Packaging To Prevent Food Waste

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Leona Parker
6 years ago
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1 Packaging To Prevent Food Waste Midwest Food Recovery Summit September 7 th,

2 Who We Are GOAL To maximize the reduction of food waste through prevention and extension of shelf life utilizing sustainable packaging solutions 2

3 50+ MEMBERS & PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDING: Our Network 3

4 Our Work 4

5 What is food packaging? 5

6 Packaging Types Primary - What consumers buy and take home Secondary - What protects and stores primary packaging (e.g., shelf/retail-ready packaging) Tertiary - What is used for shipping/transport (e.g., pallets, skids) 6

7 The Role of Packaging ALL components of the product/package system help prevent food waste! Image source: Tetra-Pak 7

8 The Food Value Chain Product source Farm Finished goods transportation Raw material transportation Point of purchase Retail or Food Service Manufacturing/ processing Consumer Warehousing/ storage Post-consumer 8

9 Why are different foods packaged in different ways? 9

Packaging depends on what is being packaged Packaging considerations for fresh and processed food may include but are not limited to: - Material selection & weight - Chemical characteristics -

10 Packaging depends on what is being packaged Packaging considerations for fresh and processed food may include but are not limited to: - Material selection & weight - Chemical characteristics - Handling efficiencies - Easy to open, dispense and close - Warehousing, stocking and stacking - Packaging line efficiency - Packaging design & dimensions Source: RMIT, Product containment - Product quality - Product safety and hygiene - Product protection and preservation - Product shelf life - Product convenience - Portion sizing Image Source: Chantler Packaging 10

11 Why do we package food? Flexible packaging extends shelf life (by days) Source: 11

12 Food Waste By Commodity Share of Global Food Loss and Waste By Commodity Source: WRI analysis based on FAO Global food losses and food waste-extent, causes and prevention. Rome: UN FAO. 12

13 Example Sunset - Gas permeable label with micro-perforations replenishes depleted oxygen and lets excess CO 2 out - Extends shelf from 14 days post harvest to 23 days 13

14 How does packaging prevent food waste? 14

15 How does packaging prevent food waste? Key functions of packaging to tackle food waste PROTECT PRODUCT EXTEND SHELF LIFE PROMOTE BEHAVIOR CHANGE 15

16 Food Waste in Households Population Estimated Value of Total Food Wasted Estimated % of Food Waste in Value Chain Occurring in Households U.S. 323 million $218 billion USD 43% 1 Canada 36 million $31 billion CAD ($24 billion USD) EU million $143 billion Euros ($168 billion USD) 47% 2 53% 3 1 ReFED. (2016). A Roadmap to Reduce U.S. Food Waste by 20 Percent. 2 VCMI. (2014). 27 Billion Revisited. The Cost of Canada s Annual Food Waste. 3 European Commission. (2016). FUSIONS. Estimates of European food waste levels. 16

Pre-Consumption Solutions that protect the

technologies oxygen, ethylene Vacuum packaging

17 Pre-Consumption Solutions that protect the product and extend shelf life and freshness Damage prevention Cold-chain management Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) Scavenger technologies oxygen, ethylene Vacuum packaging Moisture barriers Anti-microbial packaging Aseptic packaging 17

18 Consumption Solutions that provide consumer convenience and allow for improved food storage practices Portion packaging Resealable packaging Designs for easy product removal Product information on preparation, storage, use Date labeling 18

19 Post-Consumption New research suggests compostable packaging can help increase food scrap diversion where infrastructure exists - Applies to nutrient-contaminated packaging (e.g., foodservice, take-out, coffee pods) Image Source: Packaging Digest 19

20 Trade-offs More packaging Less food waste 20

21 Perception vs. Reality Harris Poll 2014 commissioned by Sealed Air 21

22 Perception vs. Reality Harris Poll 2014 commissioned by Sealed Air 22

preparation 1 capsule end-of-life 2% capsule transportation 3% capsule production 9% coffee preparation 36% coffee

23 Single-Serve Coffee Case Study Capsule life cycle impacts are less than 15% of the total carbon footprint of the single serve system 39, ,900 tones of potential avoided coffee waste from either loss of freshness or over preparation 1 capsule end-of-life 2% capsule transportation 3% capsule production 9% coffee preparation 36% coffee production 41% 1 Calculation based on wastage rate of 5% to 15% from combined US & Canada Euromonitor International data 23

system Optimize end-of-life options Optimum Pack Design Minimum environmental impact

24 Finding the Right Balance Negative environmental impact Protect product Prevent damage Reduce food waste Reduce amount of material and types used Source the right materials View product-package system Optimize end-of-life options Optimum Pack Design Minimum environmental impact Underpackaging Overpackaging Diagram courtesy of Innventia AB Minimum material Increasing packaging material use 24

25 The Circular Economy & Zero Waste Circular economy Biological cycles Technical cycles Food Packaging Compostable + Packaging Recyclable 25

Changing Trends Business - Ecommerce growth - Omni-channel marketing more web-based - Light weighting and transportation savings Consumer - On-the-go lifestyle convenience and cost savings - Smaller

26 Changing Trends Business - Ecommerce growth - Omni-channel marketing more web-based - Light weighting and transportation savings Consumer - On-the-go lifestyle convenience and cost savings - Smaller households portion sizing - Tech savvy and well-informed - Health and environment conscious local, organic Technology - Intelligent packaging (e.g., smart labels) - Traceability and safety (e.g., sensor tags, QR codes) - Nanotechnology (e.g., anti-microbial) 26

27 Potential for packaging Source: Euromonitor International,

28 The Opportunity Packaging must make sense! - If not packaged, can packaging help reduce product damage and loss? - Where packaging exists, can the packaging be improved to extend shelf life? - Is the packaging size and product count appropriate for the targeted market? Potential financial benefits: Packaging adjustments = $3,443/ton Spoilage prevention packaging = $2,326/ton (ReFED, 2016) 28

29 In summary Packaging will continue to play a critical role to prevent food waste Shift consumer mindset on food waste vs. packaging waste Bringing packaging solutions to scale will present significant economic opportunity 29

30 Webinar on September 13 th 30

31 Rachel A. Morier, MES Director of Sustainability PAC Packaging Consortium Thank you! pacfoodwaste.com 31

TECHNOLOGIES FOR PREVENTION, RECOVERY & RECYCLING OF FOOD WASTE. Hunt Briggs, RRS Midwest Food Recovery Summit September 2017

TECHNOLOGIES FOR PREVENTION, RECOVERY & RECYCLING OF FOOD WASTE Hunt Briggs, RRS Midwest Food Recovery Summit September 2017 M U N I C I PA L S O L I D WA S T E THE U.S. WASTE AND RECOVERY SYSTEM Series8