BASSENDEAN business Fresh Frontier has signed up to a new state government project to track and reduce food waste.

The initiative, called the ‘post-harvest food waste transformation project’, is designed to help small or medium-sized businesses track food wastage and look into opportunities to transform and reduce food waste, reducing landfill and cutting costs at the same time.

The state government has invested $320,000 into the project to work with local companies in decreasing their food waste.

Fresh Frontier, a ready-made meal company based in Bassendean, will use their share of the new funding to investigate developing new products using what would previously have been food waste.

Brand manager Scott Joy said the business saw the opportunity to enhance their sustainability efforts and maximise fresh resources, all while developing a more resilient business.

“This program has assisted us to map areas of waste and processing methods, and in turn then research opportunities for new additional products to develop value from our by-product rather than going to waste,” he said.

“We are looking into how we can utilise some of our higher volume by-products, one of these being outer lettuce leaves that consumers do not usually want.”

Mr Joy said Fresh Frontier was actively looking for ways to make business more sustainable.

“With an existing positive relationship with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development through their food industry development team the opportunity and willingness to be a foundation industry partner with this project was a natural and obvious step for us,” he said.

“Our desire to be environmentally conscious and creatively explore ways to reduce waste comes down to the culture and leadership of this company in leaning into our position as a proud local WA, high quality, fresh, family business. We take our responsibility seriously in continuing to provide quality, safe and sustainable products that make the most of our fresh resources and serve our customers as best as we are able.”

Carnarvon’s Sweeter Banana Co-operative and Avena Mills in the Wheatbelt have also already signed onto the project.

More businesses are expected to join these initial three over the coming months.

Agriculture and food minister Jackie Jarvis said food waste costs the Australian economy an estimated $36.6 billion every year and adds to the country’s continuing landfill overuse problems.

She said reducing costs through being more waste conscious could also mean consumers can shop cheaper.

“Our government is helping small to medium-sized businesses to remain internationally competitive by supporting them to improve environmental, social and governance credentials, which are an essential component of modern business operations,” she said.

“I look forward to seeing the innovative solutions to come from the ‘post harvest food waste transformation project’ and how they benefit local businesses.”