With industry support from the Retirement Villages Association New Zealand, Elena co-designed the Waste Less, Care More toolkit with aged care providers and piloted it across 14 facilities throughout Aotearoa before sector-wide release.

It was a triumph. Not only did those participating sites meet that 10% figure – they smashed it. Between April and December 2025 those 14 care homes reduced food waste by an impressive average of 25%. They also reported improvements in resident satisfaction, staff workflows, teamwork, and sustainability awareness.

An Otago partnership with Fisher and Paykel Appliances Limited aims to develop international standards for refrigeration - prolonging the shelf life of food and reducing food waste