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Food Packaging—Roles, Materials, and …

R: Concise Reviews in food Science JFS R: Concise Reviews/Hypotheses in food Science food packaging Roles, Materials, and Environmental Issues KENNETH MARSH, , AND BETTY BUGUSU, The Institute of food Technologists has issued this Scientific Status Summary to update readers on food packaging and its impact on the environment. Keywords: food packaging , food processing A. dvances in food processing and food packaging play a pri- ment options. Finally, it addresses disposal methods and legislation mary role in keeping the food supply among the safest in on packaging disposal. the world. Simply stated, packaging maintains the benefits of food processing after the process is complete, enabling foods to Roles of food packaging travel safely for long distances from their point of origin and still be wholesome at the time of consumption. However, packaging tech- T he principal roles of food packaging are to protect food prod- ucts from outside influences and damage, to contain the food , and to provide consumers with ingredient and nutritional informa- nology must balance food protection with other issues, including energy and material costs, heightened social and environmental tion (Coles 2003).

R: Concise Reviews in Food Science Scientific Status Summary—Food Packaging... during distribution. Typically developed from paperboard and corrugated materials, physical barriers resist impacts, abrasions,

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Transcription of Food Packaging—Roles, Materials, and …

1 R: Concise Reviews in food Science JFS R: Concise Reviews/Hypotheses in food Science food packaging Roles, Materials, and Environmental Issues KENNETH MARSH, , AND BETTY BUGUSU, The Institute of food Technologists has issued this Scientific Status Summary to update readers on food packaging and its impact on the environment. Keywords: food packaging , food processing A. dvances in food processing and food packaging play a pri- ment options. Finally, it addresses disposal methods and legislation mary role in keeping the food supply among the safest in on packaging disposal. the world. Simply stated, packaging maintains the benefits of food processing after the process is complete, enabling foods to Roles of food packaging travel safely for long distances from their point of origin and still be wholesome at the time of consumption. However, packaging tech- T he principal roles of food packaging are to protect food prod- ucts from outside influences and damage, to contain the food , and to provide consumers with ingredient and nutritional informa- nology must balance food protection with other issues, including energy and material costs, heightened social and environmental tion (Coles 2003).

2 Traceability, convenience, and tamper indication consciousness, and strict regulations on pollutants and disposal of are secondary functions of increasing importance. The goal of food municipal solid waste. packaging is to contain food in a cost-effective way that satisfies in- Municipal solid waste (MSW) consists of items commonly thrown dustry requirements and consumer desires, maintains food safety, away, including packages, food scraps, yard trimmings, and durable and minimizes environmental impact. items such as refrigerators and computers. Legislative and regula- tory efforts to control packaging are based on the mistaken percep- Protection/preservation tion that packaging is the major burden of MSW. Instead, the food packaging can retard product deterioration, retain the ben- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that approximately eficial effects of processing, extend shelf-life, and maintain or in- only 31% of the MSW generated in 2005 was from packaging -related crease the quality and safety of food .

3 In doing so, packaging provides materials, including glass, metal, plastic, paper, and paperboard a protection from 3 major classes of external influences: chemical, bi- percentage that has remained relatively constant since the 1990s de- ological, and physical. spite an increase in the total amount of MSW. Nonpackaging sources Chemical protection minimizes compositional changes trig- such as newsprint, telephone books, and office communication gen- gered by environmental influences such as exposure to gases erate more than twice as much MSW (EPA 2006a). food is the only (typically oxygen), moisture (gain or loss), or light (visible, infrared, product class typically consumed 3 times per day by every person. or ultraviolet). Many different packaging materials can provide a Consequently, food packaging accounts for almost two-thirds of to- chemical barrier. Glass and metals provide a nearly absolute barrier tal packaging waste by volume (Hunt and others 1990).

4 Moreover, to chemical and other environmental agents, but few packages are food packaging is approximately 50% (by weight) of total packaging purely glass or metal since closure devices are added to facilitate sales. Although the specific knowledge available has changed since both filling and emptying. Closure devices may contain materials publication of the 1st Scientific Status Summary on the relationship that allow minimal levels of permeability. For example, plastic caps between packaging and MSW (IFT 1991), the issue remains poorly have some permeability to gases and vapors, as do the gasket mate- understood, complicating efforts to address the environmental im- rials used in caps to facilitate closure and in metal can lids to allow pact of discarded packaging materials. This article describes the role sealing after filling. Plastic packaging offers a large range of barrier of food packaging in the food supply chain, the types of materials properties but is generally more permeable than glass or metal.

