Whitepaper: Packaging cutting fresh produce waste

Discover how data‑driven retail and transport packaging decisions cut shrink, extend shelf life and help growers, packers and retailers achieve both sustainability and margin goals.

From soil to shelf: How packaging protects fresh produce and reduces food waste

Every year, around one‑third of all food produced is lost or wasted, and fresh fruit and vegetables are among the most vulnerable products in the chain. For retailers and their growers and packers, even a small reduction in waste can translate directly into better margins and lower environmental impact.​

Why fresh‑produce packaging is a strategic lever

Packaging is often seen as a cost item, but in reality it is a strategic tool that influences food waste, shelf life and profitability from field to consumer. The right combination of retail and transport packaging can help:​

• Protect produce during harvesting, packing, transport and in‑store handling
• Extend shelf life and reduce dehydration, spoilage and cosmetic damage
• Support compliance with new packaging and waste regulations such as PPWR

This Insight shows how optimised packaging choices create value for growers, packers, retailers and consumers across the entire fresh‑produce chain.​

What you will learn in this white paper

In the full white paper “How packaging protects fresh produce and reduces food waste”, NNZ shares evidence, examples and a practical framework to rethink fresh‑produce packaging. You will discover:​

• Where and why food waste occurs in the fresh‑produce chain, and the role packaging plays
• How modern packaging solutions influence shelf life, shrink and retailer margin
• How NNZ’s #Rethink approach – Reinvent, Redesign, Research and Recycle – helps you make fact‑based packaging decisions
• How a broad portfolio of retail and transport packaging can be tailored to crops like potatoes, onions, carrots and fruit

The paper is written for retailers, category managers, sustainability leads, growers and packers who want to connect sustainability goals with commercial performance.​

About NNZ: independent fresh‑produce packaging advisor

NNZ is an independent fresh‑produce packaging supplier and advisor with a global portfolio and over a century of experience in fruit and vegetable packaging. Working from the #Rethink methodology, NNZ assesses current packs, supply chains and sustainability goals, then advises on alternative materials and formats, including environmental footprint, shelf‑life performance, costs and consumer impact.​ Through co‑creation, pilots and innovation projects, NNZ helps growers, packers and retailers reduce waste, improve margins and prepare for future regulations.​