Sustainable packaging - a view of possible routes

The European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is a clear indicator that the food and beverage packaging landscape will look very different in the coming years. The directive aims to reduce packaging waste, increase the use of recycled plastics and ensure that all packaging is recyclable by 2030 – a huge win for sustainability. The next decade is likely to see major changes in the types of materials used in packaging, but in this article we'll look at the carbon footprint of some of the packaging options available on the market today.

The need for sustainable food packaging is urgent

Packaging represents 5 % of energy consumed in the life cycle of a food product, making it a significant driver of food's carbon footprint. A typical person in the EU produces 189 kg of packaging waste. To make matters worse, 80 % food packaging is not suitable for recycling.

Most people know that plastic pollution is a serious problem. It tends to be at the center of conversations about waste reduction. However, our problems with packaging waste extend far beyond plastics – in fact, paper and cardboard account for almost 40 % of packaging waste in the EU.

There's no doubt that packaging is essential to feeding the world. Packaging helps protect food from harmful contaminants and allows for safe transportation. Extends the shelf life of food and helps reduce food waste. As the food and beverage industry moves forward, we need to incorporate life-cycle thinking into packaging design and decisions to minimize our carbon footprint and promote circularity. Check out some popular packaging options

The packaging landscape of the future could look radically different from today. Companies around the world are innovating with fully circular solutions, packaging materials based on biological materials and new ways of using recycled plastics.

As the world works to transition to a more sustainable future, every effort to achieve net zero counts. With the right data, you can make informed decisions today to reduce the carbon footprint of your products.

Let's look at some common packaging materials today.

Plastic (PET) cap

Plastic clamshells have a relatively high carbon footprint of 7.78 kg CO₂e/kg. On the plus side, PET plastic is highly recyclable… in theory. Just because an item can be recycled doesn't mean it will. Only 9 % plastics ever produced were recycled.

Plastic (PET) water bottle (1l)

A plastic water bottle has a fraction of the carbon footprint (0.31 kg CO₂e/kg) as a plastic cap. Plastic cap

The carbon footprint of the plastic cap is comparatively high (8.08 kg CO₂e/kg). When you realize that you cannot have plastic bottles without plastic caps, it is clear that the rampant production and use of plastic bottles is problematic.

Glass water bottle (0.5 l)

The footprint of a 0.5L glass water bottle is more than 3x that of a 1L plastic water bottle, partly due to its greater weight. It is worth noting that in some European countries the glass recycling rate exceeds 90 %. However, the total recycling rate of glass materials remains below 35 %.

Stainless steel

The carbon footprint of stainless steel at 6.15 kg CO₂e/kg is significantly higher than that of a plastic water bottle, but still below the carbon footprint of a plastic cap. It's a promising choice for those looking for more circular solutions, as most of its footprint comes from processing.

Paper/cardboard (direct contact with food)

Paper and cardboard have a low carbon footprint of 1.56 kg CO₂e/kg. It constitutes 40 % of waste in the EU and includes 31 % of the global packaging market segment. Paper and paper food packaging can be recycled a maximum of 6-7 times.

aluminum

There is a significant difference in footprint between clean and recycled aluminum, which is aptly commented on in this article on airline efforts to become more sustainable .

The carbon footprint of the original European aluminum sheet is 10 times greater than that of the recycled sheet: 6.63 kg CO₂e/kg, respectively 0.66 kg CO₂e/kg. 98 % of recycled aluminum cans are recycled into products that are recycled again compared to 60 % for glass and 20 % for PET, making recycled aluminum a promising choice for some use cases. (Co2AI)