SINGAPORE – SATS’ subsidiary, Country Foods, has entered into a strategic collaboration with multi-protein producer Hilton Food Group (Hilton Foods) to redesign Country Foods’ protein processing capability in Singapore.
According to Singapore-based SATS, the partnership also includes the supply of proteins from Hilton Foods to Country Foods.
The deal aligns with the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals to promote responsible consumption and production and acting on climate change.
The food solutions provider aims to halve food packaging waste intensity in Singapore operations from the 2021 baseline by 2028 and introduce 100% sustainable packaging by 2030.
This partnership will use Country Foods’ distribution network and local market expertise as well as Hilton Foods’ capabilities in the production and processing of sustainable proteins.
The collaboration is anticipated to improve Country Foods’ operational effectiveness and capacity for sustainable packaging to provide its food service and retail clients with goods that are packed responsibly.
SATS Food Solutions chief executive officer Stanley Goh said: “Increasingly, customers are demanding sustainable packaging solutions. Hilton Foods is the best-in-class partner with the know-how and technology to drive scale and productivity in large-scale protein processing.
“They can produce packaging that does not require the separation of materials for recycling and packaging for chilled proteins that do not need soaker pads.
“That eliminates a lot of packaging waste. We believe this partnership will help SATS and Country Foods advance our sustainability goals.”
This comes at a time when more than 532,000 tonnes, or US$1.8 billion worth of domestic packaging waste is being thrown out in Singapore, according to the Singapore Environment Council.
“With over half a million tonnes of domestic packaging waste disposed in 2021, packaging waste remains a complex challenge in Singapore and one that will require collaboration across multiple stakeholders to overcome,” Jen Teo, Executive Director, Singapore Environment Council.
The Council’s report reveals that 7 out of 10 consumers in the country lack full understanding of what materials can and cannot be recycled, stressing that consumer education will be paramount in addressing the issue around sustainable packaging.
The council calls for a collective effort from the government to the private sector to reduce excess packaging and more importantly to shift to a circular economy.
For all the latest packaging and printing industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
