Since 2015, BioPak has partnered with OzHarvest, Australia’s leading food rescue organisation turning good-quality surplus food into nourishing meals for those that need it. In 2023, we extended this commitment across the Tasman with KiwiHarvest, helping Aotearoa’s population become food secure. We're proud to partner with organisations whose mission mirrors our own: OzHarvest and KiwiHarvest rescue food destined for landfill to feed people in need, while BioPak's foodservice products are made from biobased materials - reducing landfill waste at the other end of the food journey.
1,500,000
Meals donated since via OzHarvest (2015 – 2027)
58,416
Meals donated since 2023 via KiwiHarvest
1,000,000+
Nourishing meals served in BioPak's compostable packaging
Food waste is a problem we can’t ignore
Food waste feeds our global climate crisis. In Australia alone, we generate more than 7.6 million tonnes of food waste every year, with much of it ending up in landfill where it breaks down and releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. At the same time, millions of households rely on food relief just to get by.
These two crises are converging. Australia and New Zealand are now facing their worst-ever levels of national food insecurity with 1 in 4 households struggling to put dinner on the table – even as more food that ever goes to waste. It's a paradox at the heart of our food system: the more the climate crisis intensifies, the more people go without, while edible food continues to be lost at scale
That's where BioPak, OzHarvest and KiwiHarvest come in. We share the same goal: keeping food waste out of landfill. Food rescue and composting are two of the most powerful tools we have to tackle this crisis – one keeps good food on the table, the other returns what's left to the earth instead of landfill. It's a joy to see delicious, nutritious food served in BioPak's products: nourishing people every day, while modelling what a truly circular food system looks like.
"BioPak is a truly integral part of OzHarvest. We share your commitment to protecting the planet, and thanks to your products, our food is served in 100% compostable containers, which we love!"
— Ronni Kahn AO, OzHarvest Founder
Photo credit: Ronni Kahn AO speaks about the BioPak and composting at the CEO Cookoff 2019.
Photo credit: Ronni Kahn AO speaks about the BioPak and composting at the CEO Cookoff 2019.
Our partnership extends beyond meals
From cooking events to community pop-ups, our work with OzHarvest and KiwiHarvest plays out across the country all year round. Now, we're taking it further – with our team rolling up their sleeves to volunteer at OzHarvest's Waterloo markets, cooking alongside customers, run food drives, and deliver rescued food in the iconic OzHarvest vans It's this everyday, on-the-ground work – done together with our customers – that turns a partnership into real impact.
Cooking for Change
In the past, we've teamed up with OzHarvest and Compost Connect to run Cooking for Change events — hands-on cooking experiences that turn rescued ingredients into real meals for the community, while putting food waste and composting front and centre.
CEO Cook Off
CEO CookOff, OzHarvest’s flagship fundraising event, brings together Australia’s leading chefs, business and community leaders for an unforgettable night of food, connection and impact. Our own Guy Brent will be taking part in several of these events across October and November raising critical funds to alleviate the country's food crisis. OzHarvest have set an ambitious goal of raising $2.5 million in 30 days, to feed 5 million Aussies in need. In 2026, we're the exclusive Sustainability Partner of the CEO Cook-Off, in addition to the funds Guy raises, we have also committed to providing over 500,000 meals in the next 12 months to feed the people who need it most. If you'd like to support Guy in raising funds for this important cause, follow the link below.
Every $1 = 2 meals donated, every donation, big or small, makes a big difference.
Christmas BioCups
For over 3 years, we've produced co-branded Christmas BioCups to spread joy and raise funds. For every cup sold, 5% of the proceeds go directly to OzHarvest, helping to fund their food rescue operations.
The bigger picture: BioPak’s Give Back Fund
Through our Give Back Fund, we donate 5% of profits to drive real social and environmental change across two pillars: Trees and Meals. Alongside our OzHarvest and KiwiHarvest partnerships, we work with veritree and Rainforest Rescue to plant trees and restore ecosystems.
Since 2012, BioPak has contributed more than $5 million to charities and causes around the world — and we're on track to reach $6 million by the end of 2026.
