Materials traditionally found in food packagings, such as metals, paper, and glass, are non-biodegradable. When packaging is disposed of, it goes to the landfills. It takes a lot of time for this packaging to degrade, and it releases toxins when burnt. Packagings made especially from plastics release carcinogens that are harmful to a human’s body.

Also, chemicals from the packaging materials trickle down into the groundwater and soil. Other than this, packaging materials that are heated along with the food can transfer non-edible hazardous toxicants to the main food product.

Approximately 40% of the plastic produced is used for food packaging. However, only 5% is recycled. If plastic production and improper disposal continue at this rate, the plastic content in the sea will outweigh fish by 2050.

Food companies, retailers, and other stakeholders are reconsidering their packaging process and materials due to growing concerns about the environmental impact of food packaging and its materials.

What is sustainable food packaging?

Sustainable food packaging is created with minimal environmental impact and has a shallow ecological footprint.

Sustainable food packaging is made from plant-based, renewable, recyclable, or redesigned products. Its production minimizes waste and pollution, and its disposal does not negatively affect the environment or human health.

There can be various types of sustainable food packaging solutions. To be counted as sustainable, the materials used in packaging must be bio-based or biodegradable and must be produced without causing harm to any natural or non-renewable resources.

Innovative Next Generation Food Packaging Technologies

Apart from sustainable packaging materials, some next-generation innovative packaging technologies can enable tracking, prevent food from spoilage, and lead to more secure packaging of exotic foodstuffs.

Some of these innovative food packaging technologies include:

1. Smart/Intelligent Packaging

Smart/intelligent packaging can allow you to track and communicate food quality through the supply chain using sensors, radio frequency identifications (RFIDs), barcodes, freshness indicators, and leak indicators.

2. Vacuum Skin Packaging

Adding a material coating on top of food can extend the shelf life of certain foods and beverages. This can be done by dipping certain foods into an edible film or coating layer. Vacuum skin packaging is one such technique that prevents microorganism deterioration.

3. Nanotechnology in Food Packaging

The rise of nanotechnology in food packaging has drastically changed how manufacturers currently handle packaging. As people want more information and transparency than ever before, the food industry is under constant pressure to keep up with trends influencing food packaging. Manufacturers are looking toward nanotechnology to improve the quality of their packaging, ensure traceability of food, and increase the shelf life of packaged goods. Nanotechnology involves nanosized materials capable of detecting pathogens in food and providing antimicrobial barriers.

4. Bioplastic Food Packaging

Bioplastics are yet another example of innovative materials used in the food industry that help producers lower the environmental footprint and make their customers feel good about what has been put on their plates. Bioplastics can be made with renewable resources, such as corn, and they are usually derived from plants or algae and not petroleum products. Some properties of bioplastics, such as thermal instability and brittleness, act as obstacles when it comes to wide adoption.

Final Words

The food industry increasingly realizes the value of offering eco-friendly packaging. A huge chunk of the global population is concerned about the environmental impact of their choices, leading to a boom in sustainable solutions across markets.

Many, who feel that sustainability is important to them, are willing to spend more money on environment-friendly foods, drinks, clothing, and other products because they think it is right.

Several key players, including Unilever, Danone, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and McDonald’s, have created plans and targets to implement sustainability in their production processes and packaging materials by 2025.

This growth in the market has led to sustainable plastics and packaging being implemented on a massive scale across enterprises, and the trend is expected to grow exponentially.

To read more about the sustainable food packaging market in detail, read our analyst note at bisresearch.com