Join us in our first phase of FRESHPPACT as we talk to representatives of Waitrose & Partners, Blue Skies and the University of Northampton Centre for Sustainable Business Practices about their forthcoming trip to Ghana! This critical mission to Ghana will seek to further define the challenges around plastics in the supply chain, helping us to ensure we find the most suitable and impactful solutions that can benefit the whole industry.

We go live with them all on the next stage of the exciting FRESHPPACT adventure to find out more prior to a key trip to the key Blues Skies site in Ghana.

On the panel we have:

• George Barrett - Sustainability Manager (Circular Economy) , Waitrose & Partners 
• Dr. Ebenezer Laryea – Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Northampton
• Hella Lipper-Morse – Head of Technical, Blue Skies 
• Lana Mo – Head of Innovation at Blue Skies
• John Oldham – Purchasing Manager, Blue Skies
• Ben Thomas – Senior Environment Manager, Waitrose & Partners

The Fresh Produce Impact Hub, known as FRESHPPACT, will collaborate with retailers, manufacturers and agribusinesses operating within food supply chains rooted in developing or emerging economies to identify shared high-priority social and environmental challenges, and work with research partners to accelerate the adoption of the most promising solutions through a process of rapid evaluation, testing and adoption.  

FRESHPPACT is being implemented by Blue Skies and supported by Waitrose, which has been awarded a UKAid grant to develop the operating model and launch three challenge funds to find solutions to problem plastics found in agricultural mulch, workwear and packaging.

Solutions may include new technology and business models that mitigate plastic pollution through material substitution, accelerated biodegradation and improved manufacturing and remanufacturing processes.

The UKAid grant has been made via the Sustainable Manufacturing and Pollution Programme (SMEP). The SMEP programme is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and is implemented in partnership with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The grant has been awarded for an initial period until April 2022. 

FRESHPPACT is inviting expressions of interest from organisations who would like to be involved in launching the challenge funds and/or identifying solutions. Expressions of Interest may come from, but is not limited to retailers, fresh produce companies, research organisations (including universities) and solutions providers.