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Packaging-Related Food Losses and Waste: An Overview of Drivers and Issues

Author

Listed:
  • Bernhard Wohner

    (Section of Packaging and Resource Management, FH Campus Wien (University of Applied Sciences), 1030 Vienna, Austria)

  • Erik Pauer

    (Section of Packaging and Resource Management, FH Campus Wien (University of Applied Sciences), 1030 Vienna, Austria)

  • Victoria Heinrich

    (Section of Packaging and Resource Management, FH Campus Wien (University of Applied Sciences), 1030 Vienna, Austria)

  • Manfred Tacker

    (Section of Packaging and Resource Management, FH Campus Wien (University of Applied Sciences), 1030 Vienna, Austria)

Abstract

Packaging is often criticized as a symbol of today’s throwaway society, as it is mostly made of plastic, which is in itself quite controversial, and is usually used only once. However, as packaging’s main function is to protect its content and 30% of all food produced worldwide is lost or wasted along the supply chain, optimized packaging may be one of the solutions to reduce this staggering amount. Developing countries struggle with losses in the supply chain before food reaches the consumer. Here, appropriate packaging may help to protect food and prolong its shelf life so that it safely reaches these households. In developed countries, food tends to be wasted rather at the household’s level due to wasteful behavior. There, packaging may be one of the drivers due to inappropriate packaging sizes and packaging that is difficult to empty. When discussing the sustainability of packaging, its protective function is often neglected and only revolves around the type and amount of material used for production. In this review, drivers, issues, and implications of packaging-related food losses and waste (FLW) are discussed, as well as the implication for the implementation in life cycle assessments (LCA).

Suggested Citation

  • Bernhard Wohner & Erik Pauer & Victoria Heinrich & Manfred Tacker, 2019. "Packaging-Related Food Losses and Waste: An Overview of Drivers and Issues," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-15, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:1:p:264-:d:195507
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    9. Anriquez, Gustavo & Foster, William & Ortega, Jorge & Santos Rocha, Jozimo, 2021. "In search of economically significant food losses: Evidence from Tunisia and Egypt," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
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    11. Kabadurmus, Ozgur & Kayikci, Yaşanur & Demir, Sercan & Koc, Basar, 2023. "A data-driven decision support system with smart packaging in grocery store supply chains during outbreaks," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    12. Babak Nemat & Mohammad Razzaghi & Kim Bolton & Kamran Rousta, 2020. "The Potential of Food Packaging Attributes to Influence Consumers’ Decisions to Sort Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-22, March.
    13. Konrád Kiss & Csaba Ruszkai & Katalin Takács-György, 2019. "Examination of Short Supply Chains Based on Circular Economy and Sustainability Aspects," Resources, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-21, September.
    14. Artemi Tonikidou & Thomas L. Webb, 2024. "Does Providing Information about the Environmental Benefits of Reusable Packaging Systems for Consumer Products Increase Consumers’ Willingness to Use Them?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-12, August.
    15. Erik Pauer & Bernhard Wohner & Victoria Heinrich & Manfred Tacker, 2019. "Assessing the Environmental Sustainability of Food Packaging: An Extended Life Cycle Assessment including Packaging-Related Food Losses and Waste and Circularity Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-21, February.
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