‘Too much packaging’ argument is a myth

Packaging is a reflection of how we live. It responds to market trends and consumer demands - which makes it somewhat ironic that packaging is often berated as the cause of so many environmental woes.

Certainly in the food sector, the continuing popularity of convenience foods and on-the-go eating has been the driver behind a huge number of packaging developments and innovations, yet consumers seem to forget this when they complain about too much packaging or its poor environmental record.

More to the point, the whole 'too much packaging' argument is a myth. One thing the industry is very good at is pack minimisation - ten years ago, the average weight of packaging was 28% higher than it is today. In the plastics industry, lightweighting of packs while maintaining their reliability and performance was being implemented long before the environmental debate took centre stage.

And let's not forget that plastics' light weight is an environmental benefit in its own right - it reduces the carbon impact of areas such as transportation, and in Europe, while over 50% of goods are packed in plastics, plastic packaging accounts for only 17% of packaging weight.

Manufacturers and retailers recognise the many benefits that packaging offers, particularly in the food sector.

Trade leads the way
Trade bodies such as Incpen and The Packaging Federation are also actively promoting its advantages to consumers with facts such as: the impact on the environment of throwing away a lettuce is 100 times greater than the pack it comes in; a shrinkwrapped cucumber lasts more than three times as long as an unwrapped one; and on average ten times more energy goes into the production of food and goods than into their packaging.

There has also been a major focus on the environmental problem of food waste, with UK government body WRAP's high-profile 'Love Food, Hate Waste' campaign, which has helped to highlight the vital role of packaging in protecting and preserving food.

For example, food wastage in developing countries can be as much as 50%, whereas because of packaging, only 3% is wasted before reaching the shops in developed countries such as the UK.

Another development is the international 'Save Food Initiative', led by Messe Düsseldorf Group and the United Nations, which focuses on reducing food loss and waste. This can be through encouraging more efficient agricultural practices to reduce loss in the fields, through supply chain solutions that provide better logistics, or increasing levels of respect for food so that consumers are educated and can make changes.

In developed countries, the problems arise once the food reaches the home - we tend to throw out too much food that is still in an edible condition. This is the key focus of the 'Love Food, Hate Waste' campaign - but the root of the problem often comes down to lifestyle choices.

Ambient alternative
In the UK there is a strong preference for chilled convenience foods - these tend to be perceived as 'fresher' and therefore offering better quality. The downside is that they come with a shorter shelf life, so are more easily wasted. This is also a problem for the supermarkets selling these products.

Yet the right choice of packaging is already capable of providing a solution. Barrier plastic containers can deliver an ambient shelf life of up to 24 months.

What's more, plastic technology has the flexibility to offer different manufacturing techniques to meet the needs of different product applications and pack types.

At RPC, for example, we provide thermoforming for tubs and trays, blow-moulding for bottles and jars, and injection moulding for reclosable pots.

Thanks to these packs, ambient foods can deliver the same quality and taste as chilled varieties, which is why such packs are very much an accepted packaging format in mainland Europe.

The solutions exist to further minimise food waste in the home - and if consumers can be persuaded to choose more ambient packed convenience foods, plastic packaging is certainly in a position to meet that demand.

www.rpc-group.com