Can packaging contain food wastage at retail?
The world
celebrated its first International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, this
year on 29th September. In this article, we probe the role packaging plays in
containing food loss and wastage. We attempt to analyse how sustainable pack
sizes affect food wastage at the end of the supply chain.
Food loss
and waste has become crucial across the globe. A study by Food and Agriculture
organisation of United Nations found that roughly one-third of food produced
for human consumption is lost or wasted globally, which amounts to about 1.3
billion tons per year.
The carbon and water footprint of this significant amount of food loss and
waste was estimated to be 4.4 gigatons (or 8% of the world’s total CO2
equivalent and 250 km of blue water, respectively).
The study
also found that food loss at the retail level is a rising cause of concern in urban
food consumer markets. Studies reveal that the wastage levels are between 24% to 40%
in the food supply.
The major cause of food wastage at the retail level is attributed to poor
packaging, improper storage, incorrect temperature control, and loss in
transport. This loss combined with the wastage at the consumer level caused mainly
due to lack of awareness on shelf-life / best by dates, inadequate pack sizes,
improper storage once the pack has opened, forms a major chunk of the food loss
percentage.
As a
packager with a legacy of offering premium quality environment friendly
packaging to multiple FMCG companies across the globe, Manjushree is uniquely
placed to innovate and develop new packaging, collaborate with other
stakeholders on the waste management challenge and inform consumers in order to
increase their participation.
Finding the
right solution, one that not only ensures food freshness and safety but also
protects taste, aroma, and appearance, while being environmentally conscious is
not easy. Each product is different and the journey the food takes from the origin
to shelf must be considered. There are several packaging opportunities like - using
packaging with barrier properties, introducing reusable packaging range, providing
sustainable pack sizes etc., that provide a harmonious solution to
contain and control the challenges at both the retail and consumer level.
Here are four packaging suggestions to reduce food waste at the retail stage.
1. Introduce serve size, small packaging
Serve size packaging are multi-baggers, they have the potential to transform consumption patterns. They stock more for less space in a retail outlet, induce repeat purchase with their single-serve size product quantity, reduce post-consumption wastage – reduced quantity leaves less excess, and have a smaller environmental footprint as their manufacturing and transport requires reduced resources on a per-piece basis.
2. Choose the right product packaging
mix
Every food item has its unique storage requirements. Food loss at retail can be controlled by selecting a packaging that is conscious of its product’s need of temperature and light sensitivity, barrier requirements, and environment resistance to ensure freshness of food for long. Customised packaging ensures a safe origin-to-cart journey of the food product.
3. Opt for bio-degradable thin wall
containers
Cut fruits, vegetables, baked produce, etc., at retail stores have small shelf life and are traditionally packed in flexible packaging to make it cash-and-carry friendly, but once opened, storing these items become difficult. Bio-degradable, thin-wall containers are an excellent alternative for packaging these perishables. They store the food product till its useful life and dissolve into the elements once it is discarded.
4. Encourage reusable packaging
Sustainability does not only come from recycling, encouraging reuse increases
the lifecycle of plastic packaging by keeping it in consumption for longer. In
the food and beverage industry, a lot of waste occurs due to improper storage
of a product after the pack has been opened. Moving to reusable rigid packaging
not just gives safe storage to the primary product but can also be used to
store other perishable after the primary product is fully consumed. In a
regular household, rigid plastic containers have far more opportunities to be reused
than flexible packs.
Sustainable
Pack Sizes
Offering
sustainable pack sizes aim at source reduction by providing smaller packaging
options that bring evident benefits at both the retail and consumer end of the
supply chain. At retail, smaller pack sizes are easier to store, ensuring more
for less in stock space. Smaller pack sizes have a reduced footprint since they
consume less plastic and production resources and contribute lesser to carbon
emissions caused during transport.
At the
consumer end the benefits of having smaller pack sizes is similar, it is easier
for them to store and consume quicker than larger pack sizes leading to reduced
wastage. It is especially beneficial for high shelf life products that
generally have a smaller consumption life once opened, for example – dairy
products, freezer food, dairy-based drinks, juices etc.
We believe
choosing serving size packages and smaller package options is a smart solution.
Here is an example of our serving size packaging design for the Beverage
industry.
Depicted
above are recyclable PP bottles with recyclable HDPE caps that offer fill
volumes of 180ml, 200ml and 300ml. The bottles are designed with 38mm neck for
a spill-proof gulp. The bottles come in unique designs with customisation
options. These PP bottles are semi-transparent, easy to stack and handle. They
have a high tolerance for retort sterilization up to 121-degree Celsius for 20
mins and can tolerate both conduction & induction sealing. These bottles offer
a shelf life of up to four months
We also
manufacture PET preforms for small 180ml, 200ml, and 300ml size beverage
bottles. These bottles offer stability for aseptic environment filling and are
available with a tamper-evident screw cap. They offer a shelf life of up to 90
days.
Over the years we have undertaken multiple redesign and resizing projects. If you are in need of a fresh look for
your product, or want to optimise your existing packaging, we can help you with
your next sustainability project, contact us at – info@manjushreeindia.com.
