The movement to reduce packaging waste has been gaining speed in recent years, with many governments enacting bans on single-use plastics and the increased popularity of package-free products, returnable containers and buy-in-bulk grocery stores.

However, many consumers would be shocked at the amount of waste the produce they eat creates before it even arrives on their grocer’s shelves or at their door as a take-away order.

In an effort to address this hidden issue, Sustain: The Australian Food Network has partnered with Natoora Melbourne, a produce distributor connecting Victorian growers, restaurants and markets; a number of small Victorian producers, as well as Sustainability Victoria to understand the packaging waste problem, pilot a reusable crate scheme and explore and expand practices to reduce waste in this often-invisible stage of the food cycle.

Since January 2023, we’ve been working closely with Natoora to find the best way to reduce the 14.4 tons of cardboard waste that is currently generated in their supply chain on average every year. After consulting with our partners, 960 reusable crates were introduced into Natoora's supply chain.

“The SV Unboxed project has allowed us to strengthen relationships with some customers to develop new systems around waste reduction through exchanging our reusable tubs each week. The roll out of this or similar systems to larger organisations would be incredible. Standardised crates and tubs seem uncontroversially beneficial, both environmentally and economically.

As a small business, we have found it easy to adapt our systems and make quick executive decisions to reduce our waste, however this isn't the case for bigger businesses, particularly in agriculture where margins are slim and changing systems can be incredibly expensive. Receiving support from Sustain and the Unboxed program could be a real game changer in Victorian food systems.”

Eve Fraser, co-manager Farm Raiser Urban Farm

We warmly invite you to be part of this webinar on 26 March at 5pm AEST, to hear from the team behind the project, along with the participants, and the impact this has had on our environment and thinking around food systems/packaging. We also have David Leonard, from Sustainability Victoria's Program Capability Lead | Community Solutions as guest speaker.

This project is supported by the Victorian Government’s Circular Economy Communities Fund.

Speakers:

Eve Fraser is the co-manager of Farm Raiser Urban Farm, responsible for volunteer management, wholesale, finances, as well as participating in everyday farming. With a passion for tapping into community, being outside and getting muddy, a career in horticulture seemed the perfect place to be. A masters in urban horticulture at Melbourne Uni's Burnley campus introduced Eve to Farm Raiser and the incredible work being done by former Burnley students at the intersection of disability support work, commercial farming and food relief. After infiltrating as the Farm's first volunteer, she joined the team, learning how to farm on the fly.

Farm Raiser is a not-for-profit, charity urban farm located on Wurundjeri Country in Melbourne's north-east. Utilising the disused land of the Waratah Special Developmental School, Farmraiser grows fruit and veggies using organic and biodynamic practices. The students from Waratah SDS help to propagate veggies in our accessible nursery, as well as packing and delivering our food relief and Sovereignty veggie boxes around the neighbourhood.

Mark Leahy

Mark Leahy has been the General Manager of Natoora Melbourne since 2021. Mark works directly with our growers to source produce, create market demand and plan for future seasons, while running the internal brand and communications team.

At Natoora Melbourne, we are creating links between agroecological growers, producers and Melbourne’s most flavour-driven chefs. We actively seek to re-educate the way individuals think about and consume fruit and vegetables. Our goal is to create more meaningful and responsible food systems that preserve seed varieties, growing techniques and traditions that are threatened by modern industrial farming and supermarket culture. We are a food system revolution.

Terry Emselle

Sunnybank Farm Ballarat is a multi-generational family farm in Burrumbeet, Victoria. We proudly uphold ethical and sustainable principles utilising holistic and regenerative practices to farm alongside nature.

Everything we do is focused on connecting our community with their food, growing food the way nature intended and enabling our produce to be accessible via local retailers, cafes and direct paddock-to-plate.

Adrian Li, Chef at La Madonna.

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