The greatest opportunities to improve sustainability in the food system may lie in the parts of the value chain consumers rarely see. At foodpro 2026, Lindy Hughson spoke with Flavia Vaz from Tetra Pak about the company's focus on what it calls the "critical middle" – the processing, packaging, storage and distribution stages where innovation can reduce waste, improve efficiency and strengthen food security.
Vaz explains why Tetra Pak sees sustainability and innovation as inseparable, supporting food manufacturers with solutions that reduce energy and water consumption, minimise food waste and increase the use of renewable materials. She also discusses the newly launched Food and Beverage SME Packaging and Machinery Solution Centre, an industry collaboration led by RMIT University and End Food Waste Australia with the AIP, APPMA and Tetra Pak, designed to help small and medium-sized food businesses access expertise and trial new processing and packaging solutions.
Watch the video below to hear how collaboration across the "critical middle" can help build a more resilient and sustainable food system:
