Food Packaging: Roles, Materials, and Environmental Issues

Recent advances in food processing and food packaging play a key role in keeping the U.S. food supply chain one of the safest in the global circuit, according to a Sept. 14, 2018 excerpt from a Food Safety Tech (Edgartown, Mass., USA) report. Quite simply, packaging extends the lifespan and shelf life of food products long after the process is complete, allowing the foods to be transported over long distances from their point of origin and still remain edible at the time of consumption.

Food is one of the few products consumed at least three times a day. Consequently, food packaging accounts for almost two-thirds of all the total packaging waste by volume alone.

 

Preservation: Food packaging helps in retaining the benefits of food processing and preventing the deterioration of food products, increasing the safety of food. Packaging is designed to protect against the following classes of external physical and biological influences. Biological protection provides a barrier against microorganisms, insects, rodents and other animals, which prevent spoilage and disease. Physical protection safeguards food from damage and provides a cushioning against any shocks and vibrations faced during distribution.

Containment and Food Waste Reduction: Any assessment of food packaging’s impact on the environment must take into consideration the positive benefits of reduced food waste throughout the supply chain. Inadequate preservation, storage and transportation have been cited as the main causes of food wastage.

Marketing and Information: The packaging is the face of the product and is usually the only product exposure that most, if not all, consumers will experience prior to purchasing. Consequently, innovative or distinctive packaging can differentiate your product from the competition and enhance your product image.

Traceability: Most food manufacturing companies apply unique codes such as barcodes onto the package labels of their products, allowing them to track their products through the distribution, processing and production process.