The Role of Sustainable Packaging in the Food Industry
Packaging-minutely important for the food industry -holds the key to food safety and freshness, along with the extended shelf life of products. The food packaging industry has been throwing its weight into a more sustainable solution given that over 66% of global packaging waste is gleaned from food packaging.
Little wonder, then, that food packaging claims over 66% of total packaging in circulation. Simultaneously, with the burgeoning crisis of waste spilling into every corner of our planet and other pressing environmental concerns, businesses must now take steps back regarding their approach to packaging.
The Shift Towards Eco-Friendly Food Packaging
Increasingly, consumers have become aware of the environmental issues defining their society, and companies have lost the symmetry of aligning themselves with the eco-conscious values of their customers. Sustainable food packaging, which was previously “cream” on top of doing things ethically, is now a strategic decision forming a core component of the overall business model, not only enhancing brand reputation and regulatory compliance, but also lowering one’s carbon footprint in the entire process.
So, what does environmentally friendly food packaging really mean? Sustainable packaging means the application of renewable, biodegradable, recyclable, and compostable materials in keeping environmental impact at a minimum. Such materials show reduced carbon emissions during production and then leave a small footprint at the end of their lifecycle.
Transitioning towards sustainable food wrappings is how entrepreneurs can contribute to a fitter planet, and not only that but also gain a competitive edge in an eco-aware market.Globalization is touching every corner of the business world, raising demands for effective brand marketing, and these needs have led packaging to the buying tendencies of consumers towards sustainable wrapping, enhancing food packaging.
But what exactly is environmentally friendly food packaging?
Designed to minimize its ecological footprint, sustainable packaging uses either renewable or recycled materials to produce lesser carbon emissions during production. At the end of life, this will have a lesser environmental impact.
With your business stamping efforts on environmentally friendly food packaging, you are definitely going green for that little extra while also being alert for sustainability, which has become a necessity in the marketplace.
Types of Sustainable Packaging
Different types of eco-friendly food-safe packaging options are available. Which one of them is the best option is such a difficult question to answer. Each eco packaging option has its pros and cons, so which is best may not, obviously, be the same option for a particular company. We will try our best to give you relevant information on each of the options so that you make your own decision about which one is right for you.
Biodegradable Food Packaging
Let us first start with biodegradable packaging.
Biodegradable packaging refers to the one that is easily broken down once disposed of. Whereas a regular plastic lasts in a landfill for hundreds of years, biodegradable bioplastic packaging can encompass a lesser time. Bioplastics are packaging materials designed with plant-derived resources, e.g., corn, sugar-cane, and soy. Some materials even qualify as edible, such as gelatin, chitosan, or algae. They signify packing materials whose degradation in a landfill does not result in harmful contaminants.
Nonetheless, while such types of packaging are designed to break down sooner and disappear, it does not typically mean that it would be without some trace of harm. Some packaging materials still leave behind damage to our environment.
Biodegradable plastics often end up breaking down to yield microplastics which are assumed to potentially a partial problem, as it can cause the micro plastics to end up in the oceans.
Moreover, in some cases, the production of these types of packaging can cause severe pressure on energy and resources, which may seem ironic with respect to the sustainable initiative and may cause further harm to the environment.”
Examples: Bamboo is biodegradable and compostable. It is sustainable and is becoming quite popular as a packaging material.Nevertheless, many aspects need to be considered, besides the eco-friendliness of that material.
The increase in demand, ergo hampering the mitigation for fabrication purposes of common materials, is also to be noted.
The escalating demand also questions the inhumane agricultural practices.
One should consider the use of chemicals in developing bamboo packaging.
This negative effect can be countered well if the packaging material was sourced from reputed third-party suppliers, which also should be certified by BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute).
Thorough investigations should be done because, although biodegradable packaging is a good option, it actually must be suitable for sustainability and not create more harm than good.
Compostable Packaging
Alternatively, compostable materials for packaging break down into its original components and can be placed in a food waste bin.
These compostable packages made from paper or cardboard or from bioplastics should not cause damage to nature once broken down. Some packages are even being broken down at home!
However, on the other hand, many common packaging materials that are used in this type of packaging require industrial methods, which are not very available for consumers.
