A recent study led by Michigan State University’s School of Packaging, detailed in a white paper supported by Ameripen and the Environmental Research & Education Foundation, suggests that enhanced packaging designs could significantly contribute to minimizing household food waste. The research emphasizes the potential role of packaging technologies in extending shelf life, encouraging reuse, and optimizing size, thus addressing the critical issue of food waste.
In the United States, food waste has doubled in landfills from 1990 to 2020, contributing to 58% of fugitive methane emissions from municipal solid waste landfills. Researchers highlighted that 40% of the food supply is wasted annually, with 43% of that occurring at the consumer or household level.
Ameripen and the Environmental Research & Education Foundation funded the research, which included a survey of over 1,000 people in the United States. The study aimed to explore the role packaging could play in reducing household food waste and assess consumer awareness of the value and functions of food packaging.
The survey revealed that whole fruits and vegetables, notably bananas and lettuce, were the most wasted foods in households, along with dairy products, prepared packaged foods, and leftovers. The study identified “half-eaten packaged food products” and “unpackaged food that spoiled before consumption” as the primary reasons for household food waste, indicating a potential opportunity for improved packaging design.
Consumers identified “no packaging,” “bag/pouch,” and “tray with wrap, film, or snap-fit lid” as the packaging types most associated with household food waste. While consumers showed limited understanding of packaging technologies, they expressed a willingness to pay more for packaging designed to extend freshness and shelf life.
The white paper concluded that certain food products, particularly produce, could benefit from packaging technologies designed to extend shelf life and reduce food waste. The researchers emphasized the need to design packaging for unpackaged produce and highlighted the importance of “intelligent packaging” that indicates the shelf life of food products.
The findings are expected to fuel discussions on legislative implications regarding the balance between food waste and packaging waste. Advocacy groups have urged grocery stores to reduce plastic packaging, raising questions about the environmental impact of extending food life versus the impact of packaging. The study’s details will be published in multiple peer-reviewed academic journals in the future.