Sustainable Packaging: Reducing the Environmental Impact of Food Waste"

Waste of food is an enormous global concern that contributes to starvation, environmental degradation, and economic losses. Every year, one-third of all food produced in the globe is wasted, amounting to 1.3 billion tonnes of food. The causes of this waste are varied and vary by place, but some of the major factors are as follows:

Overproduction: In many nations, farmers and food producers cultivate or create more food than is required, resulting in excess food that is eventually wasted.

Food waste can occur during the production, storage, and transportation of food as a result of incorrect handling and a lack of sufficient refrigeration.

Consumers frequently buy more than they need and trash the excess, whereas grocery stores and restaurants frequently waste perfectly acceptable food owing to perceived quality issues or because it does not satisfy specific criteria.

In underdeveloped countries, inadequate infrastructure and technology can make it difficult to store and transport food properly, resulting in deterioration and waste.

Food waste must be addressed at all levels of society, from individual consumers to food producers, retailers, and governments. We can help to solve poverty, minimise environmental impact, and increase economic efficiency by minimising food waste through better packaging. Some of the most important sustainable packaging choices for reducing food waste are:

Biodegradable and compostable packaging: These materials degrade organically, reducing the garbage disposed of in landfills.

Vacuum packaging can help to increase the shelf life of many food goods, minimising the possibility of spoiling and waste.

Modified environment packaging: This approach includes changing the air inside the package to slow the deterioration of the food inside.

Reusable packaging, such as glass jars or stainless steel containers, can help to reduce the amount of single-use packaging waste produced by food goods.

Recyclable packaging: Recyclable packaging can assist to minimise waste and conserve resources by allowing the manufacture of new goods from recycled components.

Considerable world-leading companies are investing in biodegradable packaging solutions to reduce their environmental impact and meet consumer demand for more sustainable options. Here are some examples of companies that are investing in biodegradable packaging:

Dubai: Hotpack Global, the UAE-based leading food packaging manufacturer, has announced its plan to invest AED 350 million in Malaysia over the next 10 years to construct 10 biodegradable packaging plants in partnership with Free The Seed Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian manufacturer of biodegradable products from rice straw, facilitated by Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation. (https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/com)

Hotpack Global will work with the Saudi Ministry of Industry to use certain agricultural waste as one of the basic components of raw materials for both future manufacturing and production input, the newspaper added. The seven-year project is claimed to be one of the most significant specialised food packaging projects in Saudi Arabia. ( https://www.packaging-gateway.com/news/saudi-arabia) The agreement comes a year after Hotpack announced its plans to invest Dh350m ($95.30m) over ten years to develop more than ten biodegradable packaging plants in Malaysia.?

Nestle: Nestle has committed to making all of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025 and has been investing in biodegradable and compostable packaging solutions.

PepsiCo: PepsiCo has committed to using 100% recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable packaging by 2025 and has launched several biodegradable packaging products, including a compostable bag for its snack products.

Coca-Cola: Coca-Cola has also announced a commitment to making all its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025 and has invested in biodegradable and plant-based packaging solutions.

These companies, along with many others, recognize that investing in more sustainable packaging solutions is not only good for the environment, but also for business, as consumers increasingly demand more environmentally friendly products. As a result, we can expect to see more companies invest in biodegradable packaging solutions in the coming years.

sustainable packaging can aid in reducing food waste by safeguarding food goods and prolonging their shelf life, as well as lowering the environmental effect of food production and disposal.