Renewable Material Food Packaging Prevents Food Waste

Food packaging made from renewable materials prevents food waste

International Information Packaging Network

According to statistics from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, globally each year about

hundred million tonnes of food intended for human consumption are discarded or wasted before reaching the table, equivalent to of total food production;

of the food is lost in transit,

of the food is thrown away from restaurants, and

of the food is discarded from retail stores.

Dairy products, fruits and vegetables are among the products that most need special care during transportation and sales. And all food needs to be properly transported and stored, under sturdy protection and a suitable temperature, to reach its destination smoothly. Otherwise, they will become wasted

The production and transportation of food require a lot of resources, such as water and energy. Wasted food accounts for

of global greenhouse gas emissions. Wasting food is also a moral issue, as there are

hundred million people in the world going hungry.

If food waste can be reduced, only a moderate amount of arable land and matching productivity would be needed to meet humanity's demand for food and nutrition, and the emissions generated in the production process

Food waste is an environmental, economic and moral challenge, and proper packaging helps to address these challenges.

Fiber-based packaging materials can improve food safety

How to ensure that food is fresh and safe from farm to table and improve the sustainability of the entire product chain is the key that food brands hope to find answers to from packaging materials and packaging solutions.

Certain chemicals in food packaging materials may migrate into food during contact with it. At the same time, unhygienic packaging materials may cause pathogenic microorganisms in food to exceed standards, leading to food poisoning incidents. Packaging materials based on virgin high-quality fibers are also the most reassuring and the most secure. They are part of the sustainable product cycle, providing sustainable and safe options for various uses.

In addition, a high-quality food package must also withstand changes in different transportation environments such as high heat and high humidity. This is particularly important for preserving products and reducing food waste. Due to the recyclability of wood fiber packaging materials, choosing such packaging has also become a responsible consumer choice.

The desire for a healthy lifestyle is a trend in today's world. Consumers want to live in an eco-friendly way and are looking for solutions with less environmental impact.

Chinese consumers generally believe that paper materials make them feel better than other materials. Comparing "paper materials" with "plastic" across the eight elements of "environmentally friendly, easy to use, shape, safety, aesthetics, texture, gifting and premium", paper packaging materials are superior to plastic packaging.

Although not every consumer will necessarily prefer eco-friendly packaging, at the moment of discarding packaging, consumers' environmental awareness runs high.

As consumers' awareness of green consumption matures, sustainable packaging will no longer be a choice in the future, but essential.

The secret lies in the circular design of packaging

Many international companies have pledged to replace plastics in their production and products in the future, or to adopt more recyclable packaging to reduce their carbon footprint.

So is thicker packaging better? Not necessarily. A high-quality package does not equal excessive packaging; a proper size allows less manufacturing material to be used and makes it lighter, which will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions in transportation and lower packaging costs. This resource efficiency is the core of any good packaging solution.

Board packaging based on renewable wood fiber is easy to recycle, making it more environmentally friendly than most other solutions. In Europe, more than

of fiber-based packaging is recycled.

Taking recyclability and circularity into account from the very beginning of product development will have more positive impacts on sustainability, the environment and society. As more food packaging made from renewable materials is used, new inspiration for solving the food waste problem will also be found in it. At the same time, food safety is further guaranteed, consumers' green consumption needs are responded to, and food brands' green commitments are fulfilled.

——This article is reprinted from China Packaging Network (pack.cn). Original link: http://news.pack.cn/show-379060.html