Reduce Packaging
Did you know: Every material that has ever been used for packaging is still being used, to a greater or lesser degree.
Did you know: The University of Karlstadt in Sweden has developed an eco-friendly food packaging from latex.
Packaging has become essential in contemporary society. While packaging, in some form, has been in use for centuries (if not millennia) the growth in its usage has been particularly rapid in the second half of the twentieth century in industrialised and developed countries. Many developing countries eg China, Indonesia and India, have made rapid progress to catch up in recent times. In parts of Africa relatively little packaging of food is used at the consumer level. Countries that are still moving out of subsistence agriculture have little need of packaging for most unprocessed food and have little reliance on processed food.
Packaging has been defined as all products made of any materials of any nature to be used for the containment, protection, handling, delivery and presentation of goods, from raw materials to processed goods, from the producer to the user or the consumer . The aim is for packaging to protect the goods we purchase from wastage and damage. Without packaging, handling many products would be messy, inefficient and costly. We, as consumers, are reliant on packaging to supply vital information such as the ingredients, uses, manufacturer, country of origin, etc.
Packaging comes in many forms; convenience foods, individually packed serves, microwave-able meals, easy-opening packaging, secure packaging for hazardous chemicals and pharmaceutical drugs, packaging of fresh food for transport and display. The form of the packaging is determined to some extent by the function of the packaging to contain, preserve, protect, and communicate information.
Containment packaging is necessary to contain the product for transport or being moved from one place to another. Faulty packaging can lead to spillage and result in major losses and serious damage. Preservation and protection packaging plays an essential role in getting products to the consumer in good condition. The product needs protection:
- during transport and distribution cushioning such as shredded papers, sheets of corrugated paperboard, foamed plastic or wrappings, thermoformed plastic trays or inner paperboard partitions;
- from climatic effects such as heat, cold, moisture, drying insulation material, thermoformed plastic, refrigeration, shrinkable or stretchable films;
- from hazardous substances and contamination tamper proof packaging, child proof closures, sealed units;
- from infestation sealed units.
Most food products are subject to biological spoilage caused by the normal enzyme-induced aging and by microbiological decomposition caused by bacteria, yeasts and moulds. Packaging can reduce or delay this spoilage. Synthetic packaging can also contaminate the product eg plastic packaging can contaminate some foods with toxic petrochemical based chemicals.
Packaging is one of the most effective solutions to pilfering ie consumer appropriation without payment, or sampling. The products may be sold in a blister package sealed to a large paperboard backing, making it more difficult to conceal or steal.
One of the main reasons for the dramatic rise in food packaging has been done under the banner of convenience . Consumers are demanding convenience and quick food preparation in a way that ensures freshness as much freshness as can be achieved with produce that is transported from its production source, stored, and processed, can allow. Examples of this convenience packaging include:
- easy-open beverage and food cans;
- frozen food packs;
- microwavable containers;
- wine cardboard casks
- individually wrapped butter and stock cubes;
- controlled dispensing with spouts, squeeze bottles, spray cans, aerosols etc.
Food packaging has become almost impossible to do away with. Most countries have introduced laws and regulations to protect the consumers of goods, particularly food. Packaging products must also fit into the existing system of delivery from producer to consumer. That is, they must fit into an established organisational and operational structure involving the producer, manufacturer, the transport industry and the retailer, each of which have specific requirements and a desire to keep their costs as low as possible.
Food packaging has always existed. Nature provides many examples of packaging ranging from the shell of an egg, to the shell of a nut, or the peels of bananas. Human breast milk is a perfect example of natural packaging. The history of food packaging by humans goes back a long time.
On the one hand packaging reduces the amount of wastage or spoilage going into landfill, but on the other, it greatly increases the volume of waste. The environment will remain a major issue for the packaging industry with three driving forces the consumer, commercial interests, and government legislation. Overall, the packaging industry currently has a considerable net negative impact on the environment and on the health of the ecosystem (human health included).
The challenge we face is to find ways to reduce packaging and ensure packaging is eco-friendly. Reducing packaging may require a social revolution and a complete change in how we think about food and food preparation.