S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y
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The best way to reach (or come close to) zero waste The concept of zero waste packaging has become all the rage recently. But, is it really possible to achieve such a goal, especially in the baking business? To answer this question, we need to first define a sustainable package.
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Typical definitions of what sustainable packaging entails revolve around recyclability, the use of recycled or bio-materials, or compostability. The problem with these is that they ignore the key functions of a baked goods package, which include protecting the freshness of the product inside, maximizing shelf appeal in the store, and maintaining taste appeal at home.
Given this definition, and the fact that wasted food is a far bigger environmental issue than its packaging, the concept of zero waste should really be focused on the product rather than the package. In fact, studies are showing that sometimes the best way to reduce food waste is actually to increase the amount of packaging used, and thus the amount of packaging discarded.
When you consider that the food inside the package produces up to 20 times the environmental impact of the package itself, the role of packaging is far more important than people realize. To put it simply: Food waste is a significantly bigger concern than packaging waste.
So, after you have designed packaging that minimizes product waste by maximizing product protection and appetite appeal, what options can be pursued when working to minimize packaging waste?
Given this reality, my definition is a bit more holistic: Sustainable packaging delivers the full value of the product(s) contained within and does so with the least amount of negative economic, environmental, and social impact throughout its lifecycle.
www.bakingbiscuit.com 06/2021
Recyclable materials Oftentimes, the term ‘recyclable’ is just a theory. Virtually anything can be recycled for the right investment. The key is to focus on materials with a proven record of being collected and reprocessed. Paperboard, PET and HDPE come to mind. Some flexible or ‘soft’ plastic packages may be an option,
