The Right to Food

Winpak has recognized World Food Day since 2020. This year’s theme is “Right to Foods” for a better life and a better future. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has always advocated for equality in the food supply chain and for food security. Winpak has written in the past about food insecurity along with topics like malnourishment. By the numbers, here are some key statistics¹ related to food and the need for healthy diets.

• Over 700 million people worldwide face hunger
• Almost 3 billion people worldwide are unable to afford a healthy diet
• Climate change impacts agricultural yields and productivity
• 13% of food is lost during harvest and transport; 19% is wasted at the retail and consumer stages

It should be acknowledged that these issues occur globally and can impact nearly all socio-economic classes. With that context, several factors contribute to food insecurity and lack of proper nutrition for nearly half the world’s population. Climate change, the cost of food, and our own lifestyles are a few of the contributors. Farmers can and do produce enough food to feed our populations. Therefore, the need is not necessarily for more food to be produced. It is more important that we have the right foods with nutritional needs in mind that are delivered safely to all consumers at affordable prices.

The challenges noted by the FAO in their recent report² tie to several global trends.

• Malnutrition – In this context, both hunger and obesity are relevant
• Loss of food diversity – Changes in agricultural practices contribute here
• Crisis regions and extreme weather events trigger displacement and poor access to foods
• Unsafe food showing up through supply chains

So, as a packaging company, how does Winpak support the goals of the United Nations and help reduce food insecurity and ensure people get safe food where it is needed? From a social or community perspective, Winpak sites are fully engaged in the communities in which we operate. Winpak believes in being a good corporate citizen and helping those less fortunate and/or facing hardship. This mindset leads our organizations to regularly conduct food drives to support families facing food insecurity. Our sites throughout Canada, Mexico, and the United States have all supported their local communities in this manner. We understand this type of action is not a long-term fix, but it does ensure families some much needed help when adversity strikes.

On a broader basis, how else can a company like Winpak contribute to support a better food supply chain? Winpak is committed to reducing its impact on the climate. Our leadership and more than 2,700 employees are committed to “provide the best packaging for people and planet”. We are focused on climate goals of reducing our energy intensity and reducing our GHG emissions intensity a minimum of 10% by 2025. Beyond 2025, Winpak recently committed to Science-Based Targets (SBTi) and is setting its emissions reduction targets for validation. Winpak is also innovating to convert 100% of its product portfolio to sustainable options. In doing so, Winpak innovates and produces necessary flexible and rigid packaging that extends the shelf life of perishable foods, keeping them fresher for longer. Shelf-life extension is important to ensure food makes it to its intended end market and remains safe to consume. It is Winpak’s intent as well that its packaging can participate in a circular economy at its end of life.

Winpak stands with other organizations with believing all people have a right to safe and nutritious foods. We believe in corporate citizenship and the promotion of ethical supply chains. Winpak also believes in the importance of necessary packaging to ensure the food supply chain functions properly, where food waste is reduced, and where people’s “right to foods” can be fulfilled.



¹ The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024 (https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/09ed8fec-480e-4432-832c-5b56c672ed92)
² https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/7478e7d1-d921-4021-9e6b-d007c2dcea17/content

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