UNIDO hosts roundtable to tackle food waste in Asia

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) organised a roundtable in Bangkok, Thailand, themed ‘Accelerating sustainable industrial development of the food packaging industry in Asia’. It was hosted in collaboration with the World Packaging Organisation (WPO) and Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Netherlands, hosting country representatives from 15+ Asian nations.  

Chakravarthi AVPS, chairman, managing director of Ecobliss India and global ambassador, WPO, delivered a special address at a roundtable organised by UNIDO in Bangkok, Thailand. He said, “India’s food waste problem has a packaging fix.” Chakravarthi called for a shift in the perception of packaging—from an avoidable expense to a critical tool in reducing food loss.

India loses up to 30% of its food post-harvest due to inadequate packaging, handling, and cold-chain infrastructure. We must rethink packaging not as an expense but as a value-preserving necessity,” he said.

From banana fibre to bagasse (both natural fibres that can be used to create composite materials), Indian packaging ideas won global attention.  In his address, Chakravarthi showcased India’s growing leadership in sustainable packaging. Key highlights included rapid adoption of active and intelligent packaging in dairy and perishables, Eco-innovations using banana fibre, areca leaf, and sugarcane bagasse, state-led traceability pilots for horticulture and seafood exports, emerging green-tech packaging startups across the country and expansion of cold-chain networks and R&D centres.

“India’s packaging industry is evolving rapidly and holds immense potential to lead sustainable transformation across Asia,” he stated.

Speakers at the meeting included: Luciana Pellegrino, president, WPO; Ali Badernah, divisional chief, UNIDO; Eelke Westra, programme manager, WUR. The session was moderated by Dr Johannes Bergmair, general secretary, WPO.

Together, they emphasised that packaging is not just aesthetic—it is critical to food preservation, consumer safety, and meeting global sustainable development goals (SDGs).

A key outcome of the roundtable was the release of a joint research paper titled ‘Navigating the food loss and waste paradox: Balancing food loss reduction with safe food packaging’. The report, authored by UNIDO, WPO, and WUR, provides a methodology-driven roadmap for nations to reduce food waste and enhance food security through smart, sustainable packaging solutions.

This global forum marks a significant milestone for India’s packaging industry, reinforcing the country’s thought leadership in building resilient and sustainable food systems across Asia.