The World Packaging Organisation (WPO) will participate in the United Nations Climate Change Conference – COP30, taking place from 10 to 21 November 2025 in Belém, Brazil. The organization will join global leaders, policymakers, NGOs, and industry representatives to discuss the pivotal role of packaging in sustainable food systems and climate action.
WPO’s official participation will take place on 12 November, at the Action on Food Hub, in the Blue Pavillion, in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the FSSC Foundation. The session will explore how packaging innovation, design, and circularity can significantly contribute to reducing food loss and waste, one of the most pressing sustainability challenges facing the planet today.
According to WPO president, Luciana Pellegrino, the participation in COP30 highlights WPO’s ongoing commitment to position packaging as a key enabler of sustainable development. “Raising the voice for packaging at COP30 is a milestone that has been sown in the past two years counting on intense collaboration. Together with UNIDO and FSSC Foundation, we are honoured to represent the global packaging community at COP30, emphasizing the relevance of packaging in reducing food loss and waste. Packaging is not just a product; it is a system that protects resources, preserves food, and connects people and markets in more sustainable ways.”
WPO’s contribution will centre on data-driven insights, case studies, and policy recommendations demonstrating how responsible packaging can help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
WPO, UNIDO and FSSC will also share the outcomes of its global initiatives and focus the presentation of the recently launched document “Navigating the food loss and waste paradox” as well as the Design for Recycling Guidelines, showcasing how innovation and collaboration are driving measurable impact across industries and regions.
“The global packaging community has an extraordinary opportunity to influence the future of sustainable consumption,” adds Pellegrino. “Our mission at COP30 is to bring concrete evidence that intelligent, circular packaging solutions are fundamental to building resilient food systems and achieving global climate goals.”
With members in over 66 countries, WPO advocates for knowledge exchange, education, and innovation as pathways to accelerate the transition to a circular and climate-positive packaging ecosystem.
The participation at COP30 marks a new milestone in WPO’s strategy to strengthen collaboration among industry, governments, and academia, ensuring that packaging plays a greater positive impact in the global sustainability agenda.
The WPO is a non-profit, non-governmental, international federation of packaging institutes, associations, federations and other interested parties including corporations and trade associations. WPO joins 84 members, representing 66 countries that includes full members, honorary members, affiliate members and a regional federation.