BioCrew Volunteers at OzHarvest
Over the yearsthe BioCrew has made its way to the OzHarvest warehouse and help with whatever is required— such as packing food relief hampers and handing out food supplies at the OzHarvest hamper hubs during COVID. This year the BioCrew are volunteering in the kitchen to transform rescued produce into gourmet meals for local charities. Our team members are driven by a genuine belief that we can make a difference. It is important for us to enact the values that we spout.
Find out more about volunteer opportunities here
Cooking for Change: Impactful Events
Our collaboration in 2023 in South Australia underscored the powerful synergy between food rescue and sustainability. BioPak, OzHarvest and Compost Connect put on a Cooking for Change event that not only provided meals for the community but also raised awareness about the critical issue of food waste and composting. The event showcased how surplus food can be transformed into nourishing meals and food scraps can be composted, demonstrating a model of circular economy in action. Every meal served was a testament to the shared values of both organisations—caring for people and the planet.
Another Cooking for Change event was held in Brisbane, where once again BioPak, OzHarvest, Compost Connect and celebrity chef Alastair McLeod teamed up to host a zero-waste cooking event. Together, they prepared a nourishing salad made with rescued ingredients for local charities. The event also featured a closed-loop collaboration, where all organic waste and compostable packaging were collected by Mallow Sustainability to create nutrient-rich compost, promoting sustainable food production.
The Cooking for Change events are based on OzHarvest’s Cooking for a Cause program, which provides a unique team-building activity for companies. Find out more and book your zero-waste cooking experience here.
OzHarvest CEO CookOff
We have also partnered with them on several occasions to run zero-waste events by donating compostable plates, bowls, cups and cutlery which were collected after use and composted at local facilities. By working collaboratively to assess the packaging requirements and plan the waste management logistics, we’ve managed to take the annual OzHarvest CEO CookOff to a plastic-free event where all packaging and food scraps are recycled into nutrient-rich compost. These charity events make an enormous positive contribution to the community and have the power to inspire positive change for the planet.
As OzHarvest Chef Kara Urbanska remarked, “The partnership between OzHarvest and BioPak has made a huge difference in the kitchen… People can see we’re shifting from plastic to compostable, and hopefully, they'll follow along as well. So I think it’s really powerful.”
A Festive Gesture: Christmas with BioCups
The holiday season offers a perfect moment to give back, and since 2022, BioPak and OzHarvest have been doing just that with a special initiative. We've produced co-branded Christmas BioCups designed to spread joy and raise funds. For every cup sold, 5% of the proceeds go directly to OzHarvest, helping to fund their food rescue operations. The cups also feature a QR code encouraging coffee lovers to donate to OzHarvest directly.
BioPak CEO Gary Smith underscores the importance of OzHarvest's role in assisting vulnerable communities. He says, "We are incredibly proud to continue our ongoing partnership and work with OzHarvest. While Christmas is often a joyful occasion, we acknowledge that this time of the year can be incredibly hard for many families and individuals in our community. We hope to deliver as many meals as possible to people during the holiday season and help OzHarvest continue to make a positive impact, both for our planet and for those in need."
“In our so-called ‘lucky’ country, it’s devastating to think that food is often crossed off the list of things families can afford. We see the need in the communities every day and are doing our best to make sure good food gets to those who need it most, but often, there’s just not enough. The simple act of buying your coffee in a BioPak cup will help us feed more people in need this Christmas,” says OzHarvest Founder and Visionary in Residence Ronni Kahn AO.
Unite to Feed Australia: OzHarvest’s 20th Birthday
2024 has been a particularly hard year for many Australians. As part of their 20th Birthday OzHarvest launched a powerful Unite to Feed Australia Campaign hoping to raise an additional 5 million meals on top of their daily services.
For nearly 10 million Australians, food has become a luxury. After covering bills, it's often the last priority or completely skipped. OzHarvest provides over half a million meals every week, but it still falls short of the growing need. They're calling on everyone to Unite to Feed Australia and help make a real impact.
