Food Packaging: Environmental Issues and Future Trends - Term Paper Example

Food packaging Environmental Issues and future trends al affiliation This paper analyses the environmental issues generated by packaging with special emphasis on food packaging. We are familiar with packaging of food right from the beginning of this world. God blessed us with finest packaged foods in form of fruits and vegetables. Modern packaging of food is somewhat protective but unlike natural packaging it doesn’t degenerate easily and create hazards for healthy environment. In this paper, food packaging and future trends are discussed with reference to the criticism regarding environment it is facing. Food packaging: Environmental Issues and future trends The packaging Institute International defines packaging as, “the enclosure of products, items or packages in a wrapped pouch, bag, box, cup, tray, can, tube, bottle or other container form to perform one or more of the following functions: containment, protection, preservation, communication, utility and performance”(Robertson, 2006, p.2). Packaging has been with us for thousand of years in one form or the other. Nature developed food packaging well before man, even to the extent of the outer surface being an indicator to show when the product is ready to eat. Toady food packaging is used, or abused, to provide prepared food for the sophisticated consumer…Today’s consumer wants to buy food which is ready to eat, or needs a minimum of preparation, and is good value for money. To be able to supply these demands requires the use of different types of packaging for different applications. Packaging is also used by the manufacturer to make his product stand out on the shelf in the supermarket so that the consumer will select his product rather than his competitor. (Mathlouthi, 1994, p.210-11) Modern packaging can e defined as a means of ensuring the safe delivery of a product to the consumer in a sound condition at minimal overall cost. To put packaging materials in perspective, 66% of al packaging is used for food. In developed countries, where packaging is used with a food processing system, food waste is approximately 2-3%.In developing countries, where no such packaging system exists food waste may be as high as 30-50%. (Mathlouthi, 1994, p.211) Packaging is considered to be useful and protective as far as food is concerned, counter argument for this stance as Alexander (1993) states it, “For some new form of packaging, designed to keep food fresh while in transit, the reduction in food waste may be much greater than the weight of the packaging” (as cited in Ackerman, 1997, p.1).However, it appears to be less noticeable. Alter (1988) states, “There appears to be an inverse relationship between the quantities of food waste and packaging waste (as) richer countries(are) generating more of the latter” (as cited in Ackerman, 1997, p.1). Mathlouthi (1994) states, “Packaging becomes waste when its original functions have been fulfilled…functions are containment, protection, preservation, identification and convenience” (p.211). Waste is an inevitable product of society and has been described as the “effluence of affluence.”Waste generation is directly lined to the economic structure of a country, with MSW being closely linked to demography, urban or rural location and culture. The U.S. and the EU countries contain about one sixth of the world’s population, produce and consume more per person than the global average and generate more than one fourth of the world’s MSW. However, developing countries produce more waste from a given amount of production and per dollar of GDP. Although they account for less than one half the world’s GDP, they produce nearly three quarters of its MSW. Paper is the largest component (by weight) in high-income countries, while food waste predominates in low-income countries. (Robertson, 2006, p.505) Testin and Vergano (1991) almost all segments of packaging industry face criticism for environmental concerns. One of the major concerns is amount of solid waste generated by the fast-food chains throughout the world. Municipal solid waste (MSW) is another issue; people don’t want every filling landfill in their communities. Production of energy for use in packaging operations of various types is associated with the production of carbon dioxide(leading to the greenhouse effect),sulfur dioxides and nitrogen oxides (associated with acid rain).Transportation of packaging material is connected to vehicle emissions which play a significant role in the production of smog, as well as adding to the greenhouse effect. However, in all of these areas of concern, packaging is far from the single or even leading contributor. (Selke, 1994, p.56) Postal (1986) states, “There are serious concerns about the effects of acid rain in North America, and especially in Europe” (as cited in Selke, 1994, p.11).El-Hannawi and Hashmi (1987) state, “On a worldwide level, tropical deforestation is frighteningly