For the environmental advantages to be harnessed, suitable disposal of this packaging should be exercised and thus an infrastructure or initiative is needed to perform this method appropriately.
Compostable packaging, advertised as such, is often really not 100 percent compostable-complete false advert.
“Compostable” packaging is occasionally coated with a thin layer of film that is not compostable at all.
Research is needed into respectable companies, as misrepresentation from disregarding companies is a big concern for compostable packaging, just as for biodegradable packaging.
Misleading claims are categorized as greenwashers, which are misused not only by other unethical companies but-and this is equally important-by you own company.
Greenwashing refers to the act through which organizations mislead stakeholders regarding their environmental practices or performance, which is often called “deceptive” environmentalism.
How should a socially responsible coffee company go about learning more about its impact on the environment?
You would also want to see that the materials you are using are those that manufacturers are purporting them to be!
Recyclable Packaging
Another possibility for green packaging is that of using recycled materials where available.Some plastics can be recycled and reused within their own supply chain, unlike metals or boxes.Kraft paper is one of the world’s most eco-friendly packaging.When it comes to uranium produced from mining, less than 17 megawatt-hours can be divorced from recycled nuclear power plant waste rather than 200.However, the well-being and living of the millions of consumers are the matters here.Only if recyclables are disposed of properly is recycling possible. Thus, littering recyclable plastics, metals, glass, and paper into the oceans or into the landfills exacts the ultimate defeat on the principle of recycling.
Recyclable packaging companies must also promote a culture of recycling and enforce strict recycling and dispose of their recyclable packaging.
As one example, Coca Cola has the goal to utilize 100% recycled materials by the year 2025.
Reusable Packaging
The final packaging we will cover is reusable packaging.Instead of one-use packaging, reusable packaging can be repurposed or reused many times.Reusable packaging is all about repurposing the package for extended use.
By avoiding discarding the package after a single use, consumers can extend the package’s life and prevent the excess energy and material consumption needed to dispose of and create a new package.
Glass is an excellent example of a reusable package. Glass is relatively strong, easily cleaned and can be residual profited over a long period of time without being disposed of.
The Challenges of Sustainable Food Packaging
Though the many different types of sustainable packaging provide companies with a lot of options, these options don’t come without challenges.This seemingly familiar logo for such organizations is from Bandcamp.Nonetheless, elicit a statement regarding some of the foremost challenges the business must endure during the process of the setting up of this locally-led, self-sustaining and eco friendly initiative.
The Initial Cost
The initial setup cost is the main challenge when moving to eco friendly packaging.Switching to eco-friendly packaging will likely entail some changes along the line of your supply chain and logistics, which could end up being quite an expensive undertaking because of the difficulty in managing such large changes.
Having said this, environmental friendlier packaging is, in a lot of cases, costly for production compared to conventional packaging. You have to apply a wide perspective.
Factors such as reduced cost of disposal, less energy consumption and fewer resources used to create such sustainable options should be considered when weighing the cost of traditional packaging and eco-friendly packaging.
Switching to biodegradable packaging could ultimately streamline numerous business processes.
Increased Efficiency reduces all varieties of cost within an organization, offsetting the cost of implementing environmentally friendly packaging as compared to conventional packaging options.
Infrastructure & Public Authorities
But though your company commits to doing its part to reduce negative impacts, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the public infrastructure to support some of these methods is there yet.
Waste packaging management is different in many municipalities and needs to be more consistent.
As more and more businesses move to do their part, the public authorities need to support these positive changes too.
Without an efficient and effective way to collect and correctly dispose of recyclable or biodegradable, these efforts to help protect the planet are for naught.
To see the environmental benefits of eco-friendly packaging, changes must happen at all levels, not just with businesses, which leads us to the final major challenge.
Consumer Behaviors
In order for businesses to offer more sustainable alternatives, it is essential that public authorities improve the infrastructure to support such packaging. At the same time, consumers must shoulder their own responsibilities.
Even as continued attention begins to shine on shopping with the environment, many do not know much about the benefits of ecologically sound packaging, and at the same time are not willing to pay more for it.
