Modern food packaging in Sydney makes food safe, reliable, stable, and easy to clean. Most food packaging is single-use and cannot be recycled. Instead, most packaging is thrown out and litters our waterways. The United Nations declared plastic pollution of the oceans “a planet-wide crisis” because so much food packaging, especially plastic, has been found in our waterways. This is not just a problem for humans but also all aquatic life. Food packaging can also have other negative environmental effects on our soil and air.

It may not be easy to find unpackaged food. However, there are many options for choosing packaging that is more beneficial to animals, humans, and the environment.

Food Packaging Materials and Their Uses

Most food we purchase, especially processed foods, is packaged. It isn’t easy to find food that hasn’t been artificially wrapped, whether it comes from a supermarket or market, a restaurant or sit-down eatery, or an online delivery service.

Modern food packaging can be made from many different materials. These include glass, metals, paperboards, cardboards, waxes and plastics. Most food packaging is made from paper, paperboard, rigid plastics and glass.

Types of food packaging

The packaging type will depend on many factors, such as the location where the food was purchased, the intended usage of the packaging, and the timeframe for consumption. Here are some examples:

  • Grocery store food is usually sold in plastic, paperboard, or metal containers. Sometimes, multiple layers are used to protect the contents. These containers are then placed in plastic or paper grocery bags.
  • Many takeout foods are wrapped in aluminum foil or plastic, then put into plastic, paper or Styrofoam containers. Often, they are placed into paper bags and, finally, into plastic grocery bags. Plastic cutlery, napkins, and straws may also be found in these bags.
  • Many layers of packaging are used for processed food. For example, a food item may be placed on a tray and covered with paper or plastic wrap before being placed into a cardboard box. Then, it is often covered again in plastic wrap.
  • Many food items once found in glass, metal, or plastic bottles or cans can now be found in multilayer plastic-coated pouches and cartons.

The current food production and consumption practices produce a lot of packaging. New forms of packaging are continually being developed. Packaging of food is the most important industry. Approximately two-thirds of all material produced goes to packaging food.

Food Packaging: The Problem

Food packaging is a problem from the moment it is created. Every type of packaging requires a lot of resources, including energy, water and chemicals. The manufacturing of packaging can produce air emissions, including greenhouse gases, heavy metals, particulates, and wastewater containing toxic contaminants.

GLASS MANUFACTURING

Glass manufacturing uses feedstock material heated by fossil fuels like natural gas and light, heavy and liquefied petroleum gases. The combustion of fuels can cause air emissions such as greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxides, and nitrogen oxides. Fine particulates, which can contain arsenic or lead, are some of the emissions that result from the vaporization and recrystallization of feedstock material.

ALUMINUM PRODUCTION

Aluminum is made from bauxite mined and melted to make alumina. This is a very energy-intensive process that requires a lot of water. It also creates toxic sludge, which can contain radioactive elements and heavy metals. Management of this sludge is difficult. These emissions include sulfur dioxide, dust, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and wastewater.