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Erbology
What is sustainable food packaging?

What is sustainable food packaging?

Team ErbologyErbology

What constitutes sustainable food packaging and why is it such an important part of the sustainable food agenda?

November 22, 2022 6:23 pm

Food packaging is a major aspect of the food sustainability agenda. Plastic, for example, is one of the cheapest and most common packagings on food. It’s also incredibly efficient at protecting food. In some cases, the shelf life of fresh food products is extended significantly by plastic packaging, thereby reducing food waste. But environmentally, it’s a disaster. This kind of “trade-off” is typical of the sustainable food movement, and demonstrates why we need complex, innovative and interconnected solutions to deal with these issues.

Glass packaging

As its moisture and heat resistant, glass is an excellent material for long shelf life foods. Think jars of beans, spice pots or bottles of olive oil. Its heat resistant properties allows manufacturers to “heat treat” the product after filling the material. This keeps the air out until the seal is broken. Similarly, glass won’t react to food and is transparent, which allows the consumer to see what’s inside. And most importantly, glass is widely and easily recycled – making it one of the more sustainable materials to use.

organic milk thistle powder

Metal packaging

Usually made from stainless steel, aluminium or tinplate, metal food packaging is heat resistant, durable and easily recycled. It’s widely used for longlife fruit and vegetables, processed foods and fish. Think tins of tuna, tomatoes and peaches. However, metal cans containing overly acidic foods can result in corrosion. Food quality is often affected, as well as the level of protection that the material offer over time. 

Paper and cardboard

Paper and cardboard packaging is super lightweight and relatively low-cost compared to metal, glass and some types of plastic. It’s also widely recyclable and is even compostable – making a sustainable material to package food in. However, the so-called “barrier integrity” (i.e. how well it forms a barrier to moisture, heat or other factors) is compromised when in contact with moisture or humidity. This makes it easy to damage or tear. Flour, eggs and some fruit and vegetables are some of the most common foods packaged in paper and cardboard.

There is, however, some debate over what kind of paper to use. Global consumption of paper has quadrupled in the last 50 years and is now at an unsustainable level. But organisations are trying to make positive changes in the industry. The Forest Stewardship Council, or FSC, is an international non-profit which is backed by environmental charities such as Greenpeace, The Woodland Trust and the World Wildlife Fund. They aim to promote sustainable forestry, tracking timber through each stage of the supply chain and managing their own forests. Keep an eye out for their tick-tree logo. This will certify whether the paper product has come from FSC certified forests or is made from reused or reclaimed materials.

gluten-free crackers

Plastic food packaging

Food grade plastic has excellent barrier qualities. This means it protects the food exceptionally well from contaminants. It is one of the best materials for the food safety and quality of a product. The barrier properties also extend shelf life and prevent spoilage or a reduction in quality, which can reduce food waste. However, many food grade plastics aren’t recyclable – such as thin single-use plastics – or are just more difficult to recycle. In some cases, this can lead to questionable practices by waste management services. More on this in the next section.

Our plastic problem

There are no two ways about it. Plastic is a miracle material, revolutionising the modern world in countless ways, from medical equipment and treatment to food safety and transportation. But unfortunately, our plastic consumption is out of control. Production of plastic has grown from 2.3 million tons in 1950 to 448 million tons in 2015 and is expected to double by 2050. Shockingly, less than 9% of all plastic gets recycled. And every year, 10 million tons of plastic is dumped in the oceans. The equivalent to a rubbish truck load every minute.

Environmentally, it’s catastrophic. Natural habitats are disrupted, making it difficult for some species to live and breed naturally, ultimately leading to depletions in populations. Animals get trapped in discarded plastic and microplastics are eaten by ocean creatures. Worrying evidence is also emerging about how microplastics can enter our bloodstream from the use of everyday items such as lunchboxes, bottles and even clothes.(1)

oat and peanut crackers

What about recycling?

Does recycling solve any of the above problems? Not always. The US and UK produce the highest levels of plastic waste per person than any other country.(2) However, huge amounts are sent overseas to be “recycled” by countries who just aren’t equipped to process it. In many cases, plastic waste is dumped and burned abroad, negatively affecting the local environment and residents’ health.

At the same time, those working to reduce food waste in the food sector are concerned that reducing the plastic that keeps food fresh, food waste will increase. In the UK alone, we’re estimated to waste around 9.5 million tons of food each year. This equates to a huge £19 billion and 36 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. In the US, this figure jumps to 40 million tons. Plastic packaging is also compliant with the strict food safety standards we have in the UK and US. This, on the whole, prevents food-based bacterias such as salmonella harming the health of our populations.

Sustainable packaging solutions?

