25/09/2018
Flexible packaging: the best ally in the fight against food waste
Plastic is often associated with waste and pollution: in fact, images of polluted seas and animals caught or suffocated by plastic waste are becoming increasingly common. These are real, sad and outrageous photographs that make us think, and make us angry.
While the issue of improper disposal of plastic waste is plain for all to see, an aspect that is often overlooked - but is nevertheless very important - when it comes to plastic packaging, is the fact that flexible packaging is the best ally in the fight against food waste: in fact, flexible packaging extends the shelf life of a food product, preserving it from rapid deterioration.
As a result, it avoids wasting not only food, but also the raw materials and energy needed to produce the food product, which would deteriorate if it were sold unpackaged.
Therefore, in order to assess the environmental impact of packaging, it is necessary to study the complete life cycle of food, taking into account that packaging helps protect it and avoid waste. It is also essential to bear in mind that of all types of packaging, flexible packaging is the most performing in terms of product protection and use of resources.
What can converters do to effectively contribute to fighting pollution while ensuring adequate protection for food? The approach adopted by SDR PACK is to offer green flexible packaging solutions that ensure food is protected, following three workstreams in production:
- Downsizing material thicknesses, to optimise the use of resources throughout the chain;
- Compositions of 100% recyclable materials;
- Compostable materials.