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This article is from the Food Science FAQ, bypking123@sympatico.ca (Paul E. J. King) with numerous contributions by others.

7. Is packaging wasteful of materials and energy?

Of course the production of anything, including packaging
materials, uses raw materials and energy. However, both packaging
material manufacturers and food manufacturers operate in an intensely
competitive environment, causing continual search for ways to
minimise packaging costs without compromising the protection or
presentation of the product.

Packaging also reduces the amount of material entering the waste
stream. Most packaged fresh and processed foods have had the
non-edible material (e.g. husks, peels, vegetable tops, bones of
animal or fish, etc) removed during preparation. As a result, those
materials are used for animal feed or other purposes instead of going
into domestic waste. Likewise, energy is saved by not having to
transport that inedible material through the distribution and retail
chain to the consumer.

 

Continue to:

• prev: 6. Do we really need the protection that packaging is said to provide?
• Index
• next: 8. Can packaging and energy usage be reduced without compromising the protection it gives to the food?

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