5 Used in food packaging , and the impact of food packaging on the Biological protection provides a barrier to microorganisms environment. In addition, this document provides an overview of (pathogens and spoiling agents), insects, rodents, and other ani- EPA's solid waste management guidelines and other waste manage- mals, thereby preventing disease and spoilage. In addition, biolog- ical barriers maintain conditions to control senescence (ripening and aging). Such barriers function via a multiplicity of mechanisms, Author Marsh is president of Kenneth S. Marsh & Associates, Ltd., Central, SC, including preventing access to the product, preventing odor trans- Author Bugusu is Research Scientist, Dept. of Science and Technology mission, and maintaining the internal environment of the package. Projects, Institute of food Technologists, Washington, , Direct inquiries to author Bugusu (E-mail: Physical protection shields food from mechanical damage and includes cushioning against the shock and vibration encountered.)

6 C 2007 Institute of food Technologists Vol. 72, Nr. 3, 2007 JOURNAL OF food SCIENCE R39. doi: Further reproduction without permission is prohibited Scientific Status Summary food packaging .. R: Concise Reviews in food Science during distribution. Typically developed from paperboard and foods. Oven-safe trays, boil-in bags, and microwavable packaging corrugated materials, physical barriers resist impacts, abrasions, enable consumers to cook an entire meal with virtually no prepara- and crushing damage, so they are widely used as shipping containers tion. New closure designs supply ease of opening, resealability, and and as packaging for delicate foods such as eggs and fresh fruits. Ap-special dispensing features. For example, a cookie manufacturer re- propriate physical packaging also protects consumers from various cently introduced a flexible bag with a scored section that provides hazards. For example, child-resistant closures hinder access to po- access to the cookies.

7 A membrane with a peelable seal covers the tentially dangerous products. In addition, the substitution of plasticopening before sale and allows reclosure after opening. Advances in packaging for products ranging from shampoo to soda bottles has food packaging have facilitated the development of modern retail reduced the danger from broken glass containers. formats that offer consumers the convenience of 1-stop shopping and the availability of food from around the world. These conve- Containment and food waste reduction nience features add value and competitive advantages to products Any assessment of food packaging 's impact on the environment but may also influence the amount and type of packaging waste must consider the positive benefits of reduced food waste through- requiring disposal. out the supply chain. Significant food wastage has been reported in many countries, ranging from 25% for food grain to 50% for fruits and Tamper indication vegetables (FAO 1989).

8 Inadequate preservation/protection, stor- Willful tampering with food and pharmaceutical products has age, and transportation have been cited as causes of food waste. resulted in special packaging features designed to reduce or elim- packaging reduces total waste by extending the shelf-life of foods, inate the risk of tampering and adulteration. Although any pack- thereby prolonging their usability. Rathje and others (1985) found age can be breeched, tamper-evident features cannot easily be re- that the per capita waste generated in Mexico City contained less placed. Tamper-evident features include banding, special mem- packaging , more food waste, and one-third more total waste than branes, breakaway closures, and special printing on bottle liners generated in comparable cities. In addition, Rathje and others or composite cans such as graphics or text that irreversibly change (1985) observed that packaged foods result in total waste as upon opening.

9 Special printing also includes holograms that can- compared to 50% for fresh foods in part because agricultural by- not be easily duplicated. Tamper-evident packaging usually requires products collected at the processing plant are used for other pur- additional packaging materials, which exacerbates disposal issues, poses while those generated at home are typically discarded. There- but the benefits generally outweigh any drawback. An example of a fore, packaging may contribute to the reduction of total solid waste. tamper-evident feature that requires no additional packaging ma- terials is a heat seal used on medical packaging that is chemically Marketing and information formulated to change color when opened. A package is the face of a product and often is the only product exposure consumers experience prior to purchase. Consequently, distinctive or innovative packaging can boost sales in a compet- Other functions itive environment. The package may be designed to enhance the packaging may serve other functions, such as a carrier for pre- product image and/or to differentiate the product from the com- miums (for example, inclusion of a gift, additional product, or petition.)

10 For example, larger labels may be used to accommodate coupon) or containers for household use. The potential for pack- recipes. packaging also provides information to the consumer. For aging use/reuse eliminates or delays entry to the waste stream. example, package labeling satisfies legal requirements for product identification, nutritional value, ingredient declaration, net weight, Materials Used in food packaging and manufacturer information. Additionally, the package conveys important information about the product such as cooking instruc- tions, brand identification, and pricing. All of these enhancements P ackage design and construction play a significant role in de- termining the shelf life of a food product. The right selection of packaging materials and technologies maintains product quality may impact waste disposal. and freshness during distribution and storage. Materials that have traditionally been used in food packaging include glass, metals (alu- Traceability minum, foils and laminates, tinplate, and tin-free steel), paper and The Codex Alimentarius Commission defines traceability as the paperboards, and plastics.


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