rapid. With consumption in excess of 40 million tons per year, packaging using wood-based materials has a significant impact on wood use” (as cited in Selke, 1994, p.11).If we discuss contributing factors developed and more aware countries are producing more waste as Ackerman (1997) found “Most of the researches found that United States is the world leader in per capita waste disposal, and that developing countries generate much less waste” (p.1). In 2001, U.S. residents, businesses and institutions produced more than 208 million tones of MSW…The packaging fraction of this MSW was approximately 32% w/w if corrugated boxes (secondary packaging) and wooden packaging are included and 16% if they are excluded (i.e., primary packaging made up 16% of MSW).It consisted of 52% paper and paperboard, 15% glass, 15% plastics, 6% metals and 11% wood. Food scraps were 11% of total MSW in 2001 compared with 14% 1960…In a detailed analysis of the composition of MSW in 10 cities located in eight EU countries, it was found that packaging varied between 20 and 36% by weight of MSW.(Robertson, 2006, p.505) Besides high claims of food industry, not all waste is discarded or recycled properly. According to Ackerman (1997) fast-food Styrofoam and aseptic packaging are major contributor to waste generation and therefore can be linked with problematic levels of pollution (p.3). Pakcaging material has been recycled over a period of time,for example,paper and metal.Mostly recycling was encouraged during the times of shortages or conflict.It is now quite established system and great packaging material is prepared from recycled paper.It is estimated that 30% of paper and 50% of corrugated boxed are being recycled.With recycling fibers becomes short and finally vanishes.Recycling of aluminum beverage cans is very successful done and more than 60% or cans are recycled.It can be recycled as many times as we want because recycling dosen’t effect its physical properties unlike paper. The major hurdle for recycling materials is its financial feasibility. (Testin & Vergano, 1991) A major roadblock to recycling is not technical ability,but finacial ability.For example,technology has been developed that can process used aseptic juice boxes into plastic lumber.However,plastic lumber is more expensive than regular lumber,which limits its sales.The less expensive inputs from recucled sources relative to virgin sources or the greater the demand for the final productsmade from recycled materials,the more successful recycling will be in reducing packaging wastes.Thus,consumer willingness to bring discarded packages to central collection centres and their purchasing of final products made from ercycled materials is a key to successful recycling. (Testin & Vergano, 1991) In United States,75% of MSW is dumped in sanitary landfills and the rest of 25% is recycled or incierated.In modern sanitary landfill the degradation process is prevented and it is a source of pollution since it produces methane gas and ground water pollution.According to William Rathje of the University of Arizona proved the fact that even highly degradable thing like paper is readable in landfill after the decades of so called degradation.This process is very slow and technology dosen’t help much in this regard.However,in remote areas or oceans can help to some extent in this process. (Testin & Vergano, 1991) Biodegradability in packaging materials could become more important as more solid wastes are composted.Today’however,composting accounts for only about 0.2 percent of the waste disposal in United States.Highly compostable food and yard wastes are not being composted and end up as 25percent of the MSW supply.Thus,using biodegradable food packages would not reduce MSW unless the demand for compost greatly increased. Another criticism of packaging is that firms use more of it than necessay which raises the product price and contributes to solid waste disposal problems.Often what seems like overpackaging is actually part the package function.(Testin & Vergano, 1991) Ackerman(1997) states,for products or packages that can be made of only one material, recycled content is better for the environment, as is commonly believed. The evaluation of packaging impacts is more complex task when, as it typically the case, there is a choice of packaging materials. One type of plastic, PVC, stands out as the environmentally worst choice in both eh U.S. and Mexico.PVC aside, detailed research in packaging in the US shows that lighter-weight packages are generally better for the environment, even when weight reduction must be obtained at the expense of recyclability. More tentative research in Mexico suggests that reduction in the pollution generated by electric power plants could be key to reducing the impact of manufacturing packaging materials-and that the health and environmental problems of landfill scavenging cannot be ignored. (p.7) Testin and Vergano (1990) state, “ Several trends in the food packaging evolution have been remarkable, including source reduction, design improvement for convenience and handling, and environmental concern regarding packaging materials and processes”(as cited in Han, 2005, p.4). Stilwell et al.