UK-founded WRAP organisation opens APAC office in Adelaide

Climate action NGO Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has opened its Asia–Pacific office in Adelaide.

Based at the Urrbrae campus at the University of Adelaide in partnership with Fight Food Waste, and standing as WRAP’s first base outside of the UK, the organisation will be expanding its reach into the region, working on food waste reduction, plastic pollution and sustainable textiles. It will also help its partners shift to a circular economy.

The Adelaide office will be used as a base to work in other countries including China, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, the Pacific Islands and New Zealand.

WRAP currently has several initiatives in the region including the Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands Plastic Pact; Love Food Hate Waste International; halving food loss and waste by leveraging economic systems Indonesia; the Malaysia Sustainable Plastics Alliance; the Australian Food Pact; and the National Clothing Product Stewardship Scheme.

Claire Kneller, WRAP Asia Pacific Managing Director, said: “I’m thrilled to be leading WRAP’s first overseas office and to be able to share WRAP’s expertise and experience in the race to net zero. I’m excited to be able to work closely with our partners in the region, and to seek out new, game-changing initiatives that will help us address climate change.”

Marcus Gover, WRAP UK CEO, said: “The opening of our new office in Australia is not just a new premises for WRAP, it is the first step in our strategy to extend our reach and increase our impact in the region. We are immensely proud of our presence in Australia and our aim is to bring people together and drive change across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the Pacific.”

Steven Lapidge, CEO at Fight Food Waste Limited, said: “Fight Food Waste is proud to host and partner with WRAP. It’s a reflection of our long-standing relationship, WRAP’s membership of the Fight Food Waste CRC (the world’s largest food waste R&D organisation) and more recently, on delivering the Australian Food Pact. I look forward to seeing WRAP Asia Pacific grow and flourish from our shared headquarters in Adelaide.”

Image credit: iStock.com/moisseyev