The consumption of packaged foods has increased substantially in recent decades. The global packaged foods market was valued at $1.9 trillion in 2020 and is expected to reach $3.4 trillion by 2030. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is widely used to compare the relative impacts of different packaging materials for a food product. This article analyzes 28 studies that carry out an LCA of food products. For the majority of the 13 environmental indicators reported, plastic packaging is responsible for less than 10% of the total life cycle pollutant emissions of 23 of the 30 foods studied. Relative emissions from packaging tend to be higher for liquids and food products packaged in small quantities. To make the LCA results more accessible to non-scientific audiences, this study compares the results with a reference value of emissions from vehicle travel. The environmental impact caused by packaging from annual per capita food consumption resulted in annual beverage consumption being responsible for the impact equivalent to 76 miles of driving. The driving factors that affect the design and production of materials and the design of completely bio-based packaging must be analyzed, considering the minimization and revaluation of by-products and waste, recyclability, biodegradability and other possible end-of-life and their impact. in the sustainability of the product/packaging system.
The consumption of packaged foods has increased substantially in recent decades. The global packaged foods market was valued at $1.9 trillion in 2020 and is expected to reach $3.4 trillion by 2030. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is widely used to compare the relative impacts of different packaging materials for a food product. This article analyzes 28 studies that carry out an LCA of food products. For the majority of the 13 environmental indicators reported, plastic packaging is responsible for less than 10% of the total life cycle pollutant emissions of 23 of the 30 foods studied. Relative emissions from packaging tend to be higher for liquids and food products packaged in small quantities. To make the LCA results more accessible to non-scientific audiences, this study compares the results with a reference value of emissions from vehicle travel. The environmental impact caused by packaging from annual per capita food consumption resulted in annual beverage consumption being responsible for the impact equivalent to 76 miles of driving. The driving factors that affect the design and production of materials and the design of completely bio-based packaging must be analyzed, considering the minimization and revaluation of by-products and waste, recyclability, biodegradability and other possible end-of-life and their impact. in the sustainability of the product/packaging system.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0921344922000040 (2022).----
https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/5/1057 (2023).----
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0924224423000523 (2023)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/16/3431