How Is Packaging Helping Reduce Food Waste?

According to a report from The US Department of Agriculture, consumers waste approximately 30% to 40% of the food supply they get. It means that much of this food can be fed to a growing population of hungry people out there. If you look at a bigger picture, you will know it’s not just food going wasted. It also results in the wastage of valuable resources used during production, preparation, transportation, and storage.

While packaging materials are blamed for contributing to environmental contamination, these materials can help reduce food wastes. Here is what you may want to know about the current state of food waste and how the packaging industry can help.

Food wastes stats

There are many places in the world where every piece of bread is cherished. From The Great Depression to today’s state of poverty in the country, many people are going to beds without having quality meals. Here are some stats related to food wastes.

• In 2017, US residents wasted $218 billion worth of food.
• The amount of food wasted by an American every year is 400 pounds.
• About 21% of landfill space is occupied by food wastes every year.
• The greenhouse emissions caused by food wastes make 8% of total greenhouse gases.
• About 80% of shoppers in the US agree that reducing food wastes is just as critical as reducing packaging wastes.

Why is it necessary to pay attention?

These statistics suggest that the food waste problem has become more significant than ever. Producing food products to the only extent consumable by customers can help companies avoid throwing away food before it reaches consumers. Preventing food waste this way can help those companies save money that can be used to create more jobs and improving services.

Training staff is another way to reduce food wastes. This training helps staff to become more proactive at reducing waste, taking care of food preparation protocols, storing food properly, repurposing leftover kitchen foods, and performing a lot of other necessary procedures.

Consumers are also to blame for the massive increase in food wastes. At home, consumers must remain cautious of leftover foods. That’s where packaging companies can play a significant role. Governments have to ensure the participation of farmers and other organizations to develop effective food waste reduction strategies.

Packaging and food waste

The protective packaging can help a perishable food product have an extended expiry date. Some food products result in significantly more greenhouse emissions than packaging materials. For instance, beef emits 370 times more greenhouse gas, while cucumbers result in 178 times more greenhouse emissions than packaging.

While using packaging materials can help reduce food wastes, it is critical to strategize the use of packaging material during or after food consumption. Instances, using glass containers to package food products naturally promotes material reuse. This material is also easier to recycle. Moreover, you have to make sure to label the expiration date clearly. Educating your consumers on the impact of food and packaging waste can also help significantly.