Barriers of and Possibilities for Recycling of Single-Use Take-Away Food and Beverage Packaging: Evidence from Lithuanian Market

Valdonė Daugėlaitė () and Jolita Kruopienė
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Valdonė Daugėlaitė: Institute of Environmental Engineering, Kaunas University of Technology, LT-44249 Kaunas, Lithuania
Jolita Kruopienė: Institute of Environmental Engineering, Kaunas University of Technology, LT-44249 Kaunas, Lithuania

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 13, 1-22

Abstract: The use of single-use take-away packaging for food and beverages is steadily growing globally. The consumption habits of ordering food online and the very short time of use of single-use take-away packaging suggest that high amounts of potential resources are continuously being wasted. Since there is a lack of studies that could represent the status of packaging materials used within the take-away delivery industry, it is difficult to predict the potential for material recycling and reuse. This research aimed at identifying (1) the predominant packaging materials used by the take-away food and beverage industry according to the food category, (2) packaging weight in order to understand the potential for material recovery, (3) labelling in order to understand communication with consumers about what is relevant for choosing end-of-life scenarios, and (4) the residues of the food and beverage within packaging after use, which potentially affects the recyclability of packaging. The research identified at which stages of the value chain there was a potential for the better circulation of single-use packaging materials and provided insights for decision makers (businesses, institutions, etc.) to improve the sustainability of take-away packaging.

Keywords: circular economy; take-away packaging; packaging recyclability; recycling; packaging waste; PESTEL-SWOT analysis; packaging sustainability; packaging–consumer interaction; labelling; resource efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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