Most plastic does its job well. Robust packaging protects food from contaminants during transport and storage, reducing spoilage and food waste. But not all packaging is harmless, raising concerns about its environmental impact and potential health risks. Can we truly do without it? 🥫❓ In Europe, the average person generates nearly 180 kg of packaging waste per year (food and non-food) – a figure that has risen by over 20% in the past decade. 📈 (EIT Food Consumer Observatory). This trend underscores the urgent need for resource conservation, waste reduction strategies, and greater efficiency in material use and recycling processes. ♻️✨ If left unchecked, plastic waste across the EU is projected to increase by 46% by 2030. 🛑 (European Commission). What’s your take? How can we actually achieve a sustainable future for food packaging? 🤔 Explore the challenges of single-use plastic food packaging and meet the inspiring people developing sustainable solutions. 🌱🌟 https://lnkd.in/dm-daxdD #SustainablePackaging #PlasticWaste #ImprovingFoodTogether #FoodSystemsTransformation
True, packaging is essential for ensuring food safety and minimizing food loss & waste. By focusing on renewable materials and improving recycling systems, we can collectively support the transition to a circular economy. Achieving “future-proof” food packaging will rely on collaboration and innovation to balance functionality, safety, and sustainability.
Plastic packaging isn’t the villain—it’s the misuse and mismanagement that’s the problem. We need smarter strategies that align with real-world waste systems, not just wishful thinking. Circularity starts with practicality, not PR.
Packaging accounts for less than 2% of the CO2 footprint of packaged food, and for medicines, it is around 5%. Added to this are the environmental and health impacts from the manufacturing of the products. Clearly, the biggest impact comes from examining the products themselves rather than starting with the packaging.
I believe we need targeted policies to reduce plastic use, such as banning single-use plastics. Relying solely on industries to self-regulated or expecting consumers to change their habits without policy-driven incentives will not effectively solve the problem.
Food packaging does not increase impact - it is proven to decrease impact by preventing food waste.
Founder&Social Entrepreneur |Environmental Activist| Permaculture Teacher ,#LushSpringPrizeWinner2023,#SocialImpactAwardWinner2022 with deep passion for Regenerative Agriculture
2moCouldn’t agree more with