Cartons for Good

The challenge

One third of all food produced for human consumption is lost¹.
At the same time, nearly 733 million people suffer from malnutrition².

 

Can we tackle both challenges together?

With the foundation’s Cartons for Good initiative and the use of SIGs technology, we preserve surplus food and improve the lives of people in need by providing healthy nutrition.

1 https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/45275/Food-Waste-Index-2024-key-messages.pdf?sequence=8&isAllowed=y
2 https://www.who.int/news/item/24-07-2024-hunger-numbers-stubbornly-high-for-three-consecutive-years-as-global-crises-deepen--un-report

The idea

As part of the Food+ commitment, SIG aims to increase the volume of nutritious food and beverages in SIG’s long-lift packaging by 50% by 2030 (from a 2020 baseline). This ambitious goal aligns with SIG’s dedication to positive societal impact through sustainability.

The Cartons for Good initiative, led by the SIG Foundation, is a visionary partnership with SIG customers and others designed to improve nutrition for people in need. Surplus products that would otherwise be lost are processed and packed using SIG’s filling technology to create safe, long-lasting products.

Cartons for Good in Thailand

In Thailand, surplus mango and longkong are turned into pudding with SIG’s aseptic technology – safe for 12 months without refrigeration and easy to distribute.

At this stage, the focus is on what truly matters: reaching more vulnerable people. With the support of Village Health Volunteers, 1,000 elderly households receive nutritious pudding every day – delivered with trust, care, and dignity.

How it works

1. Upcycling surplus fruit

The process begins with an analysis of food loss and malnutrition in the country. Based on these insights, a nutritious recipe is developed. Finally, surplus fruit is sourced from local farmers and upcycled into healthy, sustainable products.

 

2. Recipe development

The Institute of Nutrition at Mahidol University developed a product tailored to the dietary needs of elderly individuals, especially those with dental or swallowing difficulties.

3. Smart processing & packaging

Our local partner Ampol Food uses SIG’s aseptic technology to create soft pudding – safe for 12 months without refrigeration.

 

4. Trusted distribution

Village Health Volunteers deliver pudding directly to 1,000 elderly households daily – with dignity and care.

 

5. Closing the loop

Eco-Friendly Thailand and PRO Thailand recycle empty cartons, giving them a second life.

The Impact

  • Farmers earn income from produce that would otherwise go to waste.
  • Nutritious food stays safe for 12 months without refrigeration.
  • Vulnerable people receive the nourishment they lack.
  • Packaging is collected and recycled.

It’s time to scale up

Cartons for Good began in 2019 with a pilot project in Bangladesh, where a small filling unit developed by SIG employees turned surplus food from local farmers into healthy school lunches — helping children attend school instead of working for food. Today, SIG and the SIG Foundation are scaling up by partnering with industry players and NGOs to process surplus food into healthy nourishment for people in need.

Completing the cycle

Sustainability doesn’t end with what’s inside – cartons deserve a second life.

 

Cartons for Good promotes collection and recycling, turning used packs into new products such as shoeboxes and book covers.

 

With Eco-Friendly Thailand and PRO Thailand, recycling is secured, while clear fold-and-recycle instructions on each pack encourage participation.

Support us in making a real impact

Cartons for Good is more than a project – it is a transformative initiative that tackles urgent issues, builds partnerships, and demonstrates our commitment to positive global impact.

 

Join us in our mission to provide nutrition while reducing food loss. With your expertise, resources, or support, we can scale Cartons for Good and reach even more communities.

 

Together, we create a win-win for people and the planet.

Join us in turning food loss into nutrition


Cartons for Good proves that bold ideas, strong partnerships, and smart technology can make a real difference. Let’s scale up and reach more communities together.