Exploring the Potential of Packaging to Minimize Food Waste: A Hidden Chance?

Here's a fresh take on the article:

Our trash bin is overflowing, and it's not just because we're piling up junk. In 2019, the globe tossed 931 million tonnes of food, equivalent to a parade of fully-loaded 40-tonne trucks circling the Earth seven times. Beyond the wasted grub itself, this mountain of trash represents billions of squandered natural resources, energy, and labor. With millions still suffering from hunger and malnutrition, it's time for a fundamental overhaul of our approach to food waste. And with 570 million tonnes of waste occurring within urban centres, the citizens of cities like yours will be key players in this change.

Many of us city dwellers stock up on food beyond our needs. Few of us can reliably tell when something is no longer safe to eat. And let's be honest, most cities aren't exactly bursting with composting or biowaste facilities. Yet, even as awareness surrounding food waste's impact on people and the planet grows, one major issue remains unaddressed: packaging.

Unraveling the Packaging Predicament

Over the past century, food packaging has morphed into far more than a container for our eats. Today, it plays an integral role in safeguarding food, facilitating handling, and informing consumers about contents. However, in terms of waste and environmental impact, the benefits often don't outweigh the costs.

Up to half of all household food waste can be attributed to packaging woes, such as difficulties in emptying products (that stubborn yogurt jar), inability to reseal packaging, and packaging that is just too large.

The materials are just one piece of the puzzle. Research^{1} shows that one of the leading causes of packaging-related food waste stems from confusion over labels. Consumers mistakenly use “best before” and “use by” tags as indicators of safety, despite these labels having little scientific backing for consumer safety^{1}.

The language used can vary across brands, products, and even locations, making it even easier for consumers to misinterpret the rules. As a result, countless tons of food are needlessly discarded.

It's not just a case of inadequate regulations; it's also a matter of education^{1}. In the European Union, where labeling is standardized, consumers still misinterpret the meanings between "best before" and “use by” dates. In 2018, it was estimated that 10% of the 88 million tonnes of food waste generated annually was connected to date marking^{2}.

Taking Wrapping to the Next Level

Things are not all doom and gloom. Efforts are being made to combat food waste by embracing smarter packaging and promoting better labeling practices.

In the EU, the Farm to Fork strategy has identified date marking as an area for reform^{3}. And in the UK, supermarket chain Waitrose has committed to removing best-before dates from 480 fresh food products^{4}, encouraging customers to use their discretion when deciding when food is no longer suitable for consumption.

Startups like SIRPLUS are also proving that consumers are willing to pay for food that would otherwise be wasted, saving an impressive 2,500 tonnes of food between 2017 and 2022^{5}.

The packaging industry is also innovating, with advancements in intelligent or smart packaging technology^{6}. These developments include radio frequency identification (RFID) tags that track food freshness, digital "noses" that identify spoiled food, and chemical additives that can extend product shelf life.

However, progress has been slow, with low cooperation and communication between stakeholders, resulting in a business-as-usual approach that hinders change.

But change is on the horizon. The European Union research initiative GLOPACK aims to tackle the entire packaging problem, from the development of biodegradable packaging materials made from agro-food residues to the creation of decision-making tools to connect suppliers and retailers with sustainable packaging solutions^{7}.

City dwellers can contribute to this change by demanding better practices from the businesses they support, urging organizations to provide clear labeling, and pushing for cities to implement sustainable packaging requirements for municipal events and procured products^{4}.

Ultimately, it's up to us to demand better for our Earth and our cities.

Enrichment Data:

Mishcon, A. (2021, September 14). Food Waste: The Problem with Food Labelling. Environment.co.uk. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Available at: https://www.environment.co.uk/waste-water/food-waste-the-problem-with-food-labelling.

European Commission. (2018, March 20). Facts and Figures: Food waste in the EU. European Commission. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/food-consumption-and-food-losses-and-food-waste-eu_en.

European Commission. (2020, May 20). Farm to Fork Strategy. European Commission. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-farm-to-fork/what-is-farm-to-fork-strategy_en.

Waitrose. (n.d.). Food Waste FAQs. Waitrose. Available at: https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/help/content/faq/index/1426/1477.

Cox, J. (2022, February 13). SIRPLUS saves Frankfurt's citizens more than 1 million meals. Eco-Business. Available at: https://www.eco-business.com/news/sirpluz-saves-frankfurt-citizens-more-than-1-million-meals/.

Wrigley, L., & Sagar, P. (2016, June 23). The Challenge of Smart Packaging. Packaging Digest. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Available at: https://www.packagingdigest.com/sustainability/challenge-smart-packaging-201115/.

GLOPACK. (n.d.). GLOPACK. Available at: https://g-loopc.eu/gloopc-g-loop-projects/gloopc/gloopc/projects/glo-pack.

Incorporating sustainable packaging practices and promoting clearer labeling in food-and-drink products could not only minimize household food waste but also support a more sustainable lifestyle in home-and-garden settings.
As city dwellers, we can advocate for the adoption of sustainable food-and-drink packaging solutions by supporting businesses committed to reducing waste, promoting efficient date labeling, and encouraging city authorities to implement eco-friendly home-and-garden policies that prioritize sustainable living.