In the US, around 40% of food is wasted, according to the Zero Food Waste Coalition. Packaging size alone is responsible for around a quarter of residential food waste, think tank ReFED estimates.
The increased use of anti-obesity medications among US adults – with one in eight reportedly using GLP-1 drugs today – has also been linked with an uptick in food waste, Ohio State researchers found. In a study published in Nutrients last November, 25% of the respondents admitted they wasted more food after starting the medication, likely due to changing dietary habits (see ‘sources’ at the end of this article).
In terms of regulation, 2025 could be ‘the most consequential yet for food waste policy’, ReFED says, with opportunities to strengthen the country’s food waste reduction efforts through the Farm Bill and federal and state action on date label legislation and organic waste bans.
For food brands, re-thinking portion sizes and considering packaging solutions designed to extend shelf life is among the most straightforward ways to contribute to these efforts.
What are some of the other potential areas for improvement up and down the supply chain that manufacturers should be mindful of?
Inefficient factory practices
One of the key drivers of manufacturing waste is using outdated or unmaintained equipment, or other inefficient processes that contribute to waste generation, such as using excess packaging materials. Planning to use the correct amount of packaging could not only resolve ongoing waste problems, but also reduce costs.
Storage conditions
From monitoring humidity to ensuring temperature and light requirements are being followed, how packaging materials are stored also has implications for waste management. If storage conditions are compromised or come in a lot of different forms, making sure the right conditions are maintained is crucial to reducing and preventing waste generation.
Secondary and tertiary packaging
Getting the product to the retailer safely through the supply chain is paramount – but using the most optimal secondary and tertiary packaging to get that job done should be equally important.
For example, consider if pallet weight could be shaved off by using more lightweight packaging materials, or if reusable pallet protection can be utilized instead of single-use stretch wrap.
ESG benefits
Reducing waste would help reduce an organization’s manufacturing carbon footprint and improve its sustainability credentials. In addition, using packaging that contains recycled content or opting for reusable and recyclable materials can make a difference. According to think tank The Carbon Trust, using recycled content can reduce carbon emissions by almost a quarter.
Materials and formats
Downstream, packaging design has crucial implications for reducing food waste at retailer and consumer level. From choosing the correct target materials to carefully considering portion sizes and occasions; this can all play a part in coming up with more sustainable outcomes for the entire supply chain.
Equally, designing and using long-life packaging solutions such as aluminum-free barriers is an important step towards addressing the food sector’s sustainability ambitions - but innovation must not come at the expense of increased waste generation, e.g. if novel materials do not offer sufficient level of protection.
Therefore, finding the balance between packaging innovation and every-day practicalities is likely to remain an ongoing challenge for packaging manufacturers and retailers alike.
Source:
Mansouri, J.; Roe, B.E. Changes in Food Waste among a Sample of U.S. Consumers after Beginning Anti-Obesity Medication. Nutrients 2024, 16, 3274. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16193274