Modern food packaging provides a way to make food safe, reliable, shelf-stable and clean product. Unfortunately, most food packaging is designed to be single use and is not recycled. Instead, packaging is thrown away and often litters our waterways. Because so much food packaging (especially plastic) has ended up in waterways, the United Nations has declared the plastic pollution of oceans “a planetary crisis.” This is a problem not only for humanity, but for all aquatic life. There are other environmental impacts from food packaging as well, including to our air and soil.

Almost all food that we buy, especially processed food, comes packaged. Whether it comes from a grocery store or market, a sit-down or fast-food restaurant, an online meal delivery service or perhaps even the farmers’ market, it is hard to find food that isn’t artificially encased. Modern food packaging is made from a variety of manufactured and synthetic materials, including ceramics, glass, metal, paper, paperboard, cardboard, wax, wood and, more and more, plastics. Most food packaging is made of paper and paperboard, rigid plastic and glass.

While some newer plastics are made from corn and other plant matter, most are made from petroleum and include additives like polymers. In addition, many types of packaging contain coatings and most packaging comes labeled with text using printer’s inks; paperboards are often lined with plastic that is not visible.

The type of packaging used depends on several factors, such as where the food is purchased, the intended use of the packaging and the timeline for consuming the product. For example:

• Grocery store food is typically sold in glass, metal, plastic or paperboard containers, and often comes encased in multiple layers. Those containers are then placed into plastic or paper grocery bags.
• Takeout food is often wrapped in plastic or aluminum foil, then placed into paper, plastic or Styrofoam containers, and (often) is put into paper bags and finally into plastic grocery bags. These bags may contain plastic cutlery, napkins and straws, as well.
• Processed food often has multiple layers of packaging; for example, a food item might be placed in a tray, covered in paper or plastic wrap, placed into a paperboard box and then, often, covered again in plastic wrap.
• Many food items that were traditionally found in glass, metal or plastic bottles or cans are now found in multilayer plastic-coated pouches or cartons.

Current food production and consumption practices generate a lot of packaging, and new forms of packaging are constantly being developed. The packaging of food places the largest demand on the packaging industry, with approximately two thirds of all the material produced going to package food.

Unfortunately, most packaging is designed as single-use, and is typically thrown away rather than reused or recycled. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), food and food packaging materials make up almost half of all municipal solid waste. In 2014, out of the 258 million tons of municipal solid waste generated in the US, more than 63% was of packaging materials (for food and other purposes) and, overall, only 35% (89 million tons) was recycled or composted.

Why is the food industry using less glass packaging?

Glass is a material appreciated by brands and consumers. It is particularly used for the packaging of products sold in delicatessen and sweet goods (jam, honey, spreads, etc.), for local products (foie gras, traditional ready-made meals, duck confit, etc.) or catering dishes (ready-made meals, soups, desserts, etc.).

Soda-lime glass is used in the food market and is also known as Type III glass. Soda-lime glass is composed of silica, soda, limestone and cullet. This glass is widely used in the manufacture of bottles and jars. It accounts for about 90% of glass production.

Importance of food packaging: Food packaging plays a role in the processing and preservation of food. It must be safe for the food and for consumers, as well as durable to ensure the preservation of your products.

Why glass is an attractive choice: Glass is an inert material that prevents any migration between the packaging and its contents. It is therefore a very attractive food safety material. The transparency and brilliance of glass enhance the product contained. In addition, glass can be recycled over and over again.

While glass has always been a naturally occurring material, human-made glass has been around for centuries longer than plastic and is often seen as a sustainable alternative to plastic, particularly concerning its recyclability where it’s able to be fully crushed and melted back down again.

Glass has become a popular alternative for sustainable packaging, and in some cases, the original material for packaging like bottles and jars. Glass is primarily made of limestone, sand (silica), and soda ash (sodium carbonate). The ingredients are mixed, melted, and shaped.

Similar to plastic, raw material extraction can be detrimental to the environment. Additionally, glass has a much higher melting point than plastic, requiring a vast amount of energy to produce a product. Plastic can require up to 200ºC to melt while glass requires temperatures around 1600ºC. However, glass, while it can be harmful to your health breathing in silica during raw material extraction, is non-toxic.

Plastic bottles are a mainstay of our culture, containing everything from shampoo to water. Indeed, plastic bottles are readily used in the beverage industry today. Yet this was not always the case. In fact, plastic bottles have only been in common use since the early 1950s, and before that time, glass bottles were almost universally used.

Before the early 1950’s, glass bottles were used for several reasons. The first is that glass was the most available resource for bottle making, while the second is that glass could easily withstand the stresses of the carbonation process, something essential to the beverage industry.

However, during the early 1950s, plastic bottles replaced glass because they were lighter in weight, easier to transport, and harder to damage in transit. The manufacturing faculties for plastic also began to hit their stride during this time, making plastic a cheaper and easier to produce option for bottles.

What is sustainable packaging?

Sustainable packaging involves developing and using packaging which improves sustainability. The packaging should reduce the environmental impact and ecological footprint. The term sustainable does not have a set definition or criteria and therefore can often be overused. The term implies that the environmental impact of producing the product has been minimised, and consumers will usually assume that the continuous production of the product does not use up resources that cannot be replaced faster than they are used. Eco-friendly is also used at times instead of the word sustainable and should mean that a product or business does not harm the environment and conserves resources.

Packaging is an essential part of food manufacturing. Sustainable food packaging is about reducing the environmental footprint of packed food. Innovative sustainable packaging aims to reduce food waste and loss reduction by improving food quality, as well as food safety issues such as food borne diseases and food chemical contamination. It should also address the issue of plastic waste, as well as saving oil and food material resources. As sustainable practices are considered to be standard practice for businesses now, the term ‘carbon neutral’ is often used and is becoming a popular goal for companies. It describes making or resulting in no net release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere especially as a result of carbon offsetting.

