The transformation path of takeaway packaging: beyond performance, the "eco-friendly" attribute cannot be ignored

China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation News] "My answer at present may be somewhat pessimistic. Although many plastic packages nowadays advertise themselves as fully biodegradable, in reality this is not the case." Ma Yong, deputy secretary-general of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation, said this recently in an interview with the media on the topic of takeout packaging.

According to the "Research Report on the Environmental Impact and Recycling of Packaging Plastics in the Takeout Industry (2021)", with the explosive growth of the takeout industry in recent years, the amount of plastic packaging consumed (discarded) grew from 57,000 tonnes in 2015 to 574,000 tonnes in 2020, a tenfold increase over five years.

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According to the survey findings of the "Green Packaging Solutions for Food Takeout (Phase I)" released in May 2023 by the Meituan Green Plan and others, merchants are most concerned about packaging performance, followed by environmental protection, appearance and cost; and merchants operating different dishes also have different concerns about packaging.

For different food types, merchants often choose different categories of packaging. For example, pasta foods such as baozi and dumplings need packaging with good breathability, while wontons, soup noodles and soup rice noodles mostly use solid-liquid separation packaging. Since takeout delivery distances also involve heat preservation and cold preservation, cakes and pastries mostly use paper boxes, while beverages widely use plastic cups.

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But no matter which type of packaging it is, plastic components are almost unavoidable. This brings us back to the issue we were concerned about earlier: the recycling and degradation of the massive amount of takeout packaging.

One reality is that, where garbage classification is poorly enforced, takeout food residues and their plastic packaging boxes are often mixed together. Leftovers are tied and fastened in packaging boxes/bags and then thrown into the trash bin.

"A large amount of plastic waste is difficult to recycle and reuse effectively. It either continues to pollute the water and soil environment and increases greenhouse gas emissions during incineration and landfill, or drifts in the environment and is accidentally eaten by wild animals, causing their death, or finally turns into microplastics that enter organisms, including human food." Ma Yong said.

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At the same time, Ma Yong also emphasized that many takeout orders now suffer from excessive packaging, and the cost of excessive packaging is often passed on to consumers. "Judging from the current technical level of plastic degradation and the huge volume of takeout packaging, achieving source reduction is the top priority in reducing plastic waste pollution."

At present, the issue of plastic pollution has become a focus of international concern and anxiety. The United Nations is promoting the formulation of a "plastics treaty". Following the first session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on plastic pollution (INC-1) held in Uruguay in November 2022, the second session (INC-2) was held in Paris, France, from May 29 to June 2, 2023. More than 1,600 representatives from over 160 countries and more than 300 observer organizations reached a consensus at this session to complete the first draft of the "plastics treaty" in November 2023 and submit it to the next session to be held in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, for discussion.

——This article is reprinted from China Packaging Network (pack.cn). Original link: http://news.pack.cn/show-379436.html