The Complete Guide to Sustainable Packaging for Food Businesses

Packaging is one of the biggest contributors to global pollution, and food packaging, in particular, plays a significant role in this issue. A large number of the bags, bottles, boxes, and wraps used for transporting and protecting food items end up in landfills for decades to come or float around in the world’s seas and oceans, poisoning ecosystems wherever they go.

It’s clear that change is needed, and sustainable food packaging offers a viable solution. Coming in numerous forms – like wood fibers, paperboard, and compostable bioplastics – sustainable packaging solutions can do the same job as conventional materials, without the same ecological downsides. They’re crucial in the push towards a greener and brighter future.

But it’s not just the environment that benefits from sustainable food packaging. Switching to sustainable materials is also beneficial for brands within the food and drink industry. This is because many modern consumers are becoming more eco-conscious and actively seek out or opt for brands that can demonstrate so-called “green credentials.”

In other words, using sustainable packaging for food may help you make more sales and build a bigger audience. This guide explains how to achieve that and highlights the unique benefits of sustainable packaging.

What Is Sustainable Food Packaging?

Simply put, sustainable packaging for food is manufactured using eco-friendly methods and is sourced from sustainable materials, offering a more eco-friendly alternative to traditional packaging materials and methods. Often, it is recyclable or compostable, so it doesn’t end up in landfills like conventional packaging waste. It also helps food and beverage brands minimize their carbon footprints.

From a technical perspective, to qualify as “sustainable packaging,” products often need to pass certain tests or meet the criteria outlined in various ecological standards. There are international standards, like ISO 14001 and ISO 26000, which denote products that were made sustainably, as well as country and region-specific standards, like CAN/BNQ 0017-088, for compostable plastic in Canada.

The Environmental Impact of Traditional Packaging

To understand the true benefits of Earth-friendly packaging, we must first comprehend how damaging and dangerous traditional packaging can be. For years now, traditional packaging materials, like plastic wraps and films, have polluted ecosystems around the world, contributed to climate change, and wreaked havoc on the environment in numerous ways.

As the food industry looks to reduce its reliance on harmful plastics, discovering viable alternatives is crucial. Dive into our detailed exploration of sustainable alternatives to plastic to understand how innovative materials are paving the way for greener packaging solutions.

Overview of Plastic Waste

• Food packaging makes up around half of all municipal solid waste in the U.S. today.
• Food packaging also accounts for around 50% of all fossil fuel-based plastic production.
• Around 400 million tons of plastic waste is produced each year.
• Approximately 10 million tons of that waste end up in the oceans.
• Almost half of all plastic is used once before being tossed away (single-use plastic).
• The manufacture and use of plastic packaging generates around 1.8 billion tons of carbon emissions each year.
• Plastic waste contributes to huge numbers of animal deaths, including around a million seabirds each year and many more marine animals.

These statistics provide only a glimpse into the environmental impact of conventional, fossil fuel-based plastics. What’s more, plastic usage is expected to triple by 2060, which demonstrates just how hugely reliant mankind is on this particular material, and how important it is to find an alternative, especially because conventional plastics are simply difficult to recycle or use in eco-friendly ways.

One of the biggest issues with traditional plastics is their inability to biodegrade quickly. It can take literally centuries for plastics to break down in landfills, oceans, or other natural spaces, and even then, it never truly goes away. Instead, it breaks down into smaller components – microplastics – which bring their own problems, as they can enter water supplies or be ingested by animals.

It’s also very hard to recycle plastic. This is mainly due to the fact that there are so many types, that it’s almost impossible to sort and organize them and carry out specific recycling practices for each one. Plus, a lot of plastics are made from a whole mix of polymers, which makes them such a challenge to break down and reuse, and they gradually get weaker after just one or two uses.

Carbon Footprint

In terms of packaging, ‘carbon footprint’ refers to the amount of carbon emissions generated throughout the lifecycle of a packaging product. That includes emissions from the sourcing of the materials, the production of the packaging, the use of the packaging (like transporting from place to place), and the end of its lifecycle, too, like disposal procedures.

