SIG Foundation was honored with the SAVE FOOD Award for its initiative, “Cartons for Good,” a project leveraging SIG’s filling technology expertise to aid communities in processing and preserving local food. The international recognition was presented on December 13, 2023, during the pacprocess MEA, the premier trade fair for Processing and Packaging in the Middle East & Africa region held in Cairo.
The SAVE FOOD initiative, established in 2011 by Messe Düsseldorf, interpack, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), seeks to address global food loss and waste. The award-winning initiative focuses on using SIG’s boil-down technology to preserve vegetables and fruits in SIG SafeBloc carton packs, allowing meals to be stored for up to nine months without refrigeration. The initiative aims to combat food loss and malnutrition by providing additional income for farmers, preserving surplus food, and distributing meals to schools, ensuring underprivileged children have regular lunches.
Holger Dickers, Managing Director of the SIG Foundation, expressed gratitude, stating, “Cartons for Good is the foundation’s flagship project—a unique initiative designed to help communities save surplus food, support farmers’ livelihoods, and promote children’s nutrition and education.”
In Egypt, where 50% of all fruits and vegetables go to waste, the SIG Foundation plans to invest the prize money in a comprehensive study to assess the impact of Cartons for Good. The study will identify regions with significant food loss, define the benefits of healthy meals for families and schools, and develop recipes tailored to local flavors and nutritional needs.
Sandra Hallaschka, Co-Project Leader of Cartons for Good at SIG Foundation, emphasized the importance of the study, stating, “The support from SAVE FOOD will be invested in a comprehensive and locally based study to achieve the highest possible impact in Egypt with our initiative.”
The SIG Way Beyond Good Foundation envisions a future where good nutrition, clean water, and preserved natural habitats are accessible to all. The foundation collaborates with partners to identify and promote activities that strengthen civil society and benefit the environment. Cartons for Good, the foundation’s flagship project, addresses food loss and malnutrition, while Recycle for Good focuses on recycling, encouraging responsible behavior towards natural resources.