Three US federal agencies publish draft strategy on food loss and waste prevention; goal to reduce loss and waste by 50% by 2030; includes concerns around physical and chemical contamination of organic waste from packaging; planned investments in “innovative” materials; draft strategy open for comment through January 4, 2024
April 21, 2023
Measuring trade-offs between packaging waste and food waste
Australian Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Center surveys consumer perceptions of packaging’s role in encouraging or preventing food waste; United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) breaks down results from 33 life cycle analyses comparing packaging and food waste; makes structured recommendations for when packaging or food waste costs are higher based on food type, consumer and regulatory support, and strength of local waste management systems
September 1, 2021
Review assesses 20 years of food safety research
Integrative review analyzes recent scientific advances in food and environmental safety; scientometric analysis reveals increasing multidisciplinary interest between 2001 and 2020; finds contaminants and environmentally friendly food packaging as emerging research topics in the field of food safety
January 12, 2021
REFUCOAT develops recyclable, active packaging
EU Horizon 2020 Project REFUCOAT develops three packaging materials to reduce plastic waste and food loss, uses bacteriophage-based coating to reduce Salmonella proliferation in chicken breast, more efficient synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and polyglycolide (PGA)
June 10, 2020
Report investigates greenhouse gas emissions, packaging, and food waste
National Zero Waste Council (NZWC) reviews 4 packaging materials across 12 product types, examines how packaging can be optimized to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by both preventing food waste and minimizing material packaging waste
May 27, 2020
Klosters Forum podcast features FPF director
Latest episode of the Feed and Flourish podcast developed by The Klosters Forum discusses food packaging and the global food system with Jane Muncke from the Food Packaging Forum; examines interconnectedness of global issues, steps consumers can take
May 5, 2020
Studies investigate environmental impacts and trends of food packaging
Two peer-reviewed studies from researchers in the Netherlands and Sweden explore the environmental impacts of and trends related to reusable packaging, the role of food packaging in preventing food waste
April 1, 2019
Date labels on packaging confuse consumers
Printed dates on food packaging found to be confusing for U.S. consumers and lead to food waste; date labels often communicate quality rather than safety; calls exist for further standardization