Currently, 1,500 charities depend on OzHarvest to supply food for those in need, and many say it's the toughest they've ever experienced. OzHarvest supports these charities nationwide, but the food supply falls short of meeting the growing demand.
OzHarvest’s Community Needs Survey highlights the severity of the issue:
- 75% of charities report an increase in demand
- 67% don't have enough food to assist everyone in need
- 31% of people are seeking help for the first time in their lives
BioPak is proud to support OzHarvest’s mission and we’re honoured to be ‘Uniting to Feed Australia’. We are accelerating our longstanding partnership providing an additional 50,000 meals to Australians in need on top of our regular donation commitment.
Find out more about the Unite to Feed Australia Campaign here.
The Impact So Far
The impact of our partnership extends beyond just meals. From April 2023 to April 2024, BioPak’s support helped OzHarvest deliver over 178,927 meals to those in need. In addition, 89,464 kg of CO2 emissions were stopped, and 89,464 kg of food were saved from landfill. We’ve also donated 100+ types of products with a combined total of 612,123 to eight locations as more people were reached by this meaningful partnership.
As we move forward, BioPak remains committed to supporting OzHarvest’s vital work. Together, we will continue to innovate, inspire, and implement solutions that nourish communities and protect our planet. As Ronni Kahn AO puts it, “Whilst food is at the heart of everything we do, our impact goes way beyond the meals we deliver.”
Why We Support This Charity
BioPak is proud to announce its partnership with food rescue organisation OzHarvest, which will help feed thousands of people in need and fight the war on food waste.
OzHarvest’s framework for food rescue saves millions of kilos of good food from landfill and redistributes to people in need.
Up to 200,000 Meals Donated Every Year
We have supported OzHarvest since 2015, and in 2022 we formalised our partnership to help them deliver up to 200,000 meals over the course of the year to some of Australia’s most vulnerable communities.
Every dollar donated can feed two Australians, and we are humbled to know that our contribution can allow OzHarvest to deliver an additional 200,000 meals over the course of the year.
Our Impact
Food waste feeds climate change. Australia’s food waste is more than 7.6 million tonnes each year, while 3.6 million people still rely on food relief. If food waste were a country, it would be the 3rd largest emitter of greenhouse gases. OzHarvest’s work rescues food from going to waste while feeding those in need. They are truly maximising social impact while minimising environmental impact. Their “why” speaks to our “why”.
The BioCrew being the change they want to see in the world.
The BioCrew being the change they want to see in the world.
Each year, the BioCrew make their way down to the OzHarvest warehouse and get busy with whatever help that’s required – often taking on tasks such as packing food relief hampers and handing out food supplies at the OzHarvest hamper hubs. Our team members are driven by a genuine belief that we can make a difference. It is important for us to enact the values that we spout.
Attendees of the OzHarvest CEO CookOff.
Attendees of the OzHarvest CEO CookOff.
We have also partnered with them on several occasions to run zero waste events by donating compostable plates, bowls, cups and cutlery which were collected after use and composted at local facilities. By working collaboratively to assess the packaging requirements and plan the waste management logistics, we’ve managed to take the annual OzHarvest CEO CookOff to a plastic-free event where all packaging and food scraps are recycled into nutrient rich compost. These charity events make an enormous positive contribution to the community and have the power to inspire positive change for the planet.
OzHarvest CEO, Ronni Kahn AO speaks about the BioPak and composting at the CEO Cookoff 2019.
OzHarvest CEO, Ronni Kahn AO speaks about the BioPak and composting at the CEO Cookoff 2019.
Our story with them continues with the OzHarvest Food Truck and you could play a big part! By hiring the Food Truck for your next event, you enable OzHarvest to deliver a nourishing lunch, free of charge, to a charity or community event for vulnerable Australians. Any leftovers can be packaged at the end of the event and redistributed to people in need. Served with BioPak fully compostable packaging and cutlery, nothing goes to waste.
Actually, to play a role in the OzHarvest story is much simpler than hiring a truck. You’re already part of it. For it is only through our customers’ (your), support in our business that we are able to do what we do. It is together with our customers that we’re able to support projects like these and together that we will be able to bring about meaningful, positive change.