Businesses have to educate consumers as to why eco-friendly packaging is needed and why it is time to put a stop to the use of traditional packaging.
It could be that evolution is a trend that is in line with organizations seizing an opportunity with their educated consumers in making them more aware about how the disposing of environmentally friendly packaging can be done correctly.
As we were discussing recyclable food packaging for sustainable packaging, we brushed briefly on the inadequate disposal of waste by consumers that causes harm.
No matter how sustainable or eco-friendly a package is, consumers must dispose of it correctly to be effective.
Yes, biodegradable products really decay at a faster pace than most of the traditional goods because the items are primarily built to have the lowest or wholly absent recollection of the harmful agents. Yet, that still does not legitimize, to the effect, haphazard disposal of such goods by custodians of consumables.
The fact is that a lot of waste does not end up where it should be.
If companies and public authorities are making an effort to reduce the negative impact of the environment, the consumers have just as much responsibility.
Once again, there is an imperative need for education, and a sustainable initiative requires the concerted effort of all involved in any given pursuit so as to bring about a change on a massive scale.
In so being, your business can contribute by providing environmentally-conscious packaging options and teaching consumers about saving the earth.
Make sure that you care-how can they not care?
The Benefits of Switching to Sustainable Food Packaging
Given that in your industry it is possible to raise hope and help the environment, a company realizing these objectives should count on many advantages, in overcoming all obstacles.
It is the planet that wins overall with these planet friendly moves.
Doing Your Part For The Environment
The most immediate nutritional benefit is a healthier way of life.
Eco-friendly packaging has one main aim which is to reduce the properly unnecessary damages which are being done by the environmental inhabitants and also their carbon footprints on Earth.
It is no question, then, that a healthier planet will be the primary benefit of utilizing eco packaging.
The purpose of employing sustainable materials is to reduce energy and resource utilization to not only eliminate the production of pollutants and waste but also maintain the planet’s health.
However, there are additional merits you are considering!
Economic Benefit of Using Sustainable Food Packaging
We mentioned earlier that the initial cost of switching to eco packaging would be expensive.
This cannot be avoided at the beginning of your company’s transition from traditional to eco packaging.
New systems and infrastructure must be implemented, and the resources to produce sustainable options are often more expensive.
This does not mean that the eco-friendly food wrapping will not reap economic benefits!
By establishing such systems in your business, it will naturally grow into an efficient entity by finding ways of reducing waste and streamlining the manufacturing process through the use of less energy and resources.
With efficiency comes cost saving.
And staying ahead of any upcoming regulations that the government may implement on sustainable practices will prevent your business from costly and inefficient implementations in the future.
Furthermore, when your company switches to eco-friendly packaging, it will positively increase your company’s image, leading us to the next benefit.
Improved Brand Image
As mentioned earlier in this article, many consumers are beginning to understand the impact of their consumption and are looking for more eco-conscious companies to do business with.So when your business shows its dedication to more sustainable practices and implements such initiatives in your food packaging process, it will reflect positively on your company and brand.
Source: Panda Scientist
Building a positive brand image attracts more customers to your business and also attracts talented workers who wish to work for a company that strives to make a difference.Looking back at the previous benefit of switching to sustainable methods, building a positive brand image will also be economically beneficial. More customers mean increased profits, and more talented workers make your business even more efficient!
Sustainable Food Packaging to Sustain the Planet
Packaging for food products accounts for a lot of improperly disposed waste and the harmful environmental effects must be addressed.The problem of packaging polluting the planet will only disappear if a concerted effort by businesses, public authorities and consumers is made. Only together can we make a difference!We need a paradigm shift moving everything forward for the good of our planet, and it should begin with sustainable packaging practices in the food industry.
You dedicate yourself to saving the environment, reap all the benefits such as improving your brand image and making more money, but most importantly, motivate others to do their share in saving the planet.
Conclusion
Sustainable packaging is not just a trend—it’s a necessity for businesses aiming to reduce environmental impact while staying competitive. By choosing biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, or reusable packaging, companies can significantly contribute to a more sustainable future.
Panda Scientist is committed to promoting innovative, sustainable solutions for the food industry. Stay informed and make responsible choices for a greener tomorrow!
