sealed Air, Asia, said, “We are pleased to join FIA as a member and to contribute to the critical conversations that are taking place to address key opportunities and challenges transforming the food industry. Whether it is packaging solutions that maximise product protection, resource efficiency or material circularity, we will be happy to exchange ideas and insights through FIA to drive a safer and more sustainable food supply chain. Speed and agility is needed to address the fast pace of change in the Asian marketplace and no one company can do it alone. Collaboration is close to our heart and we believe that a collaborative effort is needed to influence the region’s food ecosystem for the better.”
Tetra Pak is the world’s leading brand in liquid and food processing and packaging. Established in Sweden in 1951 and headquartered in Switzerland, the food packaging giant has prided itself in providing the best possible processing and packaging solutions for dairy products, beverages, ice cream, cheese and more.
The company is continuously driving for better, fit-for-purpose solutions and breakthrough innovations, ensuring that quality and safety is never compromised. With the motto, “PROTECTS WHAT’S GOOD”, Tetra Pak promises to provide safe, innovative and environmentally-sound products that meet the needs of people worldwide in more than 160 countries. Notable products include the Tetra Rex® Bio-based released in 2018, the world’s first beverage carton to be manufactured entirely from renewable materials.
Allison Lim, Director of Public Affairs at Tetra Pak, Asia Pacific, said, “Tetra Pak is confident that the partnership with FIA will promote a more concerted and integrated approach in the realm of packaging sustainability in Asia.
Through this collaboration with FIA, Tetra Pak is excited to add our expertise and show our leadership in the sustainability space to address some of the food system challenges of our time. We are keen to build on FIA’s current successes and enhance its reputation as a trusted advisor to policy makers and regulators in the region and deliver results that support national and business objectives.”
In welcoming the new members and anticipating their invaluable input especially in driving the sustainability agenda forward – from the adoption of environmentally-friendly and innovative packaging materials, to the reduction of food waste, Matt Kovac, Executive Director of FIA, said, “We are delighted to have iconic brands like IKEA Food, Tetra Pak and Sealed Air to our network as we seek to accelerate efforts in improving the food industry’s environmental performance and sustainable practices. FIA will continue to be the platform to convene and drive the sustainability agenda for the food and beverage industry in Asia, and these brands, who are leaders in this regard, will provide valuable insights and impetus in our ongoing efforts to deliver a sustainable food system”.