Carbon footprints can vary from material to material:

1. Plastic is one of the worst offenders in terms of carbon footprint, especially plastics that are derived from fossil fuels, as they involve environmentally costly raw material extraction and production techniques. They also remain in the natural world for a long time and release carbon in landfills or other spaces gradually over the years.
2. Metals can have bigger or smaller carbon footprints than plastics, depending on the specific metal in question. Aluminum is a particularly problematic metal as the process of refining aluminum ore into usable aluminum is very energy-intensive. Steel, too, has a high carbon footprint due to the smelting and refining processes involved.
3. Glass has a sizable carbon footprint as well, mostly linked to its production process which involves melting down sand, soda ash, and limestone. That takes a lot of energy, but on the plus side, glass is recyclable, which helps to cut down on its overall carbon footprint.
4. Paper and cardboard are lower down the rankings in terms of their carbon footprint, along with other sustainable packaging for food options, but energy is still needed to extract, process, and dispose of or recycle them. It is important to recognize that these products are not entirely eco-friendly and still have some ecological impact.

Types of Environmentally Safe Food Packaging

There are numerous types of food packaging in the ‘environmentally safe’ category, meaning they do not release harmful elements into the environment or poison ecosystems like conventional plastics.

Learn more about the wider array of earth-friendly packaging solutions transforming industries and helping companies achieve their sustainability goals. This guide offers insights into different materials and practices that can significantly enhance your brand’s environmental credentials.

Compostable Packaging Materials

Compostable materials are those that can decompose naturally (with the aid of microorganisms, like bacteria), often within a matter of weeks or months, rather than sitting in landfills or natural spaces for years.

Examples of biodegradable food packaging solutions include bioplastics like PLA and PHA, paper and cardboard, as well as plant and starch-based materials like cornstarch films.

To further enhance your understanding of how rapidly some materials can return to nature, explore our comprehensive overview of the fastest biodegradable materials. This guide will help you choose materials that not only meet sustainability goals but also break down quickly, reducing environmental impact.

Recyclable Packaging Solutions

Recyclable packaging materials are those that, as the name suggests, can be recycled and reused. This sort of packaging is designed for sustainability and is chosen by eco-conscious brands wishing to strengthen their standing among green consumers.

Bioplastics, like PHAs (polyhydroxyalkanoates), which are made from sustainable, renewable resources, are some of the leading recyclable food packaging solutions. And Regen™ leads the way as an exceptionally versatile choice, with fantastic mechanic properties and a minimal carbon footprint.

Other examples of recyclable sustainable packaging for food include:

• Paper bags and boxes
• Cardboard cups and boxes
• Glass bottles or jars
• Bioplastic bottles, films, and containers (made with the likes of PLA and PHA)

Compostable Packaging Options

Compostable packaging, one of the best sustainable packaging options, is developed with zero-waste goals in mind. It isn’t just biodegradable, it can be composted – broken down into helpful and safe elements that can return to the soil and help fuel the growth of new plants, contributing to a green and sustainable lifecycle.

In some cases, this composting process requires industrial conditions and facilities, but in other cases, it can actually be tossed into home compost bins. To compost it correctly:

• Always check to see exactly how compostable packaging should be disposed of.
• Rinse away any residue of food that may be left over and could contaminate the material.
• Separate compostable materials from any non-compostable materials.
• For home composting, use optimal conditions (plenty of moisture and oxygen) and mix the packaging in with other materials to help it break down.
• For industrial composting, ensure that the correct conditions, like heat and moisture levels, are met and maintained.

PHA-based solutions, such as Regen™, are a leading choice for compostable packaging due to their ability to decompose quickly and efficiently in both industrial and natural settings. This makes it an excellent option for food and drink businesses seeking packaging that is both durable and ecologically friendly.

Reusable Packaging Ideas

One of the most exciting trends in food packaging at the moment is reusable packaging, where brands are designing boxes, bottles, and bags that can be used over and over or repurposed by the consumer. Popular examples of this include tote bags sold by grocery stores and supermarkets that customers can use over and over, or reusable cups you can take to coffee shops and refill multiple times.

This is all good news from a sustainability standpoint, as it means the same items get lots of use and value, rather than being tossed away after just one use.

Minimal Packaging Options

Many of the best packages with minimal environmental impact are those that use minimal amounts of materials. Another significant trend in food packaging is the reduction in size and material usage. Many brands are adopting thinner layers and smaller boxes that maintain food safety standards while generating less waste.

