Polymer film packaging for food: An environmental assessment

C.Y. Barlow and D.C. Morgan

Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 2013, vol. 78, issue C, 74-80

Abstract: Plastics packaging is ubiquitous in the food industry, fulfilling a range of functions including a significant role in reducing food waste. The public perception of packaging, however, is dominated by end-of-life aspects, when the packaging becomes waste often found littering urban, rural and marine environments. A balanced analysis of the role of packaging demands that the whole lifecycle is examined, looking not only at the packaging itself but also at the product being packaged. This paper focuses on packaging in the meat and cheese industry, analysing the impact of films and bags. The functions of packaging are defined and the environmental impact of delivering these functions is assessed. The influence of packaging on levels of waste and energy consumption elsewhere in the system is examined, including the contentious issue of end-of-life for packaging.

Keywords: Packaging; Multi-layer plastics; Barrier; Recycling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:recore:v:78:y:2013:i:c:p:74-80

DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2013.07.003

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