(1991) state, “food packaging has evolved from simple preservation methods to convenience, point-on-purchase (POP) marketing, material reduction, safety, tamper-proofing, and environmental issues”(as cited in Han, 2005, p.4).Trends in this evolution process are shown in table 1. Table 1 Trends in the evolution of food packaging Period Functions and Issues 1960s Convenience, POP marketing 1970s Lightweight, source reduction, energy saving 1980s Safety, temper-evidence 1990s Environmental Impact 2000s Safety and security 1960s-1990s data are from Stilwell et al. (1991, as cited in Han, 2005, pg.4) Han (2005) states, a continuing trends in food packaging technology is the study and development of new materials that posses very high barriers properties. High-barrier materials can reduce the total amount of packaging materials required, since they are made of a thin or lightweight material with high-barrier properties. (p.10) According to Han (2005) convenience is also a buzzing trend in food packaging development. Convenience from the manufacturing process, distribution of products, transportation, sales, marketing, and consumption to waste disposal level is crucial and competitive in today’s market. Priorities for convenience may be related to productivity, processing, easy opening and cooking, temper-resistance, warehousing, traceability, display qualities (p.10). According to Han (2005) very important and desired trend is security. In today’s environment of terrorism and safety and security of public health against bioterrorism is inevitable. It is crucial due to the increased consumption of pre-prepared foods, processed foods and ready to eat stuff. In order to prevent food borne illness and harmful alteration of foods security measures needed to be observed at every step (p.10). Another significant trend in food packaging is that it should be natural and environmentally friendly. Artificial chemical ingredients and flavors in foods and in packaging materials should be substituted with natural ingredients. It always attracts consumers when a product contains natural ingredients. According to Han (2005), this kind of substitution is done, “For example, chemical antioxidants such as BHA, BHT and TBHQ have been replaced with tocopherol and ascorbic acid mixtures for food products” (p.10). Han (2005) states, this trend will also continue in food packaging system design areas. To design environmentally friendly packaging systems that are more natural requires, for example, the partial replacement of synthetic packaging materials with biodegradable or edible materials, a consequent decrease in the use of total amount of materials, and an increase in the amount of recyclable and reusable (refillable) materials.(p.10) Han (2005) further explains that food science and packaging development is associated with engineering developments and consumer research. Consumers continuously demand for new materials with new functions and attributes. Therefore, new food packaging systems are revolving around the development of food-processing technology in order to cater lifestyle changes of consumers. This process is also linked with political decision-making and scientific confirmation process (p.10). According to Ackerman(1997) “It is entirely consistent to recognize that packaging plays a valuable, often resource-conserving role in modern distribution of food, beverages and other goods and to maintain that a large and perhaps growing fraction of packaging is wasteful or environmentally problematical”(p.7). He further explains that besides popular concerns of packaging problems, for instance, visibility of litter and landfill capacity are secondary and concerns while more attention should be paid on the use of natural resources and manufacturing waste which pollutes air and water on a large scale (p.7).It is the market of consumers today, they can drive manufacturing process according to their demands and interests. In order to bring a change, it is crucial to spread the word and make people aware of the problems packaging creates for environment. Work cited Ackerman, F. (1997). Environmental Impacts of Packaging in the U.S. and Mexico. PHILL & TECH , 2 (2), 1-7. Han, J. H. (Eds.). (2005). Innovations in Food Packaging. San Diego, California, USA: Elsevier Academic Press. Mathlouthi, M. (Eds.). (1994). Food Packaging and Preservation. New York , USA: Chapman & Hall. Robertson, G. L. (2006). Food Packaging:Principles and Practices (2nd ed.). USA: CRC Press,Taylor & Francis Group. Selke, S. E. (1994). Packaging and the Environment:Alternatives,trends and solutions (Revised ed.). USA: CRC Press LLC. Testin, R. F., & Vergano, P. J. (1991). Food packaging - environmental issues affecting packaging; includes related articles. Food Review . Read More