Towards a Circular Economy for Plastic Food Packaging: Wear Assessment of Polyethylene Terephthalate

Mariam Qaiser, Fiona Hatton, James Colwill, Patrick Webb and Elliot Woolley ()
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Mariam Qaiser: Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Fiona Hatton: Department of Chemical Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
James Colwill: Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Patrick Webb: Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Elliot Woolley: Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-15

Abstract: The increasing utilization of single-use plastics in the food sector poses serious environmental challenges. A circular economy approach, i.e., reusing packaging before recycling, offers a promising solution but raises concerns about cross-contamination between food products. This study investigates how repeated use and cleaning affect the surface topography of plastic food packaging and, in turn, how these changes influence cleaning efficiency and assessment. Recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) trays were subjected to 20 industrial wash cycles with and without detergent concentration of 0.3% v / v at the following temperatures: 55 °C wash, 70 °C rinse. Surface roughness was measured using mechanical and optical techniques. Additionally, trays were roughened with sandpaper of varying grit sizes to simulate mechanical wear during consumer use. Cleanability was assessed using UV fluorescence imaging and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) assays. Results showed no significant increase in surface roughness after 20 wash cycles. However, artificially roughened surfaces retained more food residue, complicating cleaning. The application of UV fluorescence imaging proved more effective than ATP assays in detecting food residues on textured surfaces. These findings support the use of advanced imaging for evaluating the hygiene of reusable packaging and highlight key considerations for implementing circular reuse systems in food packaging.

Keywords: roughness analysis; environmental impacts; circular economy; reusable food packaging; cleaning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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