As climate change has become an important issue around the world, businesses want to show consumers that they are thinking about it as well.

Around 100 million tonnes of food is wasted annually in the EU. This leads to huge environmental impacts. A large part of food wastage is related to the short shelf life of a lot of fresh produce.

Also, inaccuracies or misunderstanding of food date labels are responsible for 20% of the avoidable disposal of food which is still edible. Packaging has been identified as a key element in addressing sustainable food consumption. It is a common misconception that shifting to a more eco-friendly packaging option means that you will lose out on quality as sustainable food packaging options are often more durable. Petroleum based food packaging is harmful to the environment and also poses numerous health risks.

While it may not be possible to completely avoid these plastics, choosing eco-friendly food packaging that is less toxic, biodegradable or recyclable is a good step towards mitigating plastic’s harmful effects on the environment and on your own health.

Statistics indicate that consumer packaging causes the most amount of plastic and paper waste, which accounts for about 20% of all waste in landfills. Sustainable food packaging uses earth friendly materials to package a product.

Examples of sustainable food packaging are:

• Paper and card – These are organic materials which are friendly to the environment. Many drop-off facilities collect cardboard which is often recycled into material boxes, fast food boxes, frozen food boxes and other various packaging options.
• Kraft paper – This material is made from wood pulp, meaning the materials used to make kraft paper are plant based and therefore are very friendly to the environment. The material is also recyclable and compostable.
• Glass – This material can be used again and again. It is a trusted material when it comes to sustainable food packaging. A consumer may choose this type of packaging over others due to its ability to preserve a product’s taste and integrity.
• Metal – This material has been used for a long time and has a statistically proven safety and sustainability record. The recycling benefits of this material mean the waste does not end up in landfills.
• Certain types of plastic, mainly PET plastic – This type of packaging uses plastic materials which are safe, non-toxic, strong, flexible and recyclable. It is a popular, transparent packaging material and is often preferred over glass packaging due to the safety it provides. It is also light and offers an excellent barrier.
• Corn-starch – The materials used to make these types of food packaging are derived from corn and maize plants. This means they are fully biodegradable. It is important that the packaging is disposed of properly, as it will then break down into carbon dioxide and water which causes no harm to the environment. The material is sustainable, cheap and easy to produce.
• Compostable bowls with lids food packaging – These are usually made from sugarcane fibre, which is a by-product from sugar manufacturing factories. It is 100% biodegradable.

Are there any disadvantages to sustainable packaging?

We know that there are many benefits of switching to eco-friendly or sustainable food packaging; however, there are also some disadvantages which will need to be considered. Firstly, the cost of switching can be expensive for many small businesses. It can lead to higher costs in the production process or in other parts of your operation. Sustainable food packaging can cut costs in the long run; however, it can be difficult to predict when this will happen.

Another criticism for some eco-friendly packaging materials is that they can require the cultivation of crops. For example, cornstarch packaging comes from corn. While corn is a renewable and cost-effective crop, it can be criticised by those who feel that it could serve a better purpose by feeding people and alleviating poverty and hunger.

Also, sustainable food packaging materials can break down well, but only if they are disposed of correctly. There is a risk of cross-contamination as they can end up in recycling facilities. This can impact other recyclable materials and can result in even more waste than intended.

When considering individual, sustainable food packaging options, there are also some disadvantages to these:

Paper and card

• Has a reduced barrier quality compared to plastic, resulting in a shorter shelf life.
• New paper requires the cutting down of trees as it is not always made out of recycled materials.
• It can be easier to break or damage than other materials.
• Paper is often more expensive than plastic.
• The product inside cannot be viewed as the material is not transparent.

Glass

• Does not biodegrade quickly.
• Glass cannot be made out of 100% recycled materials as this would not be strong enough.
• Glass is energy intensive in order to produce it and recycle it.
• It is often more expensive than a plastic alternative material.
• Glass can break if it is damaged which can compromise the safety of the product inside.
• It is heavier to transport. This increases the fuel consumption and costs.

Metal

• Metal is energy intensive to produce and recycle.
• It takes a long time to biodegrade.
• The material can corrode.
• The product cannot be viewed through the packaging as it is not transparent.
• It is more expensive than an alternative plastic material.

Why we need to avoid plastic?

Approximately 60% of all plastic produced worldwide is produced for food packaging purposes. Due to the environmental and human health effects of non-degradable plastic packaging, many people are fighting to reduce plastic production and increase recycling.

It is not economical or environmentally effective to recycle some forms of plastic and it can make recycling efforts much more difficult for other types of plastic. Some types of plastic packaging are not widely recycled and are often only used once, causing harm to the environment.

This includes:

• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
• Low density polyethylene.
• Polystyrene.

There are many disadvantages to using plastic:

• It does not biodegrade quickly and breaks down into micro plastics, which can then enter the food supply chain.
• Plastic is often used for single use items that are thrown away. This is unsustainable.
• Not all plastic can be recycled, reused or repurposed.
• Public perception of plastic is negative and therefore it is beneficial for businesses to move away from the use of plastic.

It is important to consider where you can move away from plastic packaging and how waste and broken packaging is handled within your company.

Plastic is a huge environmental issue and problem for our planet:

• 500 million tonnes of plastic are produced annually worldwide.
• It is predicted that by 2050, the oceans could contain more plastic than fish.
• Every year, 500 billion plastic bottles are produced worldwide.
• In 2020 we generated more than 500 million tonnes of plastic, which is 900% more than in 1980.
• Every year, around 8 million tonnes of plastic ends up in our oceans.
• Plastic in the ocean is already more than 8 million tonnes of waste.