SIG and SIG Foundation hand over “Cartons for Good” to Akij Monowara Trust to tackle food loss and malnutrition in Bangladesh

giugno 30, 2026

Launched seven years ago, Cartons for Good converts surplus vegetables into nutritious, shelf‑stable meals using a downsized mobile filling unit developed by SIG experts to fill the meals into SIG’s carton packs. The solution, designed to be operated and maintained locally to help people in need, preserves food safely in SIG carton packs for up to 9 months without refrigeration, helping to address post-harvest food losses and gaps in access to nutrient-dense foods in Bangladesh.

With the pilot phase completed in March 2026, the system and processes are running stably, and the equipment is in excellent condition – ready to be used further. As SIG Foundation works with partners to advance initiatives that strengthen civil society and create positive impacts for the environment, the handover to Akij Monowara Trust, part of the trusted Akij Group ecosystem, which is an SIG customer since 2016, secures continuity and local ownership.

Since 2019, the project has delivered daily meals for under‑privileged schoolchildren, enabling them to go to and stay in school rather than entering work too early to earn money for food. Within the pilot phase, 119070 meal packages have been filled and distributed to schools, saving 23.2 tons of vegetables that would otherwise have been lost. Cartons for Good has also supported disaster relief, including packages donated during the 2022 floods, packages handed over to people in need in 2024, and additional packages for flood victims in 2024.

Holger Dickers, Managing Director SIG Foundation: “At the SIG Foundation, we work with partners to advance initiatives that strengthen communities and support positive environmental impact. Cartons for Good in Bangladesh has proven its value during the pilot phase and we are happy to hand it over to Akij Monowara Trust to continue the valuable work done for people in need and the environment.”

Dr. Tanvir Mahmud, Head of Operation at Akij Monowara Trust: “We are happy and proud to continue this valuable project. By building on the strong foundation created by SIG and SIG Foundation, we can keep supporting vulnerable communities, provide nutritious meals to schoolchildren and families, and ensure that farmers benefit from produce that might otherwise be lost.”

How it works

Local farmers bring excess crops to be processed into meals and are paid for their produce, creating an additional income from what would otherwise be food loss. These fruits and vegetables are used to cook nutritious meals according to traditional local recipes and then filled into SIG cartons. Used packs are collected and recycled into new products such as shoeboxes and book covers, reinforcing the circularity and ESG credentials of the initiative.

The project will continue under the “Cartons for Good” brand producing meals for people in need. SIG Foundation financially supports the project for the next three years. This includes delivery of sleeves and spare parts. SIG will support with service hours. Stora Enso will donate liquid packaging board for the packs used in this project.

Cartons for Good supports SIG’s Food+ commitment to increase by 50% the volume of nutritious food and beverages delivered in its packs by 2030 (from a 2020 baseline), underlining SIG’s broader ambition to drive positive societal impact through sustainable packaging and technology.

For more information about Cartons for Good and SIG Foundation’s sustainability initiatives, visit https://www.sig.biz/en/foundation.

About SIG

SIG is a leading solutions provider of packaging for better – better for our customers, for consumers, and for the world. With our unique portfolio of aseptic carton, bag-in-box, and spouted pouch, we work in partnership with our customers to bring food and beverage products to consumers around the world in a safe, sustainable, and affordable way. Our technology and outstanding innovation capabilities enable us to provide our customers with end-to-end solutions for differentiated products, smarter factories, and connected packs, all to address the ever-changing needs of consumers. Sustainability is integral to our business, and we strive to create a regenerative food packaging system.

Founded in 1853, SIG is headquartered in Neuhausen, Switzerland, and listed at the SIX Swiss Exchange. The skills and experience of our approximately 9,700 employees worldwide enable us to respond quickly and effectively to the needs of our customers in over 100 countries. In 2025, SIG produced around 54 billion packs and generated €3.2 billion in revenue. SIG has an AAA ESG rating by MSCI, a Platinum CSR rating by EcoVadis, and is included in the FTSE4Good Index. For more information, visit https://www.sig.biz

About SIG Foundation

The SIG Foundation envisions a future in which good nutrition and clean water will be available to everyone and natural habitats will be preserved for future generations. The SIG Foundation’s purpose is to partner with others to identify, drive and promote activities and projects that strengthen civil society and create positive impacts for the environment. Cartons for Good was the foundation’s first initiative and is part of SIG's Food+ commitment. By using SIG technology and fostering collaboration, it aims to reduce food loss and ensure broad access to healthy nutrition for people in need. Recycle for Good is the Foundation's first initiative in the field of recycling and part of SIG's Resource+ commitment. It encourages people to collect recyclable materials. The overall purpose of the program is to change people's behavior and be mindful of natural resources. Established in 2018, the SIG For Better Foundation is based in Neuhausen, Switzerland. For more information, visit https://www.sig.biz/en/foundation

About Akij Monowara Trust

Akij Monowara Trust is a charitable trust linked to the broader Akij industrial ecosystem, engaged in philanthropic and community development activities. It operates as a non-profit entity focused on social welfare, education support, relief efforts, and other community-oriented programs.

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Heike Thevis

Press Officer bei SIG

Tel: +49 (0)2462 79 2608

Email: heike.thevis@sig.biz

SIG and SIG Foundation have officially handed over their pioneering “Cartons for Good” pilot project in Bangladesh to Akij Monowara Trust, marking the start of a new phase in a proven model for tackling food loss, malnutrition and social inequality leveraging SIG’s filling technology and expertise in packaging solutions. Since 2019, the project has delivered daily meals for under‑privileged schoolchildren, enabling them to go to and stay in school rather than entering work too early to earn money for food.

Photo: SIG