Sustainable Packaging

When choosing the most suitable packaging design, many aspects must be taken into consideration.

The functions of packaging

Convenience

  • Product preparation and serving
  • Product storage
  • Portioning
  • Easy opening and reclosure

Protection

  • Increase shelf life
  • Prevent breakage: mechanical protection
  • Prevent contamination, tampering and theft
  • Prevent spoilage: barrier to moisture, gases, light, flavours and aromas

Handling

  • Transport from producer to retailer
  • Point of sale display

Unitisation

  • Provision of consumer units
  • Provision of retail and transport units

Information

  • Product identification
  • Product preparation and usage
  • Nutritional and storage data
  • Safety warnings
  • Contact information
  • Opening instructions
  • End of life management
  • List of ingredients

Promotion

  • Description of product
  • List of ingredients
  • Product features & benefits
  • Promotional messages and branding

Waste reduction

  • Enables centralised processing and reuse of by-products
  • Facilitates portioning and storage
  • Increases shelf life
  • Reduces transport energy
  • Easy emptying

Active packaging

Active packaging mostly includes substances that absorb moisture, oxygen, carbon dioxide, ethylene, flavours and odours or release carbon dioxide, antimicrobial agents, antioxidants and flavours. Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), for example, can be applied to dairy products to control some of the associated fungal problems and extend their shelf life.

Smart packaging

Smart packaging features special functions resulting in safer, or appealing food products, whilst being environmentally friendly. It can convey more information and yield improved traceability. In addition, smart packaging technologies can be further optimised by the incorporation of nanotechnology, enhancing package function. Intelligent packaging contains a device that can monitor the condition of the product, package or packaging environment. Mostly used in dairy packaging are time-temperature indicators and indicators of ripening.

Packaging of dairy products develops continuously along with advances in material technologies, which are in turn a response to consumer demands.(3) Examples of such innovative food packaging are the so-called ‘active’ and ‘smart’ packaging techniques, which can extend the shelf life of food and give information on its freshness, provided it does not adversely affect its composition.

Packaging sustainability

Sustainable packaging should address and balance the overall environmental footprint of the packaging, its functionality and food waste. Its sustainability should be assessed based on data. In this framework, packaging design is only one important aspect, as it needs to be complemented with a more unified policy, and efficient collection systems and recycling infrastructure across Europe. In fact, even the most sustainable packaging is not enough if the end-of-life infrastructure is not adequate.

A sustainable packaging should:

Be designed holistically with the product to optimise overall environmental performance

Be made from responsibly sourced materials

Be designed to be effective and safe throughout its life cycle, to protect the product

Meet market criteria for performance and cost

Meet consumer choice and expectations

Be sorted and recycled or recovered efficiently after use