A picture that can be seen in many supermarkets is unpackaged products being left, most often fruit and vegetable sections. This makes it clear that while packaging has been (rightfully) under scrutiny from an environmental perspective for quite some time now, its purpose in terms of hygiene remains prevalent.
The Covid-19 Pandemic is not the first instance in which the importance of packaging is being re-evaluated. In the US, for example, it is used to keep E. coli bacteria at bay. The produce is packaged right after the harvest and touch-points along the supply chain are eliminated. This keeps consumers healthy but also increases traceability, should there be any issues with contamination or diseases.
Aside from hygiene there are three other major purposes of packaging fresh produce: an extended shelf life (and therefore less food waste), convenience and marketing. There is a call for a more differentiated look at packaging: Where can we save material and can it save the security of supply?
Although plastic receives criticism on environmental grounds it also has many advantages. Plastic is one of the most useful inventions of mankind possessing many benefits for both durability and protection in packaging but it can also be recycled. The real question needs to be how we’re going to deal with it after we’ve used it and not possibly create more problems for us in the long run with alternative materials. Ultimately the consumer needs to be more educated on the impact of getting rid of plastic packaging, and move away from a one sided story of trash. There are some ‘alternatives’ that end up making the situation worse. One example being the paper straws used by a large fast food chain: They look environmentally friendly but the glue that was used on them makes them impossible to recycle.
It is important to consider the environmental impact of packaging. Not all produce needs to be packaged. For example, the peel on fruit isn’t usually eaten, so there is already an additional protective layer. Now some markets are trying to shift away from packaging in general and are looking for alternative materials or not keeping fruit and vegetables naked. However, the reasons packaging exists in the first place are still applicable today and those conditions are unlikely to go away. Naked produce can lack consumer acceptance and is bad for the shelf life.
There needs to be a much greater focus on plastic reduction and on how we can make the plastic packaging more sustainable in the long run by improving recycling. How are we going to implement recycling strategies properly in the future?
Governments have a duty to protect the environment we live in but also towards public health and we need to find a middle ground. I’m hoping for programs that will address the advantages of plastic in terms of weight, carbon footprint, water usage, recyclability and hygiene.There is no such thing as a perfect answer, no packaging will tick all the boxes but we can move towards a better goal. Figure out what to do with plastics in landfills. And we need to figure out what we are willing to get rid of – what are the trade-offs we are willing to make?
Rick Briston is the Business Development Manager at Redpack Packaging Machinery.