Businesses, however, are starting to find new and innovative solutions to food packaging that keeps the product fresh and safe, while reducing their reliance on single use plastics. By phasing out single-use plastic bags, for example, usage has decreased by 97% in England, according to figures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.(3) Similarly, food retailers are also swapping out single-use plastic food packaging in favour of paper or cardboard alternatives, which is biodegradable and easily recyclable.

There have also been some impressive innovations in the food packaging sector to develop more sustainable solutions. Plastic-type materials, for example, are now being made from natural substances. Unlike petroleum-based plastic, these are biodegradable and renewable. These include packaging solutions made from cornstarch, sun-dried areca palm leaves, seaweed, sugarcane and cellulose. While these innovative and sustainable packaging alternatives are still too expensive to become mainstream, they have the potential to radically transform the sector.

compostable packaging

Our approach

Erbology is committed to the “reduce, reuse and recycle” ethos. In practice, that means we reduce our packaging needs as much as possible, and use glass, cardboard or aluminium wherever possible. We also promote reusing our containers. For example, our small shot bottles and jars are high quality, and can be used to store other foods or spices in – or even to carry liquids while travelling! Any plastic we do use is fully recyclable. The reason we sometimes need to use plastic is for their high-grade barrier properties when wrapping snacks, especially because they’re raw and can easily spoil. When more viable biodegradable packaging solutions are available on the scale we need, we’ll be the first to look into switching. Similarly, we’d love to use recycled glass but they are rarely compliant with food safety standards. As such, they’re more suited for use in candle making or similar industries.

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'Plastic-type materials, for example, are now being made from natural substances – which unlike petroleum-based plastic, are biodegradable and renewable. These include packaging solutions made from cornstarch, sun-dried areca palm leaves, seaweed, sugarcane and cellulose.'

A circular economy

A transition to a circular economy could be one of the ways we can reduce our reliance on environmentally degrading packaging and materials. The circular economy is “a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible”.(4) The life cycle of products is extended and any waste is reduced to a minimum. Done properly, recycling is an essential part of a circular economy.

In a recent study, researchers predicted that a 50% reduction in packaging waste could be achieved if half of all food packaging was “bio-benign” by 2050. This equates to around 46 million tons less of plastic waste each year.(5) The unavoidable part of organic wastes, such as crop residues, agro-food by-products and even sewage sludge, could be converted into biodegradable bioplastics – which could then be home composted easily and efficiently. The other half of food packaging could remain oil-based, recycled in what the author’s call a “closed loop”; i.e. waste would be collected and recycled to make something new, completing a full circle without negatively impacting the environment.

In this way, the next generation of food packaging could support the transition from a linear economy to a circular one.

How can you reduce your reliance on packaging?

Although there are food packagings which are better and worse for the environment, the simple truth is that the less packaging the better (assuming that the food won’t go to waste!). Here are some top tips on how to reduce the amount of packaging you use in your everyday life.

reusable water bottle

Use a reusable water bottles

80% of the plastic water bottles bought end up in landfill. On top of that, the water bottling process releases 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually, and disposable water bottle waste washes into the sea and kills millions of animals each year. Using a reusable water bottle is easy, better for the environment and cheaper!

Change your shopping habits

Because they operate on such huge scales, supermarkets use a lot of plastic packaging to keep their food fresh. If you can, try getting a veg box and or shopping at a farmer’s market – just remember to put easily spoilable items in the fridge to stop food waste.

Start a home compost or use your food waste bin

If you have a garden, a great way to stop organic waste going into landfill is to start a home compost. You’ll be able to put all your uncooked organic food waste in there, such as trimmings, and after a year or so, you’ll have gorgeous, high quality compost to use in your garden. If you don’t have a garden but your local authority collects food waste, make sure you use it as the council will also turn your scraps, egg shells and carrot tops into organic compost for commercial growers.

Check recycling labels

Many of us don’t check the recycling labels on food or other packaging properly – often because it can be quite confusing! Some materials can’t be recycled, others will be collected by the council and a few need to be taken to your local recycling centre. By checking the labels on packaging we can make sure more is recycled and less ends up in landfill. You can find a guide to the different recycling labels here for the UK and here for the US.

microplastics

Sustainable food packaging is just one piece of the puzzle

Sustainable, recyclable and biodegradable food packaging solutions are a crucial part of the sustainable food agenda. But it’s always important to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. True sustainability is a three-pronged concept that embodies not only environmental protection, but also social equity and economic viability. And this needs to apply to the whole of our food system. When it comes to a sustainable food system, there’s no easy one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we need interconnected, forward-thinking policies from governments, changes to how businesses operate. As well as a transition in how we behave and consumers and citizens. Sustainable food packaging is just one piece of the puzzle.

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