Possible ways to implement minimalistic packaging include:

• Auditing existing packaging and looking for ways to cut away needless sections or shrink them down.
• Consolidating packaging by shipping more items in one package.
• Using thinner materials throughout packaging that still offer protection and barrier properties but take less room.

Benefits of Sustainable Food Packaging

There are numerous advantages to opting for sustainable packaging for food over conventional, polluting plastics:

• It minimizes carbon footprint and polluting waste, with a relatively low impact on the natural world.
• Its production supports sustainable agriculture practices.
• It promotes responsible consumption among the general public.
• It enhances shelf life naturally, without the need for additives or extra packaging layers.
• It preserves food freshness and thereby reduces waste in food supply chains.
• It optimizes resource usage through recyclability, biodegradability, and compostability.
• It appeals to the ever-growing number of eco-conscious consumers in the world today.
• It may help brands make more money long-term through green consumers and government incentives.
• It complies with food safety regulations and is often completely non-toxic and free of harmful additives.

How Much Does Green Food Packaging Cost?

Cost is one of the more complex aspects of the conventional vs. sustainable packaging debate. More often than not, for all its ecological advantages, sustainable packaging does cost more to make and work with, which is one of its most significant downsides, at least for the time being.

There are greater material costs involved when creating compostable polymer packaging, for example, and more specialized manufacturing techniques. Additionally, sustainable packaging materials often have to be tested and certified, which adds to the cost of using them.

In contrast, traditional packaging plastics are typically cheaper to source and create, using established techniques and facilities that have been around for many years. In that time, they’ve become optimized and efficient – in other words, people know how to make plastic packaging cheaply and quickly.

However, when we look more long-term, there’s cause to be optimistic. As infrastructure and production methods for sustainable packaging improve, it could become cheaper to make. Plus, in many locations, governments offer incentives (like tax breaks) for those who use sustainable packaging.

Predictions for Food Packaging in the Next Decade

With over three-quarters of consumers agreeing that sustainability is a critical component of food packaging, we can expect to see this remain a key focus for years to come. Over the next decade, for example, it’s expected that more and more brands throughout the food industry will seek ways to make their packaging more sustainable, which may include:

• Reducing the amount of material in their packaging.
• Investing in eco-friendly materials, like bioplastics and compostable paperboard.
• Wider use of flexible packaging, like the Good Cup – a paper cup with its own built-in lid.
• Considering emerging forms of edible, zero-waste packaging.

We can also expect to see regulations regarding food packaging continue to develop in the years to come. The prospect of single-use plastic bans looms large in many countries, and restrictions will likely become stricter around conventional plastic packaging, especially single-use items. This, too, will encourage and motivate businesses to put more stock in sustainable alternatives.

Key Takeaways

• Conventional food packaging – like plastic wraps – causes huge amounts of pollution.
• Sustainable packaging for food solutions, like bioplastics, offers eco-friendly advantages.
• Many of the best sustainable materials are biodegradable and compostable, like Regen™.
• Reusable and minimalistic packaging materials also have less impact on the environment.
• Consumers increasingly expect brands to use sustainable packaging and favor those that do so.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Sustainable Packaging Keep Food Fresh?

It certainly can, provided that the right types of materials are used. Some forms of sustainable packaging, like certain bioplastics, are engineered with strong barrier properties. That means they’re great at blocking out moisture. Thanks to this, sustainable packaging maintains product quality, prevents spoilage and waste, and protects against contamination, thereby extending shelf life.

Can Sustainable Packaging Replace Plastic?

It’s possible that sustainable packaging materials could someday replace traditional plastics, and they already are gradually supplanting them in certain areas, like beverage cartons made of paperboard. However, current alternatives to plastic do have some limitations in terms of mechanical properties and production costs that need to be addressed before they can truly and entirely replace plastic.

Can Sustainable Packaging Be Customized?

Absolutely, many sustainable materials offer several levels of customizability. They can be engineered to have different physical properties, as well as come in various colors and textures. It’s also possible to work with sustainable materials like PHA and bio-based composites in different shapes and designs to tie them in